Edition Bobbett2. Speeches and statements by Elizabeth F. Bobbett

1939 Ballybay, Meeting of the County Monaghan Farmers’ Union

Source: Anglo-Celt, 25.03.1939

The Secretary said that at last meeting a discussion took place with reference to affiliating with the National Federation. Mr. Joseph Lavelle, their representative on that body in Dublin, must ascertain the amount required from County Monaghan Union, and he wrote the General Secretary, Miss Elizabeth F. Bobbett, who said the fee for affiliation was 1s per member, and pointed out that the Irish Farmers’ Federation, being a registered Trade Union, was the only farmers’ association that had the protection of an Act of Parliament. In the event of farmers having to take strike action it was most desirable that all counties would be affiliated. The Federation did not wish to interfere in the County Monaghan Association, but all joining the Federation must abide by its rules and submit all important matters to the National Executive. To obtain benefits for the farmers it was necessary to demand with a united voice. She was glad Monaghan was lining up with Louth, Kildare, Dublin, Wicklow, Wexford, and she believed Cavan were willing to co-operate. A special strike committee had been set up to determine the date and a special memorandum was being prepared to explain the necessity for strike action to have the farmers grievances attended to. She added that they had forwarded to Dr. James Ryan a resolution asking him to resign from the Ministry of Agriculture owing to the hopeless failure of the Departmental administration of farming matters.

The County Secretary said he had replied pointing out that County Monaghan branches had fixed membership fees for year and the difficulty of raising any more money this season, but offered an affiliation fee of £5 from County Monaghan. Miss Bobbett replied that the Federation would accept £5 as an instalment of this which would make Monaghan legal members of the Federation. The Secretary further stated that funds were raised for a National organising drive in near future.

In a further letter, Miss Bobbett asked the Monaghan Union to be ready in the event of a strike. All counties would be notified on the night before, and effective action taken to withhold supplies from reaching Dublin City, and local towns and hold up all fairs and markets. With a firm stand, the strike would not last long and farmers not belonging to the Federation would most likely support the strike.

About the digital edition

This volume of Elizabeth F. Bobbett’s writings and speeches is divided into four parts. The first section comprises 321 texts written by her. The second part contains 150 speeches and statements by Bobbett, most of which were published in newspapers. Part 3 contains 727 texts written about Bobbett by contemporaries of her or addressed to her. Finally, Part 4 is a collection of 50 source texts that are important for understanding Elizabeth F. Bobbett’s activism. Parts 3 and 4 will be made available online in March 2027.

Suggested citation

Elizabeth Bobbett: Speech in Ballybay, Meeting of the County Monaghan Farmers’ Union, 1939, in: Peter Moser (ed.), In her own Words. The Writings of Elizabeth F. Bobbett (1898-1971). Farmer, Feminist and Public Figure, Bern, 2026, https://www.histoirerurale.ch/editions/pages/bobbett/1939-03-25-422.html, consulted on .

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