Carlow team tops skills

A TEAM from Ballymurphy in Carlow has won the national final of the FBD Macra na Feirme Farmskills competition.

Michael Doyle, Eddie Coleman and Gerard Fenlon overcame the challenge of five other teams from Camros (Laois), Ferbane (Offaly), Midway (Sligo), Devil’s Bit (North Tipperary) and Blackwater (Wexford) to come out on top.

The teams completed an academic test followed by a variety of farm tasks including stock-proof fencing, gate hanging and tractor skills.

Wexford (Aidan O’Connor, Simon Lambert and Noel Cullen) finished a close second with North Tipperary (Paddy Costigan, Dan Walsh and Peter Burke) taking third prize and a safety award.

The aims are to help young farmers develop various farm skills and techniques, and to create greater awareness of farm safety.