The late John O'Donovan The death of John O'Donovan, Brownstown, Ballinspittle, has removed one of the most prominent personalities of the farming world, not alone in West Cork but throughout the whole country, where he had his presence felt on many issues most notably that related to the imposition of the nitrates restriction. A native of Farran in the parish of Ardfield, he made quite an impression in many organisations in the "Mountain" parish. Like many young men, he played football with St.James, the gaelic code being engrained in his veins as he was a scion of the well-known Mehigan family of All-Ireland and "Carbery" fame. He was the leading member of the Marca na Feirme branch in the parish proving one of its most prolific performers at one of its several national competitions, public speaking, debating, stock judging and drama, leading his team to victory on many occasions. He was a master hand at debating and few could equal home on any subject as his indepth knowledge of every subject knew no bounds. On his marriage to Helen Ryan in 1977, he moved to Brownstown, where he carried on an extensive dairy enterprise and got deeply involved with all its ancillary organisations - Barryroe Co-op, Cork Marts and IFA. As a Ballinspittle representative on the board of Barryroe Co-op, his contributions on behalf of his fellow members were always forceful and well rehearsed. He was its vice-chairman and represented the Co-op at many functions and conferences both at home and abroad. With Cork Marts, he was the Bandon representative on the overall board of management and played no small part in its rapid advance in both the livestock and property development in recent years, but its probably with the IFA that he got the greatest scope to show his qualities as a spokesman and defender of what he felt was the way forward to promote agriculture as an attractive and sustainable industry where young men would see farming as both an attractive and financial rewarding way of life. No doubt his contributions and arguments on the nitrates issue over the past few years had ministers and Civil-Servants reeling in their seats as few could match him when he would lay out his stall on the various aspects of practical farming, reminding those across the table how farming was so often dependent on the climatic conditions. Indeed the relaxation of farm inspections which were promised during the recent election, could well be attributed to the strong and forceful presentations he made at Ministerial level. Depressing farm incomes and rising costs of recent years were foremost on his agenda whenever he had the opportunity of pleading the farmers' case of survival in climate of great uncertainty as to the future direction of the industry. But despite all these efforts, he was a man with great social conscience and as some of his neighbours have said to me, no better man to help a neighbour out in times of trouble. This was clearly exemplified also by his presence as a great community man, always willing and ready to help out with any church or parish project and most notably the support he gave to the Agrideen Threshing Committee. Despite having a heavy workload at home, one has to admire the many hours of voluntary work that he gave to this project, clearly illustrating the charitable of the man, who saw the need of raising funds which would help to make life more pleasant for some of his less fortunate brethren in many medical institutions. A firm believer in the democratic process, he was an active member of the Fine Gael Party and was always on the alert in keeping both local and public representatives fully acquainted with any problems affecting his members and community in general. Definitely a man who was not born to be a mere spectator, we salute and mourn a man who gave a lifetime of endeavours for the welfare of his family and fellow countrymen and its fair to say that generations yet unborn will be the beneficiaries of all the aims he strove to achieve. His loss deeply felt throughout he entire countryside, being a man who said what is meant what he said. But the greatest loss is to his wife Helen, sons, daughters, brothers, sister, extended family and a wide circle of friends. Courtesy of he Southern Star 16 June 2007 Tweet

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