Tipperary dairy farmer elected as new ifac chair
Michael Kennedy succeeds Brendan Lawlor as chairperson, with David McDonagh appointed vice-chair.
Ifac, the top ten professional services firm providing specialist advice to the farming, food, agribusiness, and family business sectors, has announced the election of Michael Kennedy from County Tipperary as its new chairperson.
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New Chair: Michael Kennedy
Michael Kennedy is a grassland-based dairy farmer from County Tipperary, milking 160 cows with replacement stock across two farm blocks. He is a member of the Teagasc Discussion Group and serves on the IFA National Dairy Committee.
He brings extensive board-level experience to the role of Chair, having previously served as a director of:
• Arrabawn Co-op
• Central Auctions Co-op
• Farmer Business Developments plc
• Ripplecom plc
He is a past member of the IFA National Farm Business Committee and Macra na Feirme, and in 1996 chaired the organising committee for the All-Ireland Sheep Shearing Championships.
Michael Kennedy holds a Master of Business Studies in Co-operative Organisation and Social Enterprise and a Diploma in Corporate Direction, both from University College Dublin.
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“It is a great honour to be elected Chair of ifac. I want to acknowledge the outstanding leadership of Brendan Lawlor, who has guided the firm through a period of remarkable growth, including our 50th anniversary year.
Ifac was founded to serve farmers and regional businesses, and that mission is as relevant today as it was in 1975. The landscape for our clients is changing — whether that’s the pressures on farm incomes, the demands of succession planning, or the opportunities that come with a more diversified regional economy.
As Chair, I look forward to working with the Board, leadership team and colleagues across the country to build on that legacy, support the firm’s continued growth, and ensure ifac remains a trusted partner to farming, food, agribusiness and family businesses throughout Ireland.”
Michael Kennedy, Chair, ifac
Outgoing Chair: Brendan Lawlor
Michael Kennedy succeeds Kerry farmer Brendan Lawlor, who has served as chairperson of ifac since 2021.
During his tenure, Brendan Lawlor oversaw a period of significant growth and expansion for the firm, including ifac’s 50th anniversary in 2025.
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New Vice-Chair: David McDonagh
David McDonagh, representing County Sligo, has been appointed as vice-chair of ifac. A suckler-to-beef and sheep farmer, David McDonagh has been a member of the ifac board since 2015.
He holds qualifications from Mountbellew Agricultural College and IT Sligo, and completed a Postgraduate qualification from NUI Galway in 2016. He was actively involved with Macra na Feirme from 2011 to 2017.
“I’m delighted to take on the role of Vice-Chair alongside Michael. Having served on the ifac board since 2015, I’ve seen first-hand how the firm has grown while staying true to its roots in the farming and regional business community. I look forward to working with the Board and leadership team to support that continued development.”
David McDonagh, Vice-Chair, ifac
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About ifac
Founded in 1975 as the Irish Farm Accounts Co-operative, ifac has grown into one of Ireland’s top ten accountancy and advisory practices. The firm celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2025.
Ifac operates a national network of over 30 offices and employs a team of 600 professionals, serving over 30,000 clients nationwide.
The firm specialises in tax advisory, accountancy, pension planning, succession planning, and a wide range of financial services, with particular expertise in the farming, food, agribusiness, and family business sectors.
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