Billy Heffron Farm Business Services - Ballina, Ireland

On a Tuesday in Summer 1992, former NCF Co-op chairman and dairy farmer, Billy Heffron, was standing in his empty office over the former Irish Permanent Building Society in Pearse Street, looking out at the busy street below. His decision to open a consultancy practice in Ballina only a month previous, was looking increasingly courageous, as his GAA colleagues would say of a solo run towards the opponent’s goal in extra time. His radio show “Farming Matters” on Mid-West radio, drew hundreds of queries each week on all aspects of agriculture and rural life, and Billy believed that even more people wanted a walk-in service to help them navigate the increasing paperwork and regulations of business life in rural Ireland. Yet, no one had yet walked up those steps except the postman, with  

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less than welcomed utility bills.

Was his solo run over before it began?

Then the sound of light steps on stairs, an urgent knock and his first customer walked in almost breathless - with a farm retirement plan she needed advice on. Billy – “her man on the radio” – was the only expert she would trust to do it. As they sat down to examine the details Billy allowed himself a smile – his solo run may work out after all….>

This was the beginning of over two decades of growing success for Billy and his team. Only a few years later they outgrew their office and relocated the business, to Clare Street, overlooking the beautiful river Moy, with years of building trusted relationships with the farmers, workers and business people of the North West. From the early days of managing Farm Accounts, EU grant applications and Agricultural advice with Billy’s first employees – his wife Mary, Bernie McHale and Seamus Murphy - the business has expanded and now offers years of expertise in Property Management, Auctioneering, Small Business Accounts & Taxation, Financial planning, Insolvency and Banking advice and resolutions. As Ballina and it’s hinterland has undergone the many changes the years have wrought Billy’s courageous solo run has become a team effort with Tom Carolan, Maria Foley, Geraldine Barrett and Maureen Keane joining Billy, to make his office one of the North West’s busiest one stop shop for their farming, business and financial needs. Aside from his own personal qualifications as a member of IPAV – Institute of Professional Auctionerers & Valuer, his daughter and now Billy’s right hand woman Maire is completing her own Higher Certificate in Real Estate (Valuation, Sales and Management), while the business itself has a PSRA licence, IPAV, TRV and TEGOVA membership.