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Breeda Horgan wins overall Paddy Fitzgerald Award 2024

FBD chair, Liam Herlihy; Simon Coveney TD; Paddy Fitzgerald Award winner, Breeda Horgan; North Cork chair, Pat O’Keeffe; IFA president, Francie Gorman; chair of the Paddy Fitzgerald Trustees, Martin Stapleton; and FBD Trust chair, Michael Berkery. Photo: Finbarr O’Rourke.

Breeda Horgan from Liscarroll in north Cork is the overall winner of the Paddy Fitzgerald Awards 2024. Each of the nine Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) county executives in Munster put forward a nominee for the awards, which were held recently in Adare, Co. Limerick. Simon Coveney, who has served as Tánaiste and has held a number of ministerial portfolios during his political career, including agriculture, was the guest speaker on the evening.
Breeda joined Macra na Feirme in 1964 and became involved in IFA in the mid-1970s. Through her work on the IFA Farm Family Committee, she was actively involved in the credit crisis of the early 1980s which saw many farm families come under severe financial and mental health pressure from financial institutions.
She was foremost in tackling the issues of rapid interest rates and its effect on farm families. She helped farm families with financial burdens and, in particular, fighting farm evictions. She has been involved in many initiatives in her local community for decades.
IFA president, Francie Gorman said the Paddy Fitzgerald Awards represent the spirit of volunteerism and the exemplary dedication of people in striving to improve their communities.
“The cornerstone of IFA’s work is the willingness of farmers to give of their time in representing their fellow farmers. The awards showcase the phenomenal work that the same people do in their own communities.”
FBD Trust chair, Michael Berkery said: “In FBD, we appreciate the value of community spirit and the important role played by volunteers up and down the country. Paddy Fitzgerald was a shining example of this through his work with Macra in Co. Limerick, in the NFA and Cork Marts IMP. FBD is delighted to support this award, and we hope to see the spirit of Paddy Fitzgerald live on for many years to come.”

The 2024 nominees were:

  • Clare Andrew Dundas
  • Cork Central Mary Bugler
  • Cork North Breeda Horgan
  • Cork West John Joe KelleherKerry John Stack
  • Limerick Morgan Murphy
  • Tipperary North Pat Hogan
  • Tipperary South Matt Quinlan
  • Waterford Harry Grey
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