President of the ICCS, Kevin Maguire, presents the award for the ICCS Club of the Year 2018 to Brendan Mc Feely, who accepted the award on behalf of the Donegal Charolais Club

Kevin Maguire introduced the award for Club of the year in 2018, as recognition for active and progressive Charolais Clubs. The Donegal Charolais Club won the award in 2018 and have made it two in a row this year. Commenting on his selection, Kevin Maguire said, "the Donegal Charolais Club must be admired, the way they conduct their business, meeting's, events and the way they look after their youth, is fantastic. They are one of the smallest Clubs in Ireland, and yet they are one of the most proactive, for that they should be rewarded."

Outgoing President of the Society, Kevin Maguire, would like to thank everyone who attended the AGM of the Charolais Society on Sunday last. He would like to especially thank all the guest speakers which included, Romi Morrin O' Donnell from Weatherby's Scientific, Finola Mc Colgan from Mental Health Ireland and Eoin Donnelly from the Beef Plan Movement. Kevin Maguire, Noel Mc Goldrick and Andrew Mc Govern were re-elected to Council, along with two new members, in David Erskine from County Monaghan and Thomas Gormley from County Roscommon. Kevin has served as President for three years and has overseen many changes and improvements within the Society, a number of which is listed below.

What has been done in the last three years!

• Purchased our own marquee - that’s saving us over €15,000 per year
• New Website established, which incorporated the new breeder locator
• Allocated funding of €1,500 per club to help the promotion of our breed
• Increased the level of advertising in National Farming papers
• Changed the direction of our marketing strategy to include social media through Facebook and Twitter
• Brought our National Show to the FBD National Livestock Show in Tullamore to give our breeders a bigger stage to display their Cattle on
• Held several meetings with ICBF
• Reduced registration fees by up to 25% (€60 to € 45 for cash/cheque customers)
• Reduced transfer fees by 1/3 - €38 to €25
• Re-introduced the de-registration option on both bulls & heifers, which refunds €40 on each registration
• Reduced the semen costs we have in stock
• Highlighted the need for suckler beef to be marketed separately over 2 years ago
• Introduced the Elite Heifer Sale
• Established the correlation of data between ourselves and the British Charolais Cattle Society
• Invited all clubs to a meeting with ICBF delegates to voice their concerns
• Introduced the All-Ireland Super Suckler Cow and Calf Competition
• Introduced the first Charolais Carcass Competition
• Secured a long-term sponsorship deal with Greenvale Animal Feeds
• Held a new Marketing Competition to both gain fresh ideas and promote the participation of our youth
• Introduced the new Irish Charolais Cattle Society Calendar, which includes pictures from our annual Irish Charolais Photo competition
• New Irish Charolais Young Members Association launched, and workshops held, with two young members representing Ireland at the Charolais International YDP Conference in Canada
• Had an independent review carried out on our accounting systems and procedures with the view to increasing our efficiency and controls
• Brought our concerns over the BDGP and general direction of our beef industry to the Oireachtas
• Increased funding to Charolais Cross Weanling Shows and Sales in Marts across the Country
• Over €35,000 donated to various Charities and Organisations
• Secured the World Charolais Technical Congress for later this year
• First breed society to publicly back the Beef Plan Movement
• Purchased the first bull for the society on a stand-alone basis

The Clare/limerick Charolais Club AGM will take place this Monday the 4th March at 8.30 pm in the Bunratty Castle Hotel. Guest speakers on the night, there will also be a raffle and some light refreshments. All welcome.