Chapter 26: THE HISTORY MAKERS
recognised the value of the enhanced milk pool. Reconciling the aspirations of the two co-ops was a very challenging undertaking. The Mid West Co-op was west of the Shannon. There was a considerable degree of determination among some farmers that the milk supply in the West should be retained and processed in the west. The Mid West Co-op had links with North Connaught Farmers Co-op (N.C.F.). As well as N.C.F. there were other outside interests in acquiring the Mid West Co-op milk supply. Nenagh already had a significant presence in East Galway. Dick regarded the negotiations as “very tough” but he was committed to put in place an agreement that would be fair to each party. There were gains and losses for each co-op.
Dick Tobin receiving the Read Cup for buttermaking from Joe Walsh, TD., Minister for Agriculture in 1999, the fourth time that he had the honour of receiving the award on behalf of Nenagh Co-Op Creamery during his reign as chairman of the society. He had previously received it in 1979, 1983,
He recalled “The milk was important and 1989. but the total package was important also. We were also aware of some opposition to us. Nenagh Co-op was seen by some of in 2001, because it provided a new the farmers supplying the Mid West Co-op well rounded entity for the future with as outside the western fold even though it manufacturing centred at Nenagh and had been deeply embedded in much of East an enlarged liquid plant development at Galway for more than forty years. The Kilconnell. interest that there was in the Mid West Co-op supply made it all the tougher and the It involved a name change for the society committee of Mid West Co-op were is a good with the merged society to be known as position to strike a hard deal, because of the Arrabawn Co-op Society Ltd. demand which there was for the milk”. At the first meeting of the new board held He considered it as one of his finest hours at the Shannon Oaks Hotel, Portumna of involvement with Nenagh Co-op when on Thursday April 19, 2001 he had the the merger was successfully completed honour of being unanimously elected the 373