Tribute to Rev Fr Jim Conlon: A Pioneer in Sustainable Farming

The agricultural community is mourning the loss of Rev Fr Jim Conlon, who passed away on March 4, 2023, at Greenpark Nursing Home in Armagh. Known as a “quiet pioneer” in sustainable farming and renewable energy, Fr Conlon was the farm manager at Our Lady of Bethlehem Abbey in Portglenone for many years. His dedication to environmental stewardship and faith-based farming practices has left a lasting legacy.

Dr Les Gornall, a colleague and friend, described Fr Conlon’s influence in a heartfelt tribute. He noted that the late priest devoted his life to both faith and the careful management of the natural world. “Those who worked with him knew that beneath his gentle manner lay a rare courage,” Gornall remarked, highlighting Fr Conlon’s determination to challenge conventional agricultural practices.

In the early 1980s, Fr Conlon raised concerns about the environmental impacts of modern farming within his Cistercian community. Rather than adopting the increasingly chemical-dependent methods typical of that era, he advocated for a more wholesome approach to agriculture. This vision led to the removal of artificial fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides on the Abbey farm, replaced by a system focused on soil fertility, pasture diversity, and nutrient cycling.

Fr Conlon’s practical vision extended to renewable energy. He collaborated with Gornall and biogas pioneer James Murcott of Farm Gas Ltd to establish one of the first full-scale anaerobic digestion systems in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Commissioned in 1985, this digester processed manure from 300 beef cattle and 27,000 broiler chickens, as well as silage effluent and other organic waste. The system not only generated renewable biogas for heating the Abbey but also dried organic grain and captured valuable nutrients for compost production.

Fr Conlon’s hands-on approach ensured the success of the project. As farm manager, he supervised daily operations, including livestock management and digester feeding. His integrated system linked renewable energy production with composting, crop drying, and organic farming practices. The compost generated at the Abbey became a successful peat substitute and was used in various products, including those for golf course maintenance. Additionally, the farm shop offered ‘Abbycorn’—organically grown stone-ground oats dried using energy from the digester.

Under his leadership, the farm transformed significantly. Chemically managed fields were replaced with diverse pastures rich in clover and medicinal herbs. Innovative weed control methods were employed, such as harvesting and utilizing Rumex seed heads as feedstock for the digester. These changes resulted in improved livestock health, reduced veterinary interventions, and demonstrated that ecological farming could be both practical and economically viable.

Although Fr Conlon never sought recognition for his pioneering work, his efforts garnered national and international awards. Visitors to the digester and composting systems were greeted warmly, learning about the Abbey’s innovative farming practices.

Today, Northern Ireland boasts more biogas plants per capita than any other region in the UK, a testament to Fr Conlon’s enduring influence on sustainable agriculture. His funeral took place at The Church of The Immaculate Conception in Tullysaran, followed by burial in Old Tullysaran Cemetery. The legacy he leaves behind is one of courage, innovation, and a profound respect for both faith and the environment.