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23 Dec 2025
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23 Dec 2025
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After travelling more than 1,000 kilometres by land, sea and John Deere, Tom and I arrived in Brussels for the @COPACOGECA protest outside the European Parliament.@IFAmedia pic.twitter.com/h4nLsvunCM
— Francie Gorman (@gormanifa) December 18, 2025
The EU must not take away Tom Gorman's future in farming in Ballinakill, Laois man and IFA President Francie Gorman demanded at a protest of thousands of farmers in Brussels.
Mr Gorman was greeted with huge cheers by an estimated 10,000 farmers from across the EU when he spoke at the event in Brussels, flanked by his son Tom. The demonstration was held to protest against the Mercusor deal, regulation and demand a better deal for farmers in the next CAP.
The father and son made history by being the first farmers from Ireland to take part in the annual tractor protest in the Belgian capital just a week before Christmas. The tractor was loaned to the IFA by Ballacolla man Pat Bergin of Templetouhy Tractor Sales in Emo.
What made their attendance more special was that they travelled by road and ferry from Laois to Brussels for the protest, which shut down the Belgian capital.
Speaking to the crowd on December 18, he thanked the organisers, Copa Cogeca, for giving the farmers of Europe a chance voice their concerns on trade deals, CAP and regulations.
He delivered a passionate message on behalf of the farmers of Ireland.
“The message goes out from here loud and clear that we are absolutely sick of it, and we are not going to take it anymore.
“I want a future in farming for myself and my son Tom, and I hope that President (Ursula) Von der Leyen, the College of Commissioners, the Council of Prime Ministers, the European Parliament sit up and take notice of the strong message that is being sent,” he said. MORE BELOW PHOTO.
Declan Hanrahan from Borris-in-Ossory, who is the IFA's Beef Committee Chairman.
READ ALSO: Laois farming boy hits the road in tractor to Brussels protest against Mercosur
The father and son were also accompanied by Kay Gorman, Tom's mum and the IFA President's wife. Laois IFA Chairman Henry Burns, from Mountmelick, also travelled the full distance from Laois to Brussels, as did Sean Hennessy from Stradbally, who works in the IFA Press office in Dublin. They were met by a large delegation from Ireland in Belgium, including Declan Hanrahan from Borris-in-Ossory, who is the IFA's Beef Committee Chairman.
The Mercosur deal was due to be signed on the day of the protest after the meeting of prime ministers from across Europe, but this was cancelled.
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