Killeshin man wins young dairy farmer of the year
Martin O'Reilly from Killeshin won the FBD Young Dairy Farmer of the Year title and the Macra Biodiversity award
DOUBLE cream is on the menu for a dairy farmer from Laois, who scooped two titles at the FBD Young Farmer of the Year final last night.
Martin O’Reilly from Killeshin (pictured below) was named 2024 FBD Young Dairy Farmer of the Year. He also won the Macra Agricultural Skillnet Biodiversity Young Farmer of the Year award.
Martin was among only six contestants nationwide to reach the grand final of the prestigious competition, which was held at The Heritage hotel in Killenard.
While he missed out on the overall title, there were great celebrations when he was named winner of the FBD dairy category and the Macra biodiversity award.
The overall national FBD Young Farmer of the Year title went to Meath dairy farmer Christopher Cahill. The other finalists were Jamie Hannon, a sheep farmer from Sligo; David Melody, a dairy farmer from Kilkenny; Séamus Leahy, a goat farmer from Limerick and Sarah Kelly, an equine farmer from Sligo.
Macra national president Elaine Houlihan congratulated the young farmers on their success, as she said: “It is brilliant to see such a dynamic and dedicated group of young farmers represent their sector.” IFA President Francie Gorman from Laois said the energy and vision shown by the entrants was very encouraging for the future.
He commented: “I hope those who took part will consider a leadership role in the future. They are already very accomplished with their own farm enterprise.
“From here, we would like to see them contribute outside the farmgate. It’s very rewarding and it’s an opportunity to shape the future for their families and their communities.” Competition entrants are judged according to criteria that include farm business initiative and innovation, levels of farm efficiency and enterprise quality, farm safety and environmental protection awareness and agricultural knowledge.
