12 ��
������������������������� GLANBIA COUNTRYLIFE MONASTEREVIN 5OTH ANNIVERSARY
�� July ���� | THE NATIONALIST ���������������������������������
Management at Monasterevin BOBBY COTTER, a Kerry native, was first branch manager of Monasterevin Co-Op, serving for the initial �� years of the co-op’s existence from ����-���� Born and reared in Hedleys Bridge between Castleisland and Abbeyfeale, Bobby studied dairy science in University College Cork. He worked for a short period in Co Tipperary before being appointed branch manager of Monasterevin in ����. Bobby managed the branch at a time of great change, helping to guide it during the formative years as an independent cooperative and then, when the decision was taken to amalgamate, playing an important part in the merging of Monasterevin into the much larger Avonmore business. There was also rapid change in both farming practices and the co-operative movement during Bobby’s time at the helm in Monastervin. There were financially challenging times, with the management of cash-flow being a huge challenge as supplier payment targets had to be met on the ��th of each calendar month. At a statutory general meeting (effectively the Society’s first annual general meeting) held on November �, ����, Bobby was appointed secretary, of the committee.
JIM CLIFFORD began his association with Monastervin Co-op in ���� as the Milk Advisor for the Monastervin and Ballytore Creameries. In ���� he took on the position as the Manager of Raheen Creamery in Co Laois and after two years he moved to manage the Donaghmore branch,
also in the O’Moore County. And in ���� he was appointed branch manager at Monasterevin. Jim managed the branch at a time where there were many changes and developments that impacted on the branch in Monasterevin and that didn’t make the job as manager an easy task. Highlights of his time at Monasterevin included the development and extension of the agri shop in ���� and in the early ����s he faced the challenges of the Common Agricultural Reform on the grain industry in Ireland. In more recent years Jim celebrated the ��th Anniversary of the Monasterevin Co-op in ���� and in July ���� oversaw the opening of the CountryLife Store and Garden Centre in Monasterevin. Jim would like to pay tribute on this special occasion to Eoin Donohue “for his �� years of dedicated service as shop manager at Monasterevin from ����.”
for all agri-branches within the Glanbia network. Pat was appointed branch manager of Monasterevin in ���� before moving to the position of Senior Tillage Business Manager with Glanbia in ����, a position he holds today.
ALAN GEE, the current branch manager is native of Durrow, Co Laois and comes from a farming background and still today works on the family farm part-time. Alan is married to Hilary and has three children. Before taking up employment with Glanbia , Alan first worked with Timac Agro in sales. When he began with the Glanbia group he was employed in the Donaghmore branch, working in sales, before being appointed branch manager in Monasterevin in ����.
Pat Pollard, currently Senior Business Manager for Glanbia was branch manager in ����
PAT POLLARD was Monasterevin branch manager in ����. A Co Tipperary native, Pat is holder of a degree in agricultural science from University College, Dublin. He joined the Avonmore group in ���� and has been associated with the Monasterevin branch since that time. Pat’s role in Monasterevin involved the twin roles of tillage advisor and salesman – the equivalent of a business manager in today’s commercial world. He filled those joint roles from ���� to ����. In the early years of the New Millenium Pat was involved in the purchase of chemicals
Monasterevin branch manager Alan Gee enjoying the recent fine weather with former branch managers Jim Clifford and Bobby Cotter.
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