Joe Healy has been elected President of the Irish Farmers’ Association.

The Galway man, considered an IFA outsider, secured over 11,000 votes, or 47% of first preferences.

Mr Healy has never held any role on the IFA’s Executive, and is seen as a departure from the pay debacle that hit the association last year.

The dairy farmer from Athenry was deemed elected on the first count at the IFA count centre in Castleknock in Dublin in the past few minutes. 

Mr Healy said he would like to start tackling farm incomes, adding that farmers' margins have been deteriorating over the last number of years.

The Athenry farmer won 50% of votes and was elected on the first count, while IFA Livestock Chairman Henry Burns came second with 30% of the counted votes.

Flor McCarthy, from Kenmare, Co Kerry was in third with 19%.