BYCATHERINE COOK

ON Tuesday, Keith Roulston's tenure as County Chairman of the Irish Farmers' Association will come to an end.

The last four years have seen some seismic changes for farmers in Donegal and it has certainly not been a smooth journey for one of the most outspoken leaders of the organisation in recent years.

When asked how he would describe the past four years, he did not hesitate: "Challenging. There have been a lot of changes and a number of big issues which we have had to contend with. The very first issue I came up against was the introduction of the Habitats Directive, followed shortly by the Nitrates Directive, the change to Single Farm Payment, the issue of imported South American beef, as well as the ever-present issue of poor prices for commodities, to name but a few."

He recalled one of the IFA's first major achievements under his watch.

"The Council intended to introduce development charges for agricultural buildings. We managed to get this stopped and the realities are beginning to come to light now. New building grants for farmers under the Nitrates Directive has seen over 3,000 applications in recent months."

Two years ago Mary Coughlan was appointed as Minister for Agriculture and while the relationship between the Minister and the IFA may at times have been tempestuous the outgoing chairman stated:

"Minister Coughlan is a breath of fresh air as far as agriculture is concerned. I have enjoyed a good working relationship with her and although there have, of course, been arguments and disagreements between us, the one thing I have to hand to her is that she is a 'do-er'. Any time we went to the Minister with a problem she would try and get it sorted. I think that Donegal farmers have benefited from having an Agriculture Minister who is native to the County."

Not only has Keith Roulston been the local leader of the Country's largest farming organisation during a time of great changes over the last four years he has also had to continue managing his considerable dairy farm in Newtowncunningham as well as bringing up a young family. The question is, how did he manage?

"I would be lying if I didn't say it has been difficult. As regards the farm I am lucky that I have brothers here to help. I don't think I could have done it if I had been working on my own."

"I also have my wife Patricia and my children James (8), Rebekah (7), Leah (3) and David (2) to think about and there were a lot of times when I felt I wasn't being fair to them. I felt that there were things I should be doing with my children that I just didn't have time to do."

As County Chairman Keith must have travelled every road in Donegal, not to mention further afield, nationally and in Europe. "Most weeks I would be away at meetings. Especially from October to December where I would be away from home at least five nights a week."

Membership of the Organisation, however, is at an all-time high in the county.

"The Organisation as a whole is more vibrant than it has ever been. Since the time of previous Chairman George O'Hagan numbers have been rising and they continue to do so," he said.

Commenting on the high-point of his Chairmanship, he added: "Last year we celebrated the 50th anniversary of the IFA and to be Chairman at this period in the organisation's history is a milestone in itself. It's only now that I have had time to reflect on how far we've come and exactly how much we have achieved."

"I very definitely think that there is a positive future for farming in the County. I believe in hope and I feel it is this hope that will keep farmers going."

"One very important thing, however, is that people need to come out and support the farmer for doing their job. And there is an increasing realisation among the consumer of the benefits of buying locally produced meat and vegetables." Mr Roulston said.

As Keith now takes to the back-benches of monthly IFA meetings in Friel's Hotel, Raphoe he feels that his move away from the top table will give him "a bit more freedom" to express his "real feelings" (there may be some who fear that this could not be possible as Keith Roulston was never 'backward in coming forward, so to speak!).

While he will soon be taking off his County Chairman's cap, he will well and truly be keeping his farmer's hat on as he takes a well-earned break by getting ready for 400 of his cows to calve over the next few months.