ICSA Staff

Eddie Punch is the general secretary of the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers’ Association, a post that he has held since 1999. In that time, ICSA has developed from a small base into an organisation with 10,000 members and the association’s progress has now been recognised in being appointed social partners by the government.

He is a member of various committees that advise the government and Department of Agriculture, including the National Economic and Social Council, the Farmers’ Charter Committee and the National Reserve Committee, and he represents ICSA at all Social Partnership meetings.

His responsibilities include human resources, communications, financial and strategic management of the association as well as representing it in negotiations with the agri-food sector, government ministers and officials, members of the Oireachtas and EU elected representatives and officials.

A native of Cratloe, Co. Clare he joined the company from West Limerick Resources Ltd where he was responsible for the ‘Facing the Millennium’ report. A graduate of the University of Limerick, where he obtained a degree in European Studies (Economics & Public Affairs) he previously worked with the Laois Leader Rural Development Company.

Neassa Fitzgibbon joined ICSA in 2015. She is responsible for ensuring that the ICSA message is carried across a broad spectrum of communication channels including: local, regional and national print, radio and television broadcast and social media. Neassa is also responsible for the publication of the Drystock Farmer magazine, the Association’s quarterly publication and organises the ICSA’s presence at important events, such as the annual National Ploughing Championships.

Having graduated from University College Cork, the Carlow native went on to gain a post graduate Diploma in Public Relations and has extensive experience in the fields of public relations, marketing and communications.