However, as the months passed and as more people were informed about the project, a great enthusiasm began to surround the organising committee. It became apparent that this endeavour had far more potential than a local and temporary programme. It was decided to invite prominent national figures to form a Board of Directors of a new Third World Development Agency, which would specialise in the use of livestock in developing countries.
The national launch of Bóthar, on 24 August 1991 was attended by, among many others, Mr. Tom Hemphill the Chief Executive of Heifer International, USA, with whom Bóthar had formed a working partnership. As soon as the formalities were concluded Bóthar was offered its first dairy heifer by Mr. Tim Doody of Kilballyowen, Herbertstown, Co. Limerick.Following this the practical task of getting together the first heifer shipment was stepped up. After three months of very hard work by many people from all over the country the first Bóthar Airlift of 20 in-calf dairy heifers left Shannon Airport for Entebbe, Uganda on the night of 10 December 1991. One week later these animals were distributed to 20 individual families.
In the following few years many subsequent shipments of heifers were sent to East Africa. Bóthar also began a dairy goat programme, and became involved with supplying 4 W-D vehicles, large supplies of veterinary drugs and many thousands of AI straws to project countries. The excellent working relationship between Bóthar and Heifer International continued throughout the formative years of our organisation.
Bóthar staff of 2006
Back Row:
From left to right: back row: Jeremy Meehan (Director of Education and Cork Regional Director), Anita Swartz (Donor Care), Conor O'Donoghue (Grants Manager), Jim Kelly (Administration), Mike Zapp (administration), Matt O’Sullivan (Administration), Michael MaGee (Volunteer)
Middle Row:
From left to right: Niamh Mulqueen (Assistant to CEO), Breda Bucke (Accounts Director), Lynsey Price (Support Groups Co-coordinator), Maria McCormack (Airlifts Co-coordinator), Maureen Purcell (Donor Care Director), Frances Murphy (Dublin Regional Director), Sarah Shanahan (Receptionist).
Front Row:
From left to right: Dr. Bernard Muyeya (Overseas Programme Director), Peter Ireton (Chief Executive), Yanna Shumaker (Consultant to Bóthar), and David Moloney (Deputy Chief Executive).
BSE
In 1996 Europe was faced with the crisis of Bóvine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), and this brought a halt to heifer airlifts for two years. During this period the only animals that we sent abroad were dairy goats. However we continued to assist wherever we could with veterinary supplies, vehicles, artificial insemination straws and training literature.Now, looking back, it is possible to say that the dark cloud of the BSE crisis had one small silver lining in that, throughout that two-year period, our fledgling organisation was forced to broaden its scope and look in other directions for ways of assisting struggling families in the developing world. Bóthar began investigating other countries that needed assistance
and also researched other types of farm animals that we could work with. This led, subsequently, to the establishment of both the chicken and pig projects in Cameroon. More recently we have established bee projects in five African countries: Ghana, Tanzania, Uganda, Cameroon and Zambia, a breeding yak programme in Tibet and a rabbit programme in China. Following the lifting of embargoes after the recent foot and mouth outbreak, the heifer programme has continued to expand and now operates in Cameroon, Rwanda, Uganda, Lebanon, Malawi, Albania and Kosovo and our goats are now present in Tanzania, Kenya, Lebanon, Mozambique, Poland, Uganda and Gambia.In conjunction with Heifer International and a group of other international organisations Bóthar continues to expand and grow rapidly as we enter the new millennium. We look to the futurewith hope and a confidence that what we are enabled to do through our many generous supporters will make a difference to the world.
