Club from Offaly tops at Macra national convention
Killoughey Macra club members take the honours at convention in county Limerick
MEMBERS of Killoughey Macra na Feirme set off for Adare, County Limerick on the October Bank Holiday for the annual Macra conference.
The annual gathering of Macra members is more than a conference, it is a celebration of the youth of Ireland with a special emphasis on farming, a weekend of competitions, celebrations, plenty of craic, and of course the mandatory speeches.
The Killoughey team of P.J. Bracken, Oisin Kilmartin, Diarmuid Bracken and Richard Casey got stuck into the action on Friday night when they entered the Know Your Agriculture Quiz.
Out of 19 teams, Killoughey came out on top and were presented an impressive cup for the team and individual plaques for each team member from Macra President Josephine O’Neill.
Following a morning of farm and other tours on Saturday, the members settled into the business end of the conference which featured speeches by Josephine O’Neill and Taoiseach Micheál Martin.
President O’Neill minced no words when she told the Taoiseach that the government cannot expect Brussels to solve all the problems of generational renewal, but that they must step up to the mark in Ireland and show action instead of just talking.
Sunday concluded with more competitions, and again Killoughey were not found wanting. Diarmuid Bracken finished on top in the U23 Beef Stock Judging.
A crowd of tired, but happy Killoughey Macra members made their way home at the end of the conference.