John did ‘Trojan work’ for North Tipp IFA

A man who dedicated much of his life to building up the Irish Farmers Association in North Tipperary was honoured at the branch’s Annual General Meeting in the Abbey Court Hotel in Nenagh on last Thursday night.

The branch’s outgoing Chairwoman Imelda Walsh expressed regret that Nenagh’s John Guest could not be present himself at the meeting due ill health.

Ms Walsh said she was delighted that John’s daughter Roberta could be present to mark her father’s dedicated and exceptional services to the association over many years.

She said she was proud to be able to mark John’s contribution to the IFA, and she recalled how as a young garda serving in Dublin in 1966 he welcomed hundreds of farmers who had marched from Cork to Dublin as part of a major protest to try to get the government of the day to improve the livelihoods of farm families.

Ms Walsh recalled how a photograph had appeared on the front page of a daily newspaper the following day featuring Garda John shaking hands with the leader of the National Farmers Association, the late Rickard Deasy from Carrigahorig.

Subsequently when John came to live in Nenagh he did Trojan work in to signing up new members to the IFA.

“And I think it’s fair to say that John continues to be held in the highest esteem by the executive of the association,” Ms Walsh told the gathering.

Roberta Guest said she was honoured to accept the presentation made to her father. She said he loved the IFA and was very proud to have contributed to the association. When growing up the IFA was an integral part of family conversation.

“He was always gone to IFA meetings or was out on the road canvassing. He loved meeting the people and loved everything the IFA stood for,” said Ms Guest, who added that he had made many friends within the association.

As the presentation was made there was a sustained round of applause in appreciation of John’s dedication from the 100 plus farmers who attended the meeting.