Big land owners in Kilkenny 'should be stopped from buying land'

Allegations that ‘land grabbers’ are operating in the South-East to the detriment of small farmers was made at an agricultural meeting in Kilkenny City.

During a discussion on the Macra policy document on agriculture: Modernising Irish agriculture, the real issues, several members of Kilkenny Co Committee of Agriculture deplored the ‘land grabbing’.

Committee chairman Mr Tom Hogan, Tullaroan, said that the practice of big farmers buying more land and extending their holdings deprived small farmers who wanted to increase their acreage.

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“The real issue is that big land owners should be stopped from buying land. The small farmers should be given an opportunity, to buy it,” Mr Hogan added.

Mr W Fitzpatrick agreed that there was ‘land grabbing’ by big land holders. The small, uneconomic land holders should get more land if they were to remain in existence, he said.

Mr P Hanrahan disagreed with the references to ‘land grabbers’. He argued that the bigger farmer; was the man who was keeping the country going by buying stores and fattening them into beef.

“Small farmers in the development category were well able to get money in banks through their advisors,” he explained. He did not think it fair to be running down the big farmers who were working with their sons as one unit.

Mr Michael Parsons said he was not for big farmers to the exclusion of small farmers.

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“And we must also be against outside interests coming in, competing against local farmers and creating land banks,” he said.

“We should try to prevent such a situation.”

Soccer clubs buy grounds
Two soccer clubs in Castlecomer have embarked on a very ambitious project which will bring them their own grounds and other facilities.

Kilkenny and District second division rivals Castlecomer and Ardra Rovers have come together off the field to buy the Prince Grounds at Castlecomer.

The deal will be completed shortly and the clubs will set about improving the playing surface at the Prince. Dressing room facilities are to be provided, with showers, toilets and meeting rooms.

The clubs have now launched a major fundraising campaign. Comer Rovers’ secretary Paddy Dowling, a brother of boxer Mick, says they have set a target of £5,000 for the next year.

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