The A.G.M will be held on 19th June 2010 at 10am at Spring Hall Farm, Oldcastle, County Meath, Ireland. All members are requested to attend. The annual open day will follow the A.G.M. Please note the date – 19th June, our original plans clashed with the Royal Highland Show. The venue is a beautiful 125 acre farm with a recently built Georgian style house in the heart of Ireland only 40 miles North West of Dublin off the M3 road turning left at Kells on the R163 sign posted Old Castle. Our hosts are Des and Fionnula Donohoe who have an all grass farm. A well established flock of 150 Easy Care ewes, a small flock of Charrollais sheep and a pedigree herd of Blond d’Aquitaine Cattle. As our base we are using the Knightsbrook Hotel situated on the Dublin road in Trim, Co Meath, a designated heritage town, famous for is magnificent Norman castle, Yellow steeple and beautiful streets, Knightsbrook hotel & golf resort is only 26 miles from Dublin city centre. The hotel is only minutes from the Hill of Tara and Bective Abbey and the world heritage site at Newgrange is close by. With horse riding, racing, fishing and golf, guests have a wide choice of activities and places of interest on their doorstep during their stay.
 
Knightsbrook Hotel & Golf Resort, Dublin Road, Trim Co Meath Tel +353 (0) 46 9482100 Email info@knightsbrook.com   www.knightsbrook.com
 
We have arranged for two nights (18th & 19th June) for 169 Euros, about £150 per person B&B and the dinner on the 19th based on two sharing. Please book direct with the Hotel quoting ‘Owen Farmers Group’. Trim is about half way between Dublin and Old Castle and we hope to arrange other optional visits, details later.
 
We plan a busy promotional programme this Summer and would appreciate any help on the stands. Welsh smallholders show, Builth Wells May 15th & 16th, NSA Scot sheep Stirling June 2nd, NSA South Stockbridge, Hamps June 16 th, our open day Ireland June 19 th, Royal Welsh show July 19th to 22nd, NSA Malvern August 3rd then our two society sales at Penrith September 14th and Worcester September 25th. Please select some good stock for the sales. We are confident of a good demand, all members will be sent entry forms nearer the time.
 
Recording - on the entry forms we are asking who is recording so that we can hopefully have a meaningful list of comparative results. Also scrapie records, ‘inovis’ is one firm that will test blood samples, phone 019708 28236. For performance recording funds are available from Signet phone 0870 2421314, Welsh Lamb promotion 01970 625050, QMS (Scotland) 0131 4724040 and Northern Ireland 02892 633000.
 
The membership fee will remain at £20 or 25 Euros making us the cheapest breed society in the World! But do please pay up by the A.G.M or your name will not appear on the list of members.
 
Congratulations to Ann Barlow of Bolton who won the prophet of the Year and qualifies for a years free membership and the honour and glory! W Easy of Dunbarton was a close second and Mr Robinson, Cheltenham 3rd.
 
Our thanks again go to ‘Rumenco’ our sponsors. I hope we will see you all in Ireland on June 19th.
 
Iolo Owen, M.B.E., F.R.Ag.S., N.Sch.
Secretary