'Farming in Kilkenny': Prospects and Challenges for the future

Joan Fitzpatrick is a farm woman from Threecastles, County Kilkenny. She farms with her husband Sean a mixed farm of dairy, suckler cows sheep and forestry. Joan joined the Irish Farmers’ Association 20 years ago and has held a number of roles in the organisation. She was national chair of the Farm Family Committee for four years and held the position of County Secretary before taking on the role of County Chairman in January 2010; the first woman in the county to do so. Joan is passionate about family farming and rural development and is chair of Kilkenny Leader Partnership, the company established to provide support through initiatives involving the allocation of grant monies. Family farming is at the core of rural development providing a wealth of inter-generational knowledge and wisdom, knowledge of farming practices and the kind of social interaction necessary to sustain people and overcome isolation; just what society needs to heal and grow in the medium- and long-term.