Farewell to a real battler for farmers in the West

THE passing of Francis Burke from Kilconly earlier this month has been mourned by farmers across the county who remember him for his selfless commitment to improving the lot of those who work the land.

Known as Francie to many of his colleague and farmer friends, he passed away on September 1 last, after battling illness for a number of years, but through good times and bad, he was always to the forefront of farmer causes.

He was the Co. Galway Sheep Committee Representative from 2005 to 2011 and served as County IFA Treasurer from 2011 to 2015 – times when the IFA were involved in many battles to sustain and grow farm incomes.

As well as his farming interests, Francis Burke was also deeply committed to furthering the causes of his local Kilconly GAA club and the Fianna Fáil party organisation.

His great friend for over two decades in the IFA, Michael Silke from Eyrecourt – who delivered a touching graveside tribute at Francie’s funeral – told the Farming Tribune of the work he had put into securing the Sheep Welfare Scheme.

“This was at a time when we were being told that there was no budget and no money for such a scheme but he stuck with it, persisted all the way, and I would say almost singlehandedly delivered this scheme for sheep farmers,” said Michael Silke.

He also said that regardless of his political allegiances, he put in the same huge effort into lobbying for improvements to a whole cross-section of farm schemes including Sheep Welfare, Suckler, REPS and Disadvantaged Areas.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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