Clonakilty team win 2026 Certified Irish Angus Schools Competition
Pictured are Lucy Kirby, Ciara O’Driscoll , Niamh O’Sullivan and Ellen O’Neill from Sacred Heart Secondary School, Clonakilty, who were announced as the overall winners of the 2026 Certified Irish Angus School’s Competition. Photo: Chris Bellew / Fennell Photography
Students from Sacred Heart Secondary School, Clonakilty, Co Cork, were named the 2026 winners of the Certified Irish Angus Schools Competition.
The all-female team consisting of Lucy Kirby, Ciara O’Driscoll, Niamh O’Sullivan and Ellen O’Neill wowed judges of the competition with their creation of a consumer education tool.
The team won with their project theme of 'Increasing Awareness of the Certified Irish Angus brand'.
The girls aimed to increase farmer awareness surrounding the DBI (Dairy Beef Index) and CBV (Commercial Beef Value). This will lead to an improvement in the quality of beef calves born in Ireland.
Back in September, the team and their teacher, Ms O’Riordan, spoke with the , explaining that despite all four girls coming from dairy backgrounds, they really threw themselves into becoming advocates for Irish Angus beef, even creating their own mascot, “Éire the Angus.”
The students received four bullocks and a heifer at the National Ploughing Championships in 2024 after gaining finalist status. The herd affectionately dubbed ‘The Tribe’ in reference to the calves’ sire, ‘Drumcrow Tribesman,’ were dairy beef calves.
The calves, Tóirneach, Réalt, Inis, Bua and Ériu have been reared by the students since last September and are housed at Miss Kirby’s home farm in Barryroe until they were eventually sent to slaughter.
With their project, they highlighted to farmers how the Angus breed helps to increase the reproductive efficiency of a farm and provided a 'breeding and buying' checklist to support farmers in their work.
Now in its 12th year, the competition, which is run in association with processor partners ABP and Kepak, has attracted over 1,000 students from 361 groups across 25 counties, blending practical learning and research skills to support students' career development.
In attendance at the awards ceremony was minister of state for education and youth, Michael Moynihan, who said: “The professionalism and insight shown by the students today highlight the strength of talent developing in schools and communities across the country.
"Programmes like the Certified Irish Angus Schools Competition offer valuable opportunities for applied learning, critical thinking and personal development. Seeing students engage with these experiences gives real confidence that our future is in the hands of informed, creative and motivated young people.”
Speaking about the winning students, Charles Smith, general manager of Certified Irish Angus, said: “These four exceptional young women have demonstrated remarkable talent and limitless potential. Their passion for the sector, strong farming ability and engaging personalities set them apart from the beginning.
"The platform they created to help consumers better understand the Certified Irish Angus brand, and the value of the Angus breed for efficiency on Irish farms showcased real understanding and innovation. Their approach highlights how new ideas and fresh perspectives can help to shape the next generation of Irish agriculture."
The runners-up in the 2026 competition were students Jack O'Meara, Moya Guinan, Joseph McLoughney and Ben Younge from St. Brendan's Community School, Birr, Co Offaly.
The students caught up with the back in October and explained how they looked into incremental steps that beef farmers could take to improve sustainability on farms.
The team investigated how the platform AgNav could create an optimum plan that ensures more sustainable beef farming. The plan was supported by research findings on cattle health and the beef production process.
Honourable mentions include the other finalist teams for this cycle of the competition: Coláiste Mhuire, Ballygar, Co Galway, with their team comprising of Róisín McCauley, Celine Gacquin, and Katie-Ann Gacquin, and FJC Secondary School, Bunclody, Co Wexford, with their dynamic duo consisting of Hollie-Mae Power Sinnott and Grace Warren and Newport College, Co Tipperary, with their team Cillian Marren, Sam Caplis and Kyle Gow.
Cillian Marren from Newport College, Co Tipperary, went on to receive an ‘outstanding achievement award’ for his contribution to the competition.
Commenting, the judges said: "Cillian possesses all the qualities that define true character. Throughout the competition, he displayed exceptional maturity, dignity, and consideration. This fine young man is truly wise beyond his years, and his values are deeply admirable. He is a very worthy winner of this award."
The Certified Irish Angus Schools’ competition in association with ABP and Kepak, challenges students to rear five Irish Angus calves for beef production for two years. It aims to promote the Certified Irish Angus brand while communicating the care and attention required to produce quality beef for consumers.
On completion of the project, each of the finalists receives the financial benefit involved in the selling of the animals to the processors which amounts to an average €10,000 per group. The overall winning students also receive an additional grant of €2,000 for their further education.
