TRIBUTES WERE paid yesterday to longtime farmers’ leader Joe Bruton, who has died aged 99.
Mr Bruton was the father of former taoiseach and head of the EU mission in Washington John Bruton, and Fine Gael deputy leader and finance spokesman Richard Bruton.
Expressing his sympathies, Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny said: “Joe Bruton was an exceptional Irishman and his death this morning just three days short of his 100th birthday is a very sad loss to all his family.
“In particular I would like to extend my sympathies to his sons John and Richard, whom I have had the fortune of working closely with over the years, and to his daughter Mary.
“I knew that Joe’s condition had been deteriorating recently but all who knew him had hoped that he would reach his landmark 100th birthday next week.
“Joe made an indelible imprint on Irish society, most particularly in the farming community.
“He will be remembered well by all in that community and in particular by the hundreds of small farmers across the country that sold cattle to him over many years,” Mr Kenny said.
Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) president Pádraig Walshe said Mr Bruton was one of the leading beef farmers of his generation and recognised as a supreme innovator.
“During his time in the IFA, he represented the interests of farmers and played an important role in the development of the association,” he said.
Mr Bruton served as chairman of the IFA National Livestock Committee in the early 1970s and held the post during Ireland’s accession to the EEC in 1973.
He had the distinction of being the first Irishman to serve as chairman of the influential Beef Advisory Committee.
Matthew Joseph Bruton was born near Dublin’s Phoenix Park into a family of cattle traders. He farmed in Dunboyne, Co Meath, and sold beef to many Dublin butchers.
Mr Bruton was prominent in the farmers’ rights campaigns in the mid-1960s, and a weekly contributor to the Irish Farmers’ Journal for many years. His column was described as containing “gems in abundance laced with good humour and good sense but always conscious of defending the role and rights of his fellow farmers”.
He was a former chairman of the Dublin Port and Docks Board. He was a former president of the Grassland and Animal Production Association, the Agricultural Economics Society of Ireland and the Irish Bee Keepers’ Association. He was also a member of the Royal Dublin Society and president of its agricultural committee.
His wife Doris died three years ago. Their daughter Mary runs a Montessori school in Dublin.
His removal is tomorrow evening at St Peter and Paul Church, Dunboyne, arriving at 5.30pm. His funeral will take place on Monday after 11am Mass. He will be buried at Rooske Cemetery.
