‘Unsung hero’ of Northern Ireland agriculture Thelma Gorman has been named as the woman who lost her life on a Co. Armagh farm on Friday (September 8).
It’s understood that the incident involving a cow occurred on Mrs. Gorman’s farm in Drumhirk Co. Armagh at around 1:00pm on Friday afternoon.
Widely regarded as a stalwart of Ulster farming and pedigree beef breeding, Mrs. Gorman was well respected among other Northern Ireland farmers.
She was a founding member of the Northern Ireland Simmental Cattle Breeders’ Club and was also a director of Armagh County Show, having helped with the event for more than four decades.
Her good work did not stop at the border; she also helped to steward the cattle classes at Tydavnet Show in Co. Monaghan.
In their spare time, Thelma and her husband Peter also offered respite care for children with learning disabilities.
As well as her voluntary work, Mrs. Gorman was well known for her herd – Woodford Simmentals. The small herd was successful on the Northern Ireland show circuit, picking up many rosettes along the way.
In 2015, her home-bred heifer Woodford Penny won the junior heifer championship at Balmoral Show.
As well as her Simmental cattle, Mrs. Gorman also kept some sheep. Just last year she won the title of ‘Unsung Hero’ at the Farming Life Awards.
Simmental Club Chairman Matthew Cunning said: “It’s an awful tragedy; she was a very esteemed member of the club. She went to almost every event and helped with everything from the club dinner to the shows to the barbecues. She was one of the club’s most dedicated members.
“The news has come as an awful shock – she was a very kind person who loved her cattle.”
