“There is little doubt that human Nutrition is the most important problem confronting mankind at the present time. The problem is one of both quantity and quality. It is estimated that at present two-thirds of the world’s population, of 2,800 millions are underfed and this population is increasing by geometrical progression at a rate […]

After the War Quentin Seddon in his book The Silent Revolution – Farming and the Countryside into the 21st Century: wrote about the U.K. ‘As late as the 1950s we suffered more from tuberculosis than any comparable country. Tuberculosis (TB) is a killer, it killed between 2000 and 3000 children outright per year, shortened […]

The Emergency 1939 – 1945

Ireland was still very dependent on our nearest neighbour and it was hoped that the politicians would remain in good terms with them. Britain in turn had to do a bow turn, it had a large population to feed and supplies from abroad had suddenly become uncertain. The […]

In 1932 Fianna Fail-Labour government came into power and embarked on a radical change in economic policy. The government decided to suspend payment of the annuities owed to Britain under the Land Purchase Acts of 1903. This was part of its programme for government as well as self-sufficiency both in agricultural and industrial produce. […]

For better or worse the treaty between the Free State and Britain was accepted and the terms were presented to Dail Eireann on the 14 December 1921 and the final vote was taken on the second session on 7 January 1922. The Dail under  W.T. Cosgrave as Taoiseach, Patrick Hogan was appointed Minister for Agriculture […]

The Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction (DATI)

The Albert Agricultural College began life as the Glasnevin Model Farm in 1838 becoming the Albert National Agricultural Training Institution in 1853 after a visit by Prince Albert. The name Albert Agricultural College first appears in the 1902 Report of the Department of Agriculture […]

The Study of Plant & Animal Life and the Demise of Natural Cures: While the Irish were busy getting out of Ireland sophisticated people in Europe got involved in more of country life. They began the study of plants and animals. Earlier classification of plant and animal life was according to its usefulness.  European […]

Sir Horace Plunket and the Co-Operatibe Movement

It was in the Autumn of 1889, that the Honourable Alexis Roche, brother of Lord Fermoy, and Barney Fitzpatrick Baron of Castletown and had estates at Granston Manor, Abbeyleix and Doneraile Court, called on Sir Horace Plunkett to form a co-operative. For […]