Macra na Feirme awards recognise importance of community leaders

IT is important in today’s environment to encourage and recognise people who are providing leadership in their own communities, Macra na Feirme president Catherine Buckley has stressed.

Speaking at the presentation in Dublin of Macra’s national leadership awards, sponsored by Bank of Ireland, she said leadership training is a vital element of the organisation’s programme.

“The leadership awards are important as they recognise the achievements of club and county leaders within our organisation and provide a real incentive for the development of club programmes,” she said. This year’s winners are Ronan Feighery, Ferbane Club, Co Offaly; Anne Marie Kavanagh Moynalty Club, Co Meath; and Patricia McKenna, also from the Moynalty Club.

Patricia and Anne Marie are the first siblings in the competition’s 26-year history to win the awards. Their aunt, Marion Dunne, Co Kildare, was also one of the first winners in 1982.

The three winners were presented with specially commissioned commemorative trophies as well as travel bursaries worth €2,000 each. The other finalists were Eric Driver Tullow Club, Co Carlow; Josephine O Connell, Whitechurch club, Seandun, Co Cork; and Michelle O Callaghan, Knockraha Club, also in Seandun.

David O’Neill, head of sectors, Bank of Ireland business banking, said Macra plays a positive role in the country’s economic and social development and the awards recognise and encourage the achievement of excellence by young people in their role as Macra leaders throughout the country.

He said the bank was proud to be associated with Macra in fostering and promoting the leadership training of its vibrant young membership.