An Taoiseach Enda Kenny was on hand recently to launch DBS History Lecturer, Dr. Micheál Ó Fathartaigh’s book ‘Irish Agriculture Nationalised’ at the headquarters of the Irish Co-operative Organisation Society in Dublin.
Dr. O’Fathartaigh’s book offers a fascinating account of how Ireland’s modern dairy sector came to be, encompassing the birth of Kerry Group and Golden Vale as well as the remarkable story of The Dairy Disposal Company - one of the first Irish state-sponsored bodies to acquire private creameries and other agri-businesses and transfer them to co-operative societies.
Speaking to The Kerryman Newspaper, Micheál said "At its height, the DDC operated 191 creameries and 86 other agri-businesses, employed 1,400 people and was an industrial outlet for 25,000 farmers. In developing businesses in peripheral places, the DDC shaped the Irish dairy industry and redressed its east-west economic imbalance."
Also present at the book launch were DBS Lecturers Dr. Michael Kane, Dr. Heikki Laiho and Dr. Paul Hollywood.
