LIMERICK FARMER Dermot O’Connor has been named Macra na Feirme’s FBD Young Farmer of the Year.
The announcement was made in Kinnitty Castle, Co Offaly, last night after he and five other farmers were interviewed for the award.
The competition aims to recognise and reward the top young farmers in the country. Entrants are judged on criteria such as farm business initiative, efficiency, environmental awareness and community involvement.
This year, a special emphasis was placed on farm safety in a bid to reduce the incidence of farm accidents.
Mr O’Connor (28) is a dairy farmer from Shanagolden, Co Limerick. He holds a Fetac cert in animal and crop production and farm business. As well as running the farm, he is involved with the Limerick branch of the IFA, plays soccer with Creeves Celtic and takes part in the annual “Pig and Porter” tag rugby competition.
The Macra na Feirme competition began in May and a shortlist of 27 farmers was drawn up. They included two women; Caitríona Fox from Cork and Annie Galligan from Cavan.
A woman has never won the award, but four made it to the finals last year – the highest number of women to reach the final in the competition’s 13-year history.
The 27 farmers were whittled down to six semi-finalists yesterday morning. They included William Morris (28), a dairy farmer from Ballydehob, Co Cork, who came second in the competition. Third place was won by Graeme Martin (20), a mixed farmer from Smithborough, Co Monaghan.
The other three finalists were Pat O’Neill from south Tipperary, James Hoey from Louth, and Christopher Tuffy from Sligo.
Mr O’Connor wins a bursary to study farm practices abroad. The competition has a total prize fund of €10,000.
Macra na Feirme president Alan Jagoe congratulated the dairy farmer and all the farmers who progressed in the competition.
Mr Jagoe entered in the competition in 2010 and made it to the final, one year before he became leader of the organisation.
He said the competition was renowned for recognising young farmers who carried out all aspects of their work to the highest level.
