News & Press Room

The three winners of this year's Macra na Feirme National Leadership Awards, sponsored by Bank of Ireland, were announced last night, Tuesday January 24^th at a special reception in Bank of Ireland Business Banking Offices on Mespil Road in Dublin.

This year's winners are:

• Ann Marie Wade-  Clonoulty/Rossmore Macra, South Tipperary
• Alison Holmes – Camross Macra, Laois
• Garvan Hickey - Ashford Macra, Wicklow

The other finalists in the competition were:

• Siobhan Kelleher – Treble R Macra, Dublin
• Donal Sweeney – Carrigaline Macra, Seandun, Cork
• Mairead Whitty – Ballycoog Macra, Wicklow

The National Leadership Awards recognise the leadership skills of Macra members within their clubs and the wider community. The competition raises the level and standard of leadership in Macra and provides an incentive for the development of club programmes.

This year's six finalists were judged by a panel including Irish Farmer’s Journal’s Mairead Lavery, former Macra president, Colm Markey and Bank of Ireland’s Sean Farrell. Damien O’Reilly, RTE Broadcaster, was the guest speaker on the night. He spoke to members about leadership in today’s society.

Alan Jagoe, Macra na Feirme national president said that leadership training was a vital and important element of the Macra na Feirme programme. “The Leadership Awards are important as they recognise the achievements of club and county leaders within our organisation and provide a real incentive for the development of club programmes. It is important in today’s environment to encourage and recognise people who are making a difference and leading in their community. We are privileged to have Bank of Ireland Business Banking on board to support us in this area.”

Speaking at the Awards, Michael Lauhoff, Head of Small Business and Agriculture, Bank of Ireland Business Banking, said: “Bank of Ireland is proud to be associated with Macra na Feirme in promoting and fostering the leadership of its young and vibrant membership. In today's economic climate we should not underestimate the importance of the leadership training that Macra provides. It plays such a strong and positive role in recognising and encouraging the achievement of excellence by young people in their roles as Macra leaders throughout the country. The calibre of the finalists has once again been superb and we would like to congratulate all six finalists for making it this far.”

The three winners were presented with specially commissioned commemorative trophies as well as travel bursaries worth €1, 000 each.