Causeway Macra members at Ballyheigue show. From left; Niall O’Hanlon, Eoghan Casey, Kevin Keane, Pa Lucid, John Casey and Donal Kennedy.
THE first of the three semi-finals for Macra’s F.B.D. Farm skills Competion took place at Charleville Show.
Mid Kerry Macra’s team of Niall Flahive, Shane Clifford and Noel Sweeney represented the county in the semi-final. Freemount macra and Caheragh Macra qualified for the National final which will take place at the Tullamore Show on Sunday the 14th of August.
The competition tests proficiency in serval aspects of farm skills, from tractor skills to fencing. Kevin Keane of Causeway Macra represented the county in the F.B.D. Young Farmer of the Year semi final in Moorepark on Tuesday last.
Macra President, Sean Finan, Edel O’Connell All Ireland u23 stock judging champion, Brian O’Reilly, Donoughmore senior winner, Siobhan Ring, Freemount u23 runner up, Sarah Condren, Wicklow Macra senior runner up.
Kevin is a 21-year-old farm manager from Ballyduff. He plans on making the herd he manages more efficient to increase production.
Kevin is now awaiting the results to see if he has qualified for the final on the 6th of September in County Louth. On Wednesday Edel O’Connell of I.T Tralee Macra won the Macra All Ireland u23 dairy stock judging competition at the Irish Hoistein Friesian Association open day on the farm of Tommy & Orla Sceene of Windfield Holsteins, Menlough, Co. Galway.
Kenmare Macra held their Fundraiser in aid of the Cork/Kerry Cancer link bus on Satuday night in Healy Raes bar Kilgarvan. It was a great success and a large sum of money was raised for charity.
A cheque will be presented at a later date. Kenmare Macra would like to thank all the local business that generously sponsored them and all those that got waxed and shaved.
Causeway Macra hosted a tractor skills competition in memory of John O’ Regan on Sunday last on Ballyheighue beach as part of the Ballyheigue summer festival. The event was sponsored by FBD insurance and Kerry Tractors with the trophies sponsored by Dairymaster.
It was a great family event with lots of attractions such as a mini digger hook a duck competition and log processing demo also on the beach. Causeway Macra would like to take everyone that braved the weather conditions to support them.
Kerry Macra are heading to Killarney Races on Thursday the 14th of July as our county summer day out.
We are meeting at 1.30pm sharp at the front gate. Everyone welcome to come along on the day and new members also welcome.
Kerry Macra members Pa lucid Chairperson, Niall Flahive president of Kerry Macra, Edel O’Connell joint P.R.O. and Christine Buckley Queen of the Land 2016 will be on Agri Time on Radio Kerry on Thursday evening at 7pm discussing what Macra is, looking back at the year gone by and looking forward to the year ahead.
Tune into Radio Kerry on 96-98fm on Thursday evening. Well done to everyone who partisapated in these competitions. For more information on how to join macra see our Facebook page.
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