Jackie Cahill, a first-time TD, is well known in the farming and agricultural community through the boards and organisations he is involved with. The Thurles farmer says he is a "tough negotiator" for farmers at national and European level. Cahill (53) was asked as a teenager by his father to work on the family farm. He was president of the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association 2005-2011. He is director of Thurles Greyhound Stadium, was chairman of the National Dairy Council for four years and elected as a councillor with Tipperary County Council in 2014 for the Thurles-Templemore area on this first attempt. He is chairman of the County Roads Committee, was a member of Bord Bia, vice-chairman of the Irish Dairy Board for three years and a member of the European Milk Board for 10 years.