Cork clubs through to national final
Cork’s Berrings Macra will represent the Muskerry region, while Glanmire Macra will line out for the Seandun region in the next stage.
Croom Macra, Limerick, Johnstown/Coolgreany Macra, Wicklow, and Treble R Macra, Dublin, have also been shortlisted.
Crossmahon Bandon Macra, representing Cork’s Carbery region, and Estuary Macra, Limerick, are taking part in the Best Emerging Club category.
The AIB Club of the Year competition is designed to award the most dynamic and active clubs in the country.
Clubs were judged on a number of criteria, with the top 14 clubs shortlisted for interview by an adjudicating panel.
The seven clubs selected will to go forward to the national final at the Macra na Feirme Annual Conference which will take place over the October bank holiday weekend in Co Carlow.
The final judging involves a multimedia presentation by each of the seven clubs.
Macra na Feirme national president Kieran O’Dowd, speaking after the semi-finals said: “This competition, undertaken with the support of AIB, continues to be the standout competition for clubs and members. Highly competitive, the competition is a platform to highlight the high standard of leadership both in clubs and at an individual level in the organisation.
“I would like to wish all of the finalists the very best of luck as they prepare for the gruelling final stage.”
Meanwhile, also as part of the competition, 12 Macra members from across the country have been shortlisted for the title of AIB Best New Macra Member.
Sinead Guiney from Newmarket will represent Avondhu’s Freemount Macra, while also flying the flag for the Rebel County will be Philip O’Leary from Carrigrohane who is a member of Muskerry’s Berrings Macra.
Amanda Conway from Croom Macra, Limerick, Eamonn Brennan from St Mullins Macra, Co Carlow, Aine O’Sullivan of Treble R Macra, Dublin, Marita Bayly from Termonfeckin Macra, Co Louth, Nicola Walsh of Ballycoog Macra, Co Wicklow, and Rachel Sheane from Redcross Macra, Co Wicklow are also in the running.
The competition is designed to award a member who is deemed by his or her club to have made a significant contribution to the development of the club during his or her first year of membership. After submitting an application form, members were judged across a range of categories, with the top 12 members now facing the interview stage at the annual conference Co Carlow, on Oct 26.
