Donaghmore Co-op Society -The Inside Story

This book tells the remarkable story of how, in the formative years of the newly independent Ireland, a group of men from diverse backgrounds in County Laois shook off the shackles of religious, political and social differences to build one of the most successful independent co-ops in the country.
Donaghmore Co-op Society was founded in 1927. The experts said that it was the wrong business, in the wrong place, at the wrong time and forecast its early demise. How could it possibly survive! But survive it did and eventually prospered. Branches were opened in Raheen and Spink and, later, Mountmellick joined the fold.

Donaghmore Co-op played a key role in the formation of Avonmore which later joined with Waterford to form Glanbia, now one of the biggest and most progressive dairy food producers in the world. The Society's frontiers were pushed further afield when it joined Monasterevin Co-op to form a very successful region within Glanbia's field of operations, which now embraces Clonaslee, North Offaly, Ballacolla, Mullingar and Moate.

Much of the information in this book is gleaned from the minute books for the first forty years of the Society, which have happily survived, and from the ICOS files held in the National Archives. The secrets from these primary sources are revealed for the first time. There are also extensive interviews with people involved, which add the personal touch to this fascinating history.

This is the inside story of 75 years of the trials and tribulations and, most of all, the achievements at Donaghmore Co-op. It gives a remarkable insight into its day-to day workings and of the men and women who are an essential part of that story. It is the story of A Triumph of Co-operation over Adversity.

The book is available now at all Glanbia branches