21 vie for FBD Young Farmer of Year title
Among the 21 young farmers in the competition Tomas Beades has an honours degree in accountancy, and helps his father run the family’s suckler, sheep and poultry farm at Athlone. He is the chairperson of his local Macra and IFA branches.
Shay Concannon is a 33-year-old dairy, suckler and beef farmer from Claregalway, Co Galway. He has changed from solely dairy farming, and is a master farmer, involved in training farm apprentices.
Donegal’s Alastair Doherty completed a one-year placement in Australia and New Zealand. The 29-year-old suckler farmer from Ramelton works off the farm in his father’s contracting business, and is interested in local politics.
19-year-old Diarmuid Gryson in Co Meath is involved in dairy goat farming and running a bio-dynamic farm.
Beef and dairy farmer Darren Healy from Redcross, Co Wicklow has certificates in agri-business and dairy herd management.
Cork’s Alan Jagoe, a 28-year-old beef and tillage farmer from Nohoval, has studied alternative approaches to dairy, energy and vegetable farming in Holland.
North Tipperary’s John Joyce, a 32-year-old beef and sheep farmer from Nenagh, developed his farming skills in New Zealand, Australia and Europe and chairperson of Terryglass IFA.
Wexford’s Paul Kehoe is a member of the Teagasc beef stakeholders committee, and the IFA livestock chairman for Wexford. Beyond farming, he is a crew member with Cahore Inshore Rescue and is involved in local politics.
A 35-year-old beef farmer from Ballyhale, Kilkenny’s James Madigan is also a registered classification officer for the Department of Agriculture at B&F Meats.
Leitrim’s Conor McGowan is another part-time farmer, combining sucklers and beef with work in the local Drumlish mart.
Monaghan’s Stephen McQuillan works off the farm at Emyvale, in construction. He believes the future of agriculture lies in intensive farming.
Pig and tillage farmer Mattie Moore from Rhode, Co Offaly is a member of the IFA pig committee and the pig health society committee.
Sligo’s Pádraig Óg Mulligan is a 34-year-old farmer who has more than doubled his dairy herd.
Colm Murphy of Drogheda, Co Louth is a part-timer, working in an agricultural store, alongside suckler beef farming.
Part-time dairy farmer James O’Connor from Listowel, Co Kerry works as an agricultural contractor. He farms 30 dairy milking cows on 16 acres.
Representing the Muskerry region in Co Cork, Martin O’Connor is another farmer with an agri-science degree. The 23-year-old has been involved in the family farm for the past year, during which the dairy herd has increased by 20 cows. He managed a farm in Australia for three months.
Waterford’s Oliver O’Gorman holds an agricultural science degree from UCD. The 26-year-old dairy farmer from Ballymacarby is actively involved in his family’s farmhouse B&B business.
Cork’s Michael O’Mahony, a 21-year-old dairy farmer from Mitchelstown, is interested in becoming involved in agricultural contracting.
Carlow’s John Roche works as a dairy farm manager. The 29-year-old is the vice-chairman of Hacketstown IFA.
South Tipperary’s Joe Tobin is a busy dairy farmer from Cashel, but also hosts a weekly farming programme on a local radio station. Co. Tipperary.
He has been in New Zealand to develop his farm skills.
James Twaddle is a 22-year-old Co Longford suckler farmer, and an active Macra and IFA member.
