M Magazine Summer 2013 - Macra na Feirme

MACRA MAGAZINE ISSUE 1 VOLUME 13 SUMMER 2013 

Trip to 

Ethiopia 

Page 6 

Focus on 

succession 

Page 20 

Sligo 

salute 

Meet the new Macra 

national president – p4 

Dairy 

week 

Page 8 

AGRICULTURE | COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT | PERFORMING ARTS | PUBLIC SPEAKING | SPORTS | TRAVEL

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mInterviews....................... 4 

Ethiopia trip..................... 6 

National Dairy Week...........8 

Know Your Neighbour.........10 

Young Farmer & 

Silage competitions..........12 

Noticeboard....................14 

AGM report.....................16 

European Rally................18 

Agriculture news..............20 

Competitions...................23 

Festivals & events............24 

Summer fun....................26 

Photo page ....................28 

M is published twice a year 

and is a joint venture between 

Macra na Feirme and the 

Agricultural Trust, publishers of 

the Irish Farmers Journal and 

The Irish Field. 

Editor: 

Aoife Helly 

Sub-editors: 

Regina Horan 

Brian Murphy 

Design: 

Garrett Allen 

Imaging: 

Owen McGauley 

Advertising: 

Fiona Brien 

01-4199557 

087-7726164 

fbrien@farmersjournal.ie 

Printing: 

Johnswood Press 

info@johnswoodpress.ie 

The publishers accept no 

responsibility for the veracity 

of claims made by contributors 

and advertisers. While every 

care is taken to ensure 

accuracy of information 

contained in M Magazine, 

we do not accept 

responsibility for any 

errors or matters arising 

from same. 

© Macra na Feirme 

It is a great pleasure to be writing my first piece for M 

magazine as president. Thank you to my family, friends 

and, of course, all the Macra members for their good 

wishes and support. Alan Jagoe has completed a very busy 

two years and will be remembered with respect and 

affection by Macra members everywhere. I wish him and 

his fiancée, Helen, the very best of luck in their future life 

together. 

Congratulations to my three vice-presidents, Paddy 

Delaney, James Healy and Sean Finan, and to all the 

officers and committee chairpersons who took up their roles 

at the AGM hosted by Avondhu. The AGM 

committee deserve a huge thank you for a great 

weekend and choice of venue. 

The Know Your Neighbour weekend will take place on 

the weekend of 13 and 14 July and clubs and counties/ 

regions are encouraged to get involved. 

The summer packs, with information on upcoming 

events, will be posted out shortly. The packs also 

contain the dates of competitions throughout the year. If any 

county/region is interested in hosting a competition round or 

final, then they should ensure that their 

application is received before the closing date in mid-July. 

In addition, the summer packs have details about hosting 

the 2014 National AGM of Macra and the closing date for 

applications is mid-July as well. 

During the next two years I hope to meet as many of you 

as I can at events across the country and to promote our six 

key areas and everything that Macra na Feirme represents. 

— Kieran O’Dowd 

Macra na Feirme 

National President, 

2013-2015 

Summer 2013 | m | 3

m 

Meet the new 

Macra president 

On 9 April, members 

elected 

Kieran O’Dowd, 

South Sligo Macra, as 

national president of 

Macra. 

He took up his 

position at the AGM 

on 11 May, alongside 

his three vice presidents, 

James Healy, Munster VP (Donoughmore 

Macra, Muskerry), Patrick 

Delaney, Leinster VP (Portlaoise Macra) 

and Sean Finan, North West VP 

(Castlerea Macra, Roscommon). 

We asked members to put their 

Ryan Tubridy hats on and come up 

with some questions for our new 

national president and three vice 

presidents. 

These are the questions put to each 

one from Macra members on Facebook. 

Q&A 

with president and 

vice presidents 

Five questions 

1) As elected members, what 

do you envisage doing in your 

term that hasn’t been done 

before — James 

2) What do the president and 

three vice-presidents bring to Macra 

that is different to the last president 

and vice-presidents — Louise 

3) Will they be photographed as much 

as Alan Jagoe was! – Philip 

4) Seeing what is going on at the 

moment with the fodder crisis — are 

you thinking about the future Are you 

thinking of implementing a plan/procedure 

in case it happens again, which 

is likely to happen — Sarah 

5) Blur or Oasis — James 

KIERAN O’DOWD, NATIONAL PRESIDENT 

1) I intend to prioritise the area of land 

mobility and working closely with the 

various stakeholders to initiate progress 

in the area. 

2) Coming from a different part of 

Ireland will mean that, naturally, I will 

have a different perspective on some 

issues. In addition, coming from a different 

work background, I hope to tailor 

my skills and experience to achieve the 

James Healy, Munster 

vice president 

1) Personal development is a huge part of 

what Macra is about and something which 

I think as VP I can do a lot to facilitate. For 

that reason, I hope to organise courses, 

 

give Macra members a very useful skill but 

which will also add to their CV in the current 

economic climate. 

2) From my own perspective, I think I bring 

a lot of experience gained from my time on 

competitions, which I am extremely happy 

to share, whether they are questions on 

presiding, running workshops or putting 

counties or clubs, who may want a little 

extra practice, in contact with each other 

3) Despite what everybody at work thinks, 

I haven’t been photographed that often 

but it’s getting harder and harder to stay 

out of Daniel O’Regan’s lens, so it’s very 

possible! 

4) I think it’s very possible that there will 

be a shortage again next year given that a 

huge amount of reserves have been eaten 

in to this year. For that reason, I think 

farmers need to look carefully and try and 

plan for that shortage by buying early and 

at a reasonable price. Beyond that, I think 

Macra would need to co-ordinate with the 

other farming organisations to put a plan 

in place. 

5) I never really got that you had to be one 

4 | m | Summer 2013 

or the other, but gun to head, Oasis by a 

nose. 

Sean Finan, North West 


1) I hope to work to further raise the 

awareness of what Macra has to offer 

by encouraging counties in my region to 

meet with their local print media to advise 

and highlight to them that Macra is the 

representative body for young farmers but 

 

A recent survey carried out by a county in 

the northwest highlighted the importance 

 

Macra. 

All too often, Macra’s coverage of 

performing arts, sports, etc, is covered in 

the agricultural page. If this information 

were to appear in the sports pages or the 

arts and cultural page, it would have a far 

broader reach and attract more members 

to the organisation that might not necessarily 

know what we do. 

At the National AGM, I presented 

details of the proposed ‘Night at the Dogs’ 

Fundraising initiative which will take 

place at four greyhound tracks at the end 

of November 2013. This fundraising is 

necessary to bridge the gap in funding as 

a result in the cut of the Youth Services 

Grant. As vice president, I will lead the 

organisation of this event in the venue in 

the northwest region. This is a new event 

 

times, it is paramount that it is successful. I 

will lead from the front in making this event 

a success in my region. 

2) Each vice president and president past 

and present brings something different to 

the organisation as every person has a 

different background, level of experience 

and approach when it comes to Macra. It’s 

all about working as part of a team. I can 

only speak for myself and say that I am a 

hard worker, a team player and passion- 

 

members and I will work tirelessly to grow 

and develop our organisation over the next 

two years. 

3) Alan Jagoe was a very popular and 

hardworking president. The president is the 

full-time representative of the organisation 

at a national level and, as a result, is likely 

to be photographed more than all the VPs 

together during the two-year term. A VP 

would never expect to receive the same 

exposure as the role is more centred on 

their own region. 

4) Due to the size of our organisation and 

our limited resources, we will be somewhat 

restricted in what we can and cannot do 

in the event of a crisis, such as the fodder 

crisis. We can only do whatever we can as 

each crisis arises, however big or small 

that intervention may be. 

5) Oasis

during my presidency. 

3) Like it or not, yes we will! 

4) Of course I also think about the 

future and how the latter part of the 

year will prove to be very challenging 

as well. 

About implementing a plan/procedure 

in case it happens again, which 

is probably likely to happen The 

Paddy Delaney, Leinster 


1) I’d actually imagine that most of what 

I hope to do has been at least attempted 

before but I would hope to improve where 

some might not have achieved all they had 

hoped. 

I suppose I’d like to concentrate on key 

areas of my campaign, particularly regional 

and club development, Macra travel 

and agricultural issues. 

One particular area that I would like to 

see us grow in is promoting mental health 

awareness and this is certainly something 

I look forward to working on in conjunction 

with the Rural Youth Initiative committee. 

2) Well I’m brand new to national council 

and national executive level, so I hope to 

bring fresher, different and new ideas. I actually 

think the last presidential team did a 

good job and we should be looking to bring 

back all the positive methods of working 

that they had, while combining these with 

our own individual qualities. 

My real aim out for the next two years is 

to know that I have done a good job and 

have no regrets at the end of my term. 

3) I certainly hope not. I seem to have a 

knack at being caught on camera at less 

than perfect moments, just ask Daniel 

O’Regan. 

4) Firstly, we have to look back at what 

has been an unprecedented winter, which 

The new Macra 

national president 

Kieran O’Dowd 

celebrates with his 

supporters from the 

North West region 

at the election 

count last month. 

planning really needs to be done at 

a farm level and the unpredictability 

of the Irish weather means that every 

eventuality cannot be planned for. 

The main thing to ensure is that the 

state can kick into action at an earlier 

stage to ensure that fodder is sourced 

quicker and that it can be purchased 

competitively. 

5) Oasis, of course! 

followed on from an extremely poor summer 

in 2012. Many farmers were caught on 

the hop and had very few options available 

to them, with fodder being so tight and 

access to credit being limited. Fodder aid 

was also slow arriving mainly because 

it had to be sourced from outside the 

country. 

My own personal advice would be to 

have a plan for every eventuality, it doesn’t 

mean that it will be any cheaper if it does 

happen again, but it may mean we can get 

the ball rolling a bit faster if it looks like we 

are going to run into trouble in the future. 

I know the Macra ag affairs committee 

discussed this many times and would have 

been very proactive in encouraging farmers 

to help one another out. 

I would like to see Macra meet with 

interested parties in the case of this 

type of scenario potentially arising again 

to try to ensure that this type of crisis 

could be averted. I think that we have all 

have learned a lot from the past year, 

mainly that you can never depend on the 

weather(although this is not exactly breaking 

news). 

One of the main positives has been to 

see so many farmers help one another out 

 

often under pressure themselves. 

5) A bit like Father Dougal and Father 

Damo, I was always more of an Oasis man 

myself. 

Thirty seconds with 

past president, Alan Jagoe 

What was the highlight of your 

time as Macra president 

It was travelling the country and 

meeting members. I enjoyed seeing 

the organisation grow and members 

develop through their involvement in 

the various activities. 

What will you miss the most 

I’ll miss meeting members at events 

and getting to make so many new 

friends. 

What is your advice for the 

incoming president and future 

presidents 

I’d advise them to enjoy every moment 

of their terms. The two years goes so 

fast so make the most of it. 

Meet national chairman 

Ronan Feighery 

What is your vision for the role 

of national chairperson 

My vision as chair would be to have an 

ever increasing, vibrant, active organisation 

and to increase our standing as 

an effective lobby organisation. At the 

same time, I want to ensure that every 

 

their membership. 

What do you want to focus on 

during your time in the role 

I want to focus on working with the national 

president and executive to drive 

the organisation forward, in particular 

focusing on our national fundraiser 

in November and to deliver the best 

services for our members. 

What do you like most about 

being involved in Macra 

There is no one particular thing, it’s 

everything — the whole package, the 

members, the competitions, the sense 

of being part of something very special 

and the friends and family that is Macra. 

I want to give 100% as a national 

chairman. 

Kieran O’Dowd, Ronan Feighery and Alan Jagoe. 


m 

Macra members make 

epic trip to Ethiopia 

Two members of Macra na Feirme 

visited Ethiopia at the end of January. 

Joseph Wall from Mullinavat, 

Co Kilkenny and a member of Mullinvat 

Macra, and Teresa Brennan from Ballylinan, 

Co Laois and a member of East 

Laois Macra, both won a bursary from 

the Joe Rea Bursary fund to visit Vita’s 

Potato Centre of Excellence in the Gama 

Zofa region of southern Ethiopia. 

Ethiopia at 

a glance 

Ethiopia is home 

to 85 million 

people. It contains 

273 million acres, 

15 times the size 

of Ireland, with 

roughly 400,000 

acres of potatoes. 

Under the Vita Potato Scheme, local 

farmers can take out a ‘loan’ of a bag of 

seed potatoes that can be returned the 

following year alongside a donation of 

another bag. This way, it is hoped that 

farmers will be provided with seed for 

years to come and that millions of people 

will be reliably fed. 

The trip included farm visits, attending 

informal training days and discussion 

groups for farmers, visiting local schools 

and learning about the great work Vita is 

doing in the region. Macra’s experience 

in leadership training, personal development 

and education were identified as 

key strengths which could support Vita’s 

work. The members prepared a report 

on the project with recommendations on 

how Macra could support the Vita project 

in Ethiopia. 

Read the full report on Macra.ie 

and check out all the photos on 

the Macra photo gallery! 

About the fund 

The Joe Rea bursary fund was established 

by the family of the late Joe Rea, 

Richard Rea Agri Ltd, 

Agricultural Consultants and the Farm 

Apprenticeship Board. Joe Rea was a lifetime 

supporter of Macra, rising through 

the organisation to become national president 

from 1967 to 1969. 


A training session is run to teach farmers how to plough. 

Teresa, Joe and Liam observe a young farmers’ 

discussion group. 

The Great Ethiopian Run (GER) 

will take place on Sunday, 24 

November in the Ethiopian 

capital, Addis Adaba. More than 

36,000 participants – from elite 

athletes to fun walkers – are 

expected to take part in the 

10K run. By joining the 2013 

Vita Team on this inspiring trip 

to Addis Ababa, you help fund 

Vita’s work in the southern 

part of the country. For further 

details, contact Liam Myles on 

087 2866018. 

LEFT: 

Joe and 

Teresa 

with a 

local 

family 

they met.

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m 

Nutritious by nature 

Celebrating the 

quality and versatility 

of Irish dairy produce 

The NDC-organised National Dairy 

Week from the 29 April to 5 May to 

remind us all about the excellence 

of our pasture-based dairy farming and 

produce, from farm to fridge. It also highlighted 

the quality, versatility and nutritious 

benefits of dairy within our lives, as 

part of a healthy, balanced diet. 

Key highlights during 

National Dairy Week 

A specialist symposium for dieticians, 

entitled Body Weight and Body Composition 

Throughout the Life Cycle, organised 

by the Irish Nutrition & Dietetic 

Institute (INDI) in association with the 

National Dairy Council (NDC) took place 

on Tuesday, 30 April. 

The national finals of the NDC ‘Milk It’ 

Advertising Awards for secondary school 

students took place on Wednesday, 1 May. 

Further details are available online at 

www.milkitawards.ie 

At the NDC annual conference, which took place during National Dairy Week, were Macra 

national president Kieran O’Dowd, Zoe Kavanagh, NDC CEO and Richard Curran, presenter of 

Dragon’s Den. 

Annual conference 

The NDC annual conference took place 

on Thursday, 2 May in Dublin. A Macra 

delegation, including Kieran O’Dowd, 

Macra national president, attended. 

The excellence of Irish dairy farming 

was also highlighted through the NDC 

and Kerrygold Quality Milk Awards, 

with the search for this year’s top dairy 

farmer now on. Entry forms are available 

at www.qualitymilkawards.ie 

Moo Crew 

‘The Primary Dairy Moovement’ is the 

dairy education initiative just launched 

for primary schools from the NDC. It is 

now up and running with many classes in 

primary schools taking part in a competition 

to celebrate National Dairy Week. 

Further details at www.moocrew.ie 

RECIPE 

COMPETITION 

Layered fruit and yogurt cup by Michelle Flynn from Kerry 

Congratulations to Michelle Flynn from Kerry who sent in this delicious 

and easy recipe, which we are looking forward to making. 

There were loads of entries ranging from brown bread to cheesecake 

and even some casseroles! 

Michelle has won a dairy hamper from the NDC! 

Ingredients 

4 cups plain non-fat yogurt 

1/4 cup honey 

1 tsp vanilla extract 

4 kiwi’s, peeled and chopped 

3/4 cup dried cranberries 

1 cup crunchy cereal (low-fat 

granola or cheerios) 

Method 

1. In a medium bowl, combine yogurt, honey 

and vanilla extract. 

2. With a tall glass, begin with a layer of yogurt. 

3. Follow with a layer of kiwi and cranberries. 

Add a layer of cereal. 

4. Continue two or more times, ending with berries 

and cereal. 

5. Repeat for the remaining glasses. 

6. Serve immediately. 

8 | m | Summer 2013

Irish Cheddar. Goodness in every bite. 

Fresh Irish Cheddar is delicious, nutritious and extremely versatile. 

Why not try it as part of a sandwich, as a snack on its own 

or as a tasty addition to many meals 

The fact that it’s a rich source of calcium and protein makes it 

even more appealing! 

www.ndc.ie

m 

Get ready for Know Your N 

Macra’s Know Your 

Neighbour 

Weekend will 

take place on 13-14 

July 2013. 

The initiative, 

in its eighth year, 

aims to bring 

neighbours 

together to socialise 

and have 

fun. Whether it’s 

a BBQ, picnic or 

family fun day, 

why not get together 

with your club and the 

rest of your community 

and organise a Know Your 

Neighbour event 

Macra’s Know Your Neighbour 

Weekend will be held as part of The 

Gathering 2013 and will actively 

encourage event organisers to invite 

their neighbours home to attend their 

community event. The Gathering 2013 

is a government initiative to encourage 

anyone with ties to Ireland to come 

home this year and visit. It is a fantastic 

opportunity to make our Know Your 

Neighbour Weekend an international 

event! 

PLEASE WELCOME 

IRISH COUNTRY 

LIVING AS OUR 

MEDIA PARTNERS 

Clonakilty Macra 

Festival wins top 

European prize 

Clonakilty Macra, Co Cork, have been 

awarded the top prize in the fourth running 

of the ‘Rural Youth Project of the 

Year competition’. In total, organisers 

Rural Youth Europe received 11 exciting 

project entries from seven different 

countries and said all were impressive 

for their variety and for displaying 

how creative and active their member 

organisations are. 

The winning project was Clonakilty 

Macra na Feirme’s ‘Random Acts of 

Kindness Festival’ which was organised 

as part of Macra’s ‘Know Your 

Neighbour Weekend’ in 2012. 

In July last year, Clonakilty Macra 

organised the unique three day 

‘Random Acts of Kindness Festival’ to 

spread positivity. The aim of the project 

was to run something for the community, 

to bring a smile to people’s faces 

and to show what people can do when 

they work together. 

The slogan was ‘fun, free and for 

all ages’ and so it was a festival for 

everyone. The festival was 

opened with a bubble 

blowing ceremony and 

continued with a 

concert by three 

local bands. 

During the 

second day, a 

kids sports day 

was held and 

several voluntary 

organisations could 

spread the message 

in the community 

about what they 

do, recruit new members 

and find partners for new 

collaborative events. 

Around the town, kindness zones 

were set up where volunteers distributed 

small donated gift or others were 

running a workshop like drumming or 

breakdance. 

The festival ended with a junglethemed 

BBQ and a lot of different 

attractions that made people smile. 

Clonakilty Macra’s prize is attendance 

at the next European Rally which 

is being hosted by Macra. They will 

also be awarded the Rural Youth Project 

travelling trophy. 

Register! 

Just register your event on www.know 

yourneighbour.ie or by texting KYN 

followed by your name and address 

to 51444 following our launch in early 

June. 

Event ideas! 

Old school sports day 

Family fun day 

Community coffee 

morning 

Visit the local nursing 

home or active 

retirement group 

Field day 

Invite friends and family 

home for a Gathering 

get-together 

Trad & dance session 

Drumming workshops provided a fun activity for the community 

at the Clonakilty Random Acts of Kindness Festival. 

Family, fun and music were the big attractions at 

the Ashbourne Playspace Family Fun Day. 

 

without a cup of scald at their KYN event. 

 


The bubble ceremony opened the Clonakilty 

Random Acts of Kindness Festival.

Neighbour Weekend 2013! 

Mitchelstown Macra’s event rocked! 

mu- 

The Oznan house barbecue brought current 

and past residents of the homeless shelter 

together for a sense of belonging. 

There was a competitive element to 

Glanmire Macra’s family fun day. 

Ashbourne Playspaces family 

fun day was a colourful affair. 

Togher Macra’s KYN coffee morning brought 

young an old together for tea and chats. 

A winning combination of goodwill 

and community spirit at the Clonakilty 

Random Acts of Kindness Festival. 

Devilsbit Macra were out in force at the local 

Vintage Fair for Know Your Neighbour. 


m 

The search is on for ambitious young 

farmers for Macra na Feirme’s 

FBD Young Farmer of the Year 

competition. Applications are sought 

from young farmers throughout Ireland 

who are involved in the running of a 

farm. A county winner will be chosen who 

will go through to the all-Ireland final in 

September. 

Macra national president Alan Jagoe 

said: “The FBD Young Farmer of the Year 

competition recognises the ambitious, 

business-minded young farmers who are 

driving the agricultural industry in Ireland. 

Young farmers who are working in 

partnership, or a-re out on their own, are 

the cornerstones of the Irish economy. 

It is crucial that they are recognised by 

the industry and supported in their plans. 

With CAP negotiations ongoing and quota 

abolition in the near future, farming is 

full of opportunity and promise but young 

farmers must be supported to help them 

enter the industry and develop their farm 

businesses in the first crucial years.” 

You can hear from the current FBD 

Young Farmer of the Year on why he 

The battle is on! The 2012 winner, Dermot O’Connor from Shanagolden, 

Co Limerick helped launch the FBD Young Farmer of the 

Year competition with John Bryan, IFA president; Christy Doherty, 

of sponsors FBD; and Alan Jagoe, Macra national president. 

Search is on for young, 

ambitious farmers 

thinks every young farmer should enter 

on www.macra.ie/videos. 

Run in partnership with the IFA, the 

aim of the competition is to recognise 

and reward the top young farmers in the 

country. Entrants are judged according 

to a number of criteria, including farm 

business initiative and innovation, levels 

of farm efficiency and enterprise quality, 

farm safety and environmental protection 

awareness, as well as agricultural knowledge 

and community involvement. 

The overall winner of the competition 

will receive a bursary to undertake international 

travel and study farm practices. 

Young farmers can also be nominated for 

the competition. Anyone who nominates 

a young farmer will go into a draw for 

two nights’ B&B for two adults in any 

FBD hotel, including dinner on one night. 

Every Macra club with a valid entry will 

be entered into a draw for a club outing to 

Lilliputs adventure park in Mullingar! 

Apply on macra.ie or nominate a young 

farmer using the form on the right. The 

closing date for applications and nominations 

is 31 May 2013. 

Could you be your 

county’s FBD 

YOUNG FARMER 

OF THE YEAR 

APPLICATION/ 

NOMINATION FORM 

Young farmer’s name: 

Address (if known): 

Contact number: 

Nominated by: 

Your contact number: 

Please place completed form in an 

envelope and return it to the following 

address before 31 May: 

Derrie Dillon, 

 

The Irish Farm Centre, 

Bluebell, Dublin 12. 

Forage Systems’ grass silage competition underway 

Macra na Feirme and Forage Systems 

have launched their annual joint silage 

competition. Again this year, the competition 

allows the entrant to have the mineral 

content of their silage analysed which is 

of huge value. The competition is open to 

Macra members and is an opportunity for 

young farmers to test their knowledge of 

growing grass in the hopes of winning a 

place on the Today FM Ian Dempsey ski 

 

 

for Grasstec products and services. 

Macra na Feirme national president, 

Kieran O’Dowd recently launched the 

competition on the farm of last year’s 

winner, James Barber from Rathdowney, 

Co Laois. 

To enter, young farmers need to visit 

facebook.com/MacranaFeirme and apply 

using the online application form before 

28 August 2013. For more information, 

 

 


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Noticeboard 

Ciaran Taighe (director of events and fundraising, Console), Ciaran Austin (director 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Ballymurphy Macra culchie night 

On Saturday, 2 March, Ballymurphy 

Macra na Feirme hosted its 

 

Ballymurphy. All funds raised went 

 

tor for the local community. 

On the night, they raised over 

€2,500 and had over 200 people 

in attendance. They had many fun 

games on the night such as milk the 

cow, shave the balloon, prizes for 

our best dressed female and male 

culchie and they even created their 

very own harlem shake video culchie 

style. 

Many thanks to all who helped 

make this night possible and for all 

generous donations. 

Back row (from left): Donal Sweeney, James, 

Ken Locke, John O’Sullivan, Catriona 

O’Connor, Will Wright, Tony Mullane and 

Kieran Walsh.Front row: Catriona Sweeney, Tomas 

Linehan, James Linehan, Daniel O’Regan 

and Breta O’Farrell. 

Seandún Macra enjoy 

the Slopes of Tirol 

A third annual skiing trip organised by Seandun 

Macra na Feirme took place from 5 to 12 January 

in Westendorf, Austria. Thirteen members 

from Seandún, Waterford, Westmeath, Limerick 

and Galway enjoyed a great week of skiing on 

the slopes of the area in Tirol. 

Great fun was had by all from daring the great 

heights of the Austrian Mountains during the 

day, to the challenge of skiing home in the dark 

after aprés ski! The entire group had a great 

week and gladly returned home in one piece 

with fantastic memories, photos and even some 

videos. Everyone is already looking forward to 

next year’s trip! 

Members of Carrigaline Macra visit the EU Parliament in Brussels with 

Macra members from around the Cork and Munster region. 

Carrigaline Macra trip to European 

Parliament a huge success 

Treble R spring ball 

Treble R held a spring ball on 23 

February, 2013, in celebration of 

over 30 years of the club’s existence. 

A total of 104 people sat 

down for dinner in the O’Callaghan 

Davenport Hotel and they were 

joined by eight founding members 

 

Treble R was held in Rathgar Junior 

High School on Grosvenor Road on 

17 February 1982 and was chaired 

by Richard Harrahill (member of 

former City of Dublin club) as Dublin 

County Chairman with assistance 

from the late Betty Rooney (nee 

Barron) and Michael Kenny. 

Today Treble R remains a strong 

Macra club with members from all 

over Ireland. They meet in Roddy 

Bolands in Rathmines, just a few 

minutes away from Rathgar Junior 

School. 

Macra members took to the skies 

from 18 to 20 February as part of 

an educational trip to the European 

Commission & Parliament in Brussels. 

Thirty-seven members from all 

around the Cork and Munster region 

attended meetings with ICOS, CEJA, 

IFA and the Ag. perm rep for Ireland. 

The trip included a tour of the EU 

parliament, a meeting with MEP 

Sean Kelly and some of the other 

Irish MEPs. It was a great opportunity 

for members to experience what 

 

provided a great learning curve, and 

members found it to be a highly interesting 

trip to attend and an invaluable 

experience. 

This trip was organised by Carrigaline 

Macra na Feirme in conjunction 

with MEP Sean Kelly Ireland 

South and the EU Commission with 

 

A special word of thanks to Niall 

Nicholson for organising the trip 

with Sean Kelly MEP and to Alan 

Jagoe, Macra national president 

for arranging the meetings. It was a 

jam-packed few days full of lots of 

stories, fun and some brilliant nights 

out in Leuven with a great bunch of 

people! Travel is just one of the key 

areas that the club is involved in, as 

well as debating, public speaking, 

sports, performing arts, community 

involvement and agriculture. Find out 

more on www.carrigalinemacra.com 

or check them out on Facebook. 

Summer 2013 | m | 15 

Summer 2013| m | 15

m 

 

Macra na Feirme’s national AGM 

took place on Saturday, 11 May, 

at the Charleville Park Hotel in 

Avondhu, Cork and was kindly sponsored 

by Kerry Agri-business. 

The 34th national president, Kieran 

O’Dowd, was inaugurated alongside 

his three VPs, James Healy, Munster 

VP (Donoughmore Macra, Muskerry), 

Patrick Delaney, Leinster VP (Portlaoise 

Macra) and Sean Finan, North West VP 

(Castlerea Macra, Roscommon). 

Ronan Feighery from Ferbane Macra, 

Co. Offaly was elected national chairman, 

with Mary Brennan from Kilkenny 

City Macra and Sean Finan taking up the 

respective roles of national secretary and 

national treasurer. 

These join ex-president Alan Jagoe, 

and re-elected members David 

McDonagh, Sean Ronan and Michelle 

O’Callaghan on National Executive. 

Newly elected members of executive are 

Frances Murphy from Tullyallen Macra, 

Co Louth and Eamon Cassells, Athboy 

Macra, Co Meath. 

Chairpersons of Macra’s three subcommittees, 

Agricultural Affairs; Rural 

Youth Initiative and Competitions were 

elected as: 

1) Ag Affairs: Sean Coughlan, Mayo 

2) Rural Youth Initiative: Garvan Hickey, 

Wicklow 

3) Competitions: Eamon Cassells, Meath 

Thanks are due to Kerry Agri-business 

for their sponsorship of the event and 

congratulations to the organising committee 

in Avondhu Macra for successfully 

coordinating the day’s proceedings. 

Kieran O’Dowd at the national AGM in Charleville, Avondhu. 

 

are getting married this June. Alan’s two year term as national president 

ended at the AGM on 11 May. 


Macra’s new national executive at the 

 

past president; Sean Ronan, Frances 

Murphy, Michelle O’Callaghan, Eamon 

Cassells, David McDonagh, Edmond 

Connolly, CEO. Front row: Paddy 

Delaney, Leinster VP, Mary Brennan, 

national secretary, Kieran O’Dowd, 

national president, Ronan Feighery, 

national chairman; James Healy, Munster 

VP and Sean Finan, North West VP 

and national treasurer. 

ABOVE: Macra chief 

executive, Edmond Connolly, 

presented a collage 

of photos to outgoing 

national president, 

 

 

at the AGM. 

RIGHT: Avondhu Macra 

chairperson, Mary Anne 

Murphy, who hosted the 

national AGM made a 

special presentation to 

newly inaugurated national 

president, Kieran 

O’Dowd. 

 

Kilmacthomas Macra from Waterford won the 

 

hosted by Avondhu Macra. 

Their team of Mark Connors; Kieran Foley, 

team captain; Niamh Mooney; and Evan Stanley 

beat runners-up, Johnstown/ Coolgreany Macra, 

on the motion ‘That sport is producing too many 

irresponsible role models’. 

LEFT: The 

Kilmacthomas 

debating team, 

being announced 

winners at the 

national AGM. 

 

Connors; Kieran O’Dowd, Macra national president; Kieran Foley, team captain; 

Niamh Mooney; and Evan Stanley. 


m 

Macra 

at the 

European 

Rally 

DOWN THROUGH THE YEARS 

Annette Nagle at the Giant’s 

Causeway in 2004. 

All roads lead to Gurteen Agricultural 

College in Roscrea, Co 

Tipperary from 3 to 10 August 2013 

for Macra na Feirme’s opportunity to 

host the European Rally 2013. The theme 

this year is ‘Get involved, be the change: 

mobilising rural communities to active 

citizenship’. 

The European Rally, as most of you 

know, is a week-long leadership programme 

of workshops and activities that 

caters for over 100 participants from Rural 

Youth Organisations across Europe. 

We hope this year to have a variety of 

young people from all over Europe from 

Wales to Sweden and beyond. 

Plans and preparations for the rally 

are well underway with the announcement 

of two grants being awarded. 

Macra and Ireland will be represented 

by four participants who earned Gold 

Leadership Awards. 

This year, Clonakilty will also have 

two representatives as they won the top 

prize in the RYE European Youth Project 

awards for their Know Your Neighbour 

event. This is an exciting and wonderful 

achievement for Macra and promises to 

be an eventful and insightful week. 

The 1986 European Rally in Quern, 

Schleswig Holstein, Germany. Pictured are 

national president, Thomas Shanahan, Kerry 

Macra, along with the Macra delegation. 


2001 

“Veronica Curtis, Bree, Co Wexford; Geraldine 

Beattie, Co Roscommon; Michael 

O’Regan, Avondhu and John Hannon, 

Co Clare and I went on an exchange to 

Nurmes, Finland this summer. 

‘‘Finland may not be a holiday hotspot. 

It may not be one of the first countries 

to be mentioned when planning your 

holidays and for those very reasons we 

remain eternally grateful to Macra na 

Feirme for giving us the opportunity to 

visit, see and most of all experience the 

country of a thousand lakes and believe 

you me, even more forests as we found 

out during our week long adventure. 

‘‘It began on 13 July, of all days, when 

five Macra na Feirme delegates travelled 

to Nurmes in Finland, not knowing what 

lay in store for us and also not knowing 

where our luggage was when we 

arrived at our destination. The theme of 

this year’s rally was ‘Nature source of 

Creativity’. 

‘‘Bearing this in mind, there were 

activity trails, workshops, hiking, fishing 

and other trips such as shooting the 

Rapids organised.” 

— Shirley Bennett, Imokilly Macra 

2004 

“The various young farmers’ clubs from 

around Europe came together for a 

week-long programme of fun activities 

and educational modules at Greenmount 

College, Co Antrim, in July this year. 

Under the theme of ‘Conquering Conflict 

Across Cultural Divides’, the rally 

participants spent the week discussing 

various aspects of conflict with the help 

of the University of Ulster Understanding 

Conflict team of Libby Keys and Dr 

The European Rally delegation from Macra in 

Northern Ireland in 2004.

Derek Wilson. This was supported with a 

visit to Derry, where they met with Nobel 

Peace Prizewinner John Hume and a 

trip to Stormont and the Ulster Museum 

where a new exhibition on conflict was 

being held. Mark Young was team leader 

of the Macra delegation and the other 

members who attended were Colm 

Carthy from Monaghan, Jenny Murphy 

from Seandun and Simon Lambert from 

Wexford, as well as myself.” 

— Annette Nagle, Kerry Macra 

2006 

“The European Rally took place in 

Druva, Latvia from 15 to 22 July 2006. 

This year, Macra was represented by 

Carmel Brennan from Kilkenny, Pat 

Carrig from Clare, Denis Drennan from 

Kilkenny, Seamus Heverin from Mayo, 

Anne Marie McKenna from Meath and 

Josephine O’Connell from Seandun. On 

the first night, delegations from each 

country had to dress in ‘traditional costume’. 

After a lot of debate, we settled on 

the Peig/Man of Aran theme and dressed 

appropriately!” 

— Anne Marie McKenna, Meath Macra 

speech by the mayor of Ruse welcoming 

us to Slovenia. 

‘‘Michael Schwab, the chair of RYE, 

presented the Welsh young farmers 

with the perpetual trophy for the Youth 

Project of the Year for 2010 for their lamb 

project. The morning finished with the 

national group photographs with the ceremonial 

bell. We kicked off the afternoon 

with our first workshop on the theme of 

the rally which was ‘Be active — get better 

opportunities in life’. 

‘‘We specifically focused on the aspect 

of social capital. After our introduction to 

social capital, the full delegation was escorted 

outside where the prep team had 

a series of team building games — plenty 

of ideas for club and county officer training! 

We would like to thank Macra 

na Feirme for sending 

us on this fantastic trip 

— it was a wonderful 

experience and we 

are genuinely 

delighted that 

we had this 

opportunity 

to make 

WATCH THIS SPACE 

It’s good to be in Macra 

We’ve been working hard to put together 

a new and improved package 

 

and we have some exciting developments 

which will be announced soon. 

FBD Insurance has come on board 

to sponsor brand new credit-card style 

membership cards so that you can 

make sure to have your Macra card 

in your wallet at all times. Believe 

me, you’ll want to have your card to 

hand to avail of all the great offers for 

members across Ireland! 

loads of new friends and see a such a 

beautiful country. If we could make one 

recommendation to Macra members, it 

would be to actively seek to go on a trip 

such as the RYE rally or exchanges, etc. 

It was so enjoyable and was a trip of a 

lifetime! We are certainly looking forward 

to when Macra will host the RYE rally in 

Ireland in 2013!” 

— Anna, Jonathan, Ray, Tommy & Alan, 

 

2011 

“Early and bright 

sessions in Ruse, 

Slovenia, were 

carried out 

daily with 

diverse 

games to 

ensure that 

all the delegates 

were 

bright-eyed 

and bushy 

tailed and set 

for the day ahead. 

On Sunday, we witnessed 

the official 

opening ceremony 

of the RYE rally 

and countries were 

dressed in national 

costumes, while 

there was the ceremonial 

ringing of the 

bell to open the rally. 

There was traditional 

Slovenian music 

and dancing and a 

The 2006 


delegation 

in Latvia 


m 

At the launch of the study report on Land Mobility and Succession in Ireland were Matt Dempsey, recently retired editor of the Irish Farmers Journal; 

Simon Coveney, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine; IFA president John Bryan; Macra na Feirme national president Alan Jagoe; and 

Dr Pat Bogue, Broadmore Research. 

 

right choice 

 

 

The findings of a study on ‘Land 

Mobility and Succession in Ireland’ 

revealed that 48% of those surveyed 

did not have a farming successor 

identified, with 40% stating that it was 

important the land remained farmed by 

the family. 

The research was commissioned by 

Macra in partnership with the Irish 

Farmers Association, the Irish Farmers 

Journal and the Department of Agriculture, 

Food and the Marine. 

The primary aim of this research was 

to determine the future plans (short and 

long term) relating to farming and land 

ownership for those who did not have an 

identified farming successor. 

Only 5% of farmers without successors 

had received formal advice or information 

on succession. This figure must be 

improved upon to ensure that farmers 

are choosing the best option for their 

future. 

The Government must support 

the process of land mobility 

by retaining tax incentives 

to ensure that future 

generations of farmers 

have access to 

land. 

With the support 

of the FBD Trust, 

Macra will be 

appointing a land 

mobility programme 

manager 

who will progress 

the recommendations 

made in the 

study. This person will 

REPORT 

CONCLUSIONS 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

play a central role in the promotion of 

land mobility and the options available to 

farmers. 

Macra, in association with 

IFAC Accountants, also 

hosted a national 

seminar and workshop 

on ‘Access to 

Land for Expansion 

— Practical 

Proposals’ in 

the Killeshin 

Hotel, Portlaoise, 

last 

December. 

The full land 

mobility report 

can be downloaded 

online at 

www.macra.ie 


agriculture news 

in brief 

New entrants to 

dairy scheme 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Irish Farmers Journal 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Absence of SFP 

National Reserve 

Scheme a major blow 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CEJA president Joris Baecke, Macra president Alan Jagoe, EU Commissioner Dacian Ciolos and 

Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney at the conference. 

European Young Farmers 

Conference with CEJA 

Macra hosted the European Young Farmers 

Conference in association with CEJA 

at the Castleknock Hotel, Dublin, from 11 

to 13 March. EU Commissioner for Agriculture 

and Rural Affairs, Dacian Ciolos, 

alongside Minister Simon Coveney, addressed 

more than 90 Irish and European 

young farmers from CEJA organisations 

across 26 member countries. 

Speakers included: EU Commissioner 

Dacian Ciolos; Minister Simon Coveney 

(chairman of the Council of Agricultural 

Ministers); Alan Jagoe, Macra na Feirme 

national president; Joris Baecke, CEJA 

president; Francis Jacobs, head of office, 

European Parliament in Ireland; Mairead 

McGuinness, MEP — member of CO- 

MAGRI and Alan Renwick, Professor in 

Agriculture and Food Economics, UCD. 

After the conference on the Monday, 

delegates attended a reception in Áras 

an Úachtaráin hosted by the president, 

Michael D Higgins. Macra held a gala 

dinner at Trinity College that evening, 

where invited guests and delegates were 

addressed by Seumas O’Brien, of IFAC 

Meath Macra member, Eamon Cassells, gives 

delegates a lesson in bodhran playing before they 

moved on to Irish dancing. 

Accountants, who is a a former president 

of both Macra and CEJA. The keynote 

speaker was Matt Dempsey, who recently 

retired as editor of the Irish Farmers 

Journal. Alan Jagoe paid tribute to Matt 

and made a special presentation on behalf 

of Macra to mark his retirement. 

The three-day conference included 

a visit to Teagasc Grange Animal and 

Grassland Research and Innovation Centre 

in Meath and a farm walk on the farm 

of Martin and Helen Heaney, in Navan on 

Tuesday. 

The delegates also got to sample 

the culture and social aspects of life 

in Ireland with a visit to the Guinness 

Storehouse in Dublin before returning to 

the Castleknock Hotel for a trad session 

where they tested their bodhrán-playing 

and Irish dancing skills with Eamon Cassells 

and members of Meath Macra. The 

conference concluded on Wednesday with 

a CEJA working group where the ‘Dublin 

Declaration’ was finalised — a document 

which outlines the proposed measures 

and supports required for young farmers. 

At the farm walk, delegates listen to dairy farmer, 

Martin Heaney, give an insight into his business. 


m 

Positive mental health and the 

Green Ribbon campaign 

Positive mental health has been high on 

the agenda of this year’s Rural Youth 

Initiative committee. Chairman of the 

committee Ger Griffin called on the 

Government to appoint a figure head for 

a mental health campaign to mirror the 

success of the Road Safety Authority in 

reducing the number of deaths on Irish 

roads. “As the RSA is reporting record 

low numbers of road deaths in Ireland, 

it is time that the Government revaluate 

how it is working to reduce death by 

suicide. The appointment of Gay Byrne 

Young farmers recognised by co-op board 

Young dairy farmers recently got a welcome boost at the Arrabawn 

Co-op AGM as a motion to include representation from 

a young farmer on the board of the co-op was supported and 

agreed. This is a proactive and pioneering development 

for Arrabawn Co-op and welcomed by 

Macra. Following on from the success 

of the young farmer dairy director 

training programme initiated by 

Did you know 

 

 

 

 

 

is increasing by six months 

every year! 


as chairman of the RSA has proved successful 

and I call on the Government to 

mirror this approach with a campaign to 

reduce death by suicide,” said Mr Griffin. 

Macra is also calling on the Government 

to provide adequate mental health 

services to Ireland’s young people and 

children to ensure early intervention. 

Services outside the capital are particularly 

strained despite the fact that farmers 

in rural areas and young men are 

among those most at risk. 

Early intervention is possible when 

Macra and ICOS, dairy farmer and 

participant on the course, Ronan 

Feighery (pictured), a young 

trained dairy farmer from Shannon 

Harbour, Co Offaly, who was 

elected national chairman at the 

recent Macra AGM, put forward 

the following motion at the Arrabawn 

AGM: ‘That a new seat be 

created on the board of Arrabawn 

Co-op for young trained farmers under 

the age of 40’. 

“I am delighted that Arrabawn co-op 

members were forward thinking and 

supported the motion. Young farmers 

are an asset to their co-operatives 

and can positively contribute to the 

management and growth of co-ops,” 

said Ronan. 

This is a very important outcome for 

young progressive dairy farmers as its 

sets a marker for other co-ops to encourage 

and facilitate young farmers 

to play an active role in the 

development of the co-operative 

business and represent the 

views of young dairy farmers 

who are the future of the industry. 

Macra commends the co-op 

for its progressive thinking. 

Macra’s new national 

executive committee 

launched Macra’s involvement 

in the See Change 

Green Ribbon campaign. 

Back row (from left): 

Ronan Feighery, national 

chairman; Sean Finan, 

North West VP and national 

treasurer; Alan Jagoe, 

past president; Edmond 

Connolly, CEO; and Paddy 

Delaney, Leinster VP. 

Middle row: Sean Ronan; 

David McDonagh; James 

Healy, Munster VP; and 

Eamon Cassells. 

Front row: Francis Murphy, 

Mary Brennan, national 

secretary, Michelle 

O’Callaghan with Kieran 

O’Dowd, Macra national 

president. 

adequate services are provided which 

can radically change the outcome for a 

young person. 

Macra has partnered with ‘See 

Change’, the national mental health 

stigma reduction organisation, who have 

launch their nationwide Green Ribbon 

campaign to get people talking about 

mental health. Macra launched the green 

ribbon at the AGM and will distribute 

Green Ribbons and literature on talking 

about mental health to all clubs and counties 

in the summer pack.

MACRA NA 

FEIRME 

COMPETITIONS 

Our national 

leaders 

The three winners of this year’s Macra na 

Feirme National Leadership Awards were 

announced at a special reception in Bank 

 

This year’s winners were: 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

were: 

 

Laois 

 

 

 

 

The National Leadership Awards 

 

 

 

The competition raises the level and 

standard of leadership in Macra and provides 

an incentive for the development of 

 

presented with specially commissioned 

commemorative trophies as well as travel 

€ 

 

- 

 

 

 

 

Macra, Co Roscommon. 

 

- 

 

- 

 

 

President Alan Jagoe. 

RIGHT: At the all- 

 

 

Question Time Quiz are 

 

 

Walsh Dan Creedon 

 

 

 

 

- 

 

Pictured celebrating their victory in the Macra na 

 

 

 

Photo: Pat Moore. 

- 

 

 

 

in the Macra All-Ireland Drama Final. 

- 

- 

 

 

Roscommon Art Centre. 


m 

Tipp charmer is... 

Mr Personality 

The eighth annual Mr Personality 

Festival took place in the Springhill 

Court Hotel, Kilkenny, on the 

weekend of 19 and 20 April. The festival 

was hosted by Kilkenny Macra and was 

sponsored by Kilkenny/Carlow and 

District Farm Relief Services. Thirty contestants 

from all over Ireland travelled to 

the Marble City for a fun-filled weekend, 

where they were interviewed on stage 

with an optional party piece, completed 

challenges and were interviewed by the 

three judges — Carmel Brennan, Mr 

Personality committee member, Clara 

Walsh, Midlands 103FM and John Nolan, 

Freshford Macra. The informal banquet 

was attended by over 400 people. 

The result was announced at midnight 

on the Saturday night with 

Paudie Meade from North 

Tipperary becoming Mr 

Personality. 2013. In second 

place was Gerard Mahon from Offaly and 

in third place was Brendan Phelan from 

Kilkenny. Paudie was presented with a 

€500 cheque, a perpetual trophy and a 

weekend break in any of the Brennan Hotels. 

Gerard received a trophy, a cheque 

for €300 and a midweek break in any 

of the Brennan Hotels, while Brendan 

received a trophy, €200 and a 

weekend break in the Aspect 

Hotel in 

Kilkenny. 

Mr. Personality 2013, Paudie, is from 

the Devilsbit Macra and is a dairy farmer. 

Paudie’s hobbies and interests include 

hurling, showing pedigree cattle and 

swimming. Gerard is a livestock auctioneer/estate 

agent from Killoughey Macra 

in Offaly and Brendan is a civil/project 

engineer from Callan Macra in Kilkenny. 

A 

Winner Paudie Meade from 

North Tipperary is pictured 

with John Connolly, Carlow 

Kilkenny Farm Relief Services 

and Denis Drennan, Macra. 

Northwest King 

and Queen 

crowned at 

elegant event 

Kings and Queens contestants with newly crowned Northwest King and Queen 2013, MCs and 

judges, including celebrity judge Marian Harkin, MEP. 

Congratulations to Eamon Sweeney 

from South Leitrim Macra and Ann Marie 

O’Neill from neighbouring Sligo (South 

Sligo Club) who were crowned the 

Northwest King and Queen 2013 on 26 

January in the Sligo Park Hotel. 

Between them, they beat off stiff competition 

as they worked their way through 

the novel tasks. Their teamwork, nerves 

and memory were tested as well as their 

concentration. There was great excitement 

from the Leitrim and Sligo supporters 

when Ann Marie and Eamon were 

announced as winners. The judges: MEP 

Marian Harkin, Mary Guihen (Northwest 

Queen 2012) and Brian Casey (Northwest 

King 2012) had a tough decision 

 

Eamon and Ann Marie’s teamwork and 

quick thinking got them to the end in 

record time. 

Leitrim man Eamon Sweeney said he 

was delighted to follow in the footsteps of 

Mary Guihen (2012 winner) and Josephine 

McManus (2010 winner) in bringing 

a Northwest crown to Leitrim for the third 

time. Ann Marie O’Neill was thrilled to be 

 

and, especially, to win in the presence of 

such a large number of Sligo supporters. 

It was such a great night and winning 

was a shock but it was the icing on the 

cake for Ann Marie. 

It was an exciting evening for all, with 

a sell-out banquet and large attendance 

joined in with the royal celebrations after 

the banquet. DJ Nugent had the dance 

 

mix of hits and variety of music to suit all 

tastes. 


m 

magazine 

social pages 

Aileen Hennessy and Siobhan O’Leary from 

Berrings at the AGM Black and Red Ball. 

Happy New Year — the confetti bursts at midnight 

to ring in the New Year at the Carrigaline NYE Ball. 

Deirdre Brennan, chairperson; Alan Jagoe, former Macra 

national president; Mark Comerford and Mary Brennan, 

Kilkenny county chair, at the Kilkenny City Black Tie Ball. 

Michael Curtin, Claire O’Flynn and 

Thomas Stritch from Freemount Macra 

at the AGM Black and Red Ball. 

Jennifer Bracken, Kara Butler and Sarah 

O’Meara at the Carrigaline NYE ball. 

Alison O’Connell, Aidaoin O’Leary and Maria Highland 

— Ballylanders Macra at the Kilkenny City Black Tie Ball. 

Twins Eimear and Sinead Guiney from Freemount 

Macra at the AGM Black and Red Ball. 


m 

SUMMER 

FUN 

International Miss 

Macra Festival 

The International 

Miss Macra Festival 

will take 

place over 

the August 

bank holiday 

 

 

August to 

 

 

 

between 

 

 

and Dundrum House 

 

more Macra is proud to 

announce an even bigger 

and more vibrant 

 

 

will meet on Friday 

morning and partake 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comments 

 

 

 

 

Contestant) 

 

end — you outdone yourselves! Ye 

 

 

 

again!’’ 

ant) 

International Miss Macra 2012 Aileen Hennessey, 

representing Muskerry Macra, Cork 

Joe Fury & the Hayride to headline 

Blue Jean Country Queen Festival 

 

the Hayride have been announced 

 

 

 

 

 

everyone dancing into the early hours! 

Organised by Meath Macra na Feirme 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ties throughout Ireland in 

welcoming visitors home 

 

 

opening its arms to 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

They welcome the return this year 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Festival is listed among the 

 

 

See the website: 

www.bluejeanfest.com 

LEFT: The current Blue Jean 

Country Queen Leanne Brennan 

of Wexford. 

Irish Dairy Board 

stockjudging 

The Irish Dairy Board dairy stockjudging 

senior and under-23 competition 

will take place at the IHFA 

open day — venue and date to be 

 

contact Terry Cooke in the Macra 

 

FBD Farmskills 

 

competition will take place at the Tul- 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2013 Know Your 

Neighbour Weekend 

 

will hold its annual Know Your Neigh- 

 

 

 

 

NDC tag rugby 

 

 

 

 

 

clubs taking part! 

Down ‘n’ Dirty 

Down ‘n’ Dirty is organised by South 

 

 

Macra clubs across the country as a 

 

 

 

 

 

 

conjunction with Brideswell Pattern 

 

 

 

 


FOR OPTIMUM YIELD 

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THE PROVEN PERFORMER ON IRISH FARMS 

NUMBER ONE PRODUCT IN IRELAND ON CEREALS AND GRASSLAND 

IFI, Palmerstown, Kilkenny

m 


in focus 

All ready for Ballylanders Macra’s Irish night on 

15 March in Gallahues Hall, Ballylanders. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

on Good Friday. There was refreshments afterwards of tea, sandwiches, 

 

 

Penny Trail’ in aid of Barretstown, Irish Guide Dogs 

 

 

 

 

street and slum children in Calcutta, India. 

 

Caimin Griffey, Cillian Griffey and Gerry Gregan.

M Magazine Summer 2013 - Macra na Feirme

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