AIB Macra Club of the Year Competition Launched
The 2010 AIB Macra Club of the Year competition was launched last weekend by Michael Gowing, Macra na Feirme National President, Patrick Butterly AIB Agri Adviser, and the Blue Jean Country Queens at the Blue Jean Festival in Athboy County Meath.
This prestigious competition, run by Macra na Feirme and kindly sponsored by AIB Bank is designed to award the most dynamic and active clubs in the country. After submitting an application form, clubs are judged on a number of different criteria, with the top 12 clubs in the competition shortlisted for interview by an adjudicating panel. Six clubs are selected to go forward to the national final, which will take place at the Macra rally in Arklow on the October bank holiday weekend.
Also launched was the ‘AIB Best New Macra Member’ Award which is a sub-category of the AIB Club of the Year Competition and is presented to one individual Macra member who is deemed by his/her club to have made a significant contribution to the development of the club during his/her first year of membership.
In keeping with a growing awareness of environmental protection and enhancement, a category, 'Your Club and Environment award’ is included to reward a club who has made a positive contribution to the environment.
Speaking at the launch AIB Agri Adviser, Patrick Butterly said: “AIB are yet again delighted to sponsor the AIB Macra na Feirme Club of the Year competition. The Club of the Year highlights the real and very meaningful contribution that local Macra Clubs make to rural Ireland. AIB look forward to celebrating and rewarding the enormous success of Macra na Feirme Clubs in this years competition.
Michael Gowing, Macra na Feirme, National President said “with AIB Bank’s support, Macra is delighted to give prominence and recognition to Macra clubs throughout the country. Macra’s clubs provide a huge service to rural young people and are part of the fabric of Irish society. We want to recognise the hard work and dedication of members around the country, and also to recognize AIB’s constant support of Macra na Feirme and its members. This competition is a high point for Macra clubs across the country and brings an element of healthy competition, and the presentations made by the final six clubs are always a highpoint of the Rally. I would urge all clubs no matter their size to fill out the entry forms and get involved in the competition”.
