Gowran man Gearoid Kennedy is among the finalists for this year’s Teagasc/FBD Student of the Year Awards 2022.
The Teagasc/FBD Student of the Year Awards were presented by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue TD at an awards ceremony on Tuesday.
Gearoid, from Paulstown Road, Gowran, had an interest in forestry from a young age which led him to completing the Level 6 Advanced Certificate in Forestry at Ballyhaise Agricultural College.
Ellen Vaughan was named overall Teagasc/FBD Student of the Year for 2022. Ellen hails from a dairy farm in County Meath and works part-time on the farm along with being a fulltime teacher. Ellen completed the Level 6 Distance Green Cert at Teagasc, Navan, County Meath.
Laura Lynch won the Drytsock category. Laura comes from Athy, County Kildare and completed the Level 6 Specific Purpose Certificate in Farming (Distance) at Teagasc, Mullingar.
Amanda Draper was the top student in the Other Land Based Enterprises Category. Amanda comes from Cork and has graduated with distinction on both Level 5 and Level 6 in Equitation at Teagasc. Kildalton College.
Speaking at the awards, Michael Berkery, Chairman of FBD Trust, said “FBD is committed to supporting education in agriculture. We are delighted to continue sponsoring the Teagasc / FBD Student of the Year awards this year. On behalf of the team at FBD, I would like to congratulate the finalists on their achievements and wish them all the very best in their future farming careers.”
Dr Anne Marie Butler, Head of Education in Teagasc congratulated the finalists and thanked education colleagues for their commitment and dedication. She said that in 2022, almost 4,500 students successfully completed training with Teagasc and were awarded a QQI certificate.
The other finalists were:
Gearoid Kennedy from Kilkenny had an interest in forestry from a young age which led him to completing the Level 6 Advanced Certificate in Forestry at Ballyhaise Agricultural College.
Jathan McMahon grew up on a dairy farm in County Clare. He joined Gurteen College in 2020 to complete the Level 6 Advanced Certificate in Agriculture – Dairy Herd Management.
Meghan England moved to Ireland from Australia almost 6 years ago to farm. Meghan wanted to learn how to farm efficiently and sustainably, so she chose to do the Green Cert in Teagasc, Midleton.
Tim Crowley comes from Mallow, County Cork and completed a Level 6 Green Cert part-time in Teagasc Macroom.
Gavin McGarrigle is from Ballyshannon in County Donegal and has completed the Level 6 Advanced Certificate in Agriculture (Dairy Herd Management) in Mountbellew Agricultural College.
Owain Buttimer from Rosscarbery in County. Cork and completed the Level 6 Advanced Certificate in Agriculture – Dairy Herd Management at Teagasc Clonakilty College.
Ryan McGovern from County Cavan completed the Level 6 in Drystock Management at Teagasc, Ballyhaise College.
Neil Furey farms with his parents and sisters in Bluestack country in Co. Donegal. He completed his Green Cert at Teagasc Manorhamilton.
Niall Gillespie hails from Ballina, County Mayo and excelled through the Green Cert course which he completed at Teagasc Ballina.
Hanna Sheerin from County Wicklow completed the Distance Education course in Kildalton College in 2021.
Prabhjit Singh was born in India and grew up on a farm with many generations before him farming the land. Prabhjit completed a Level 6 Advanced Certificate in Horticulture (Nursery Stock Production) in Botanic Gardens and is now doing a Level 7 BSc in Horticulture with Botanics and SETU.
Fred Dolan is a suckler farmer in Roscommon and completed the Level 5 & Level 6 Certificate in Agriculture (Green Cert) at Teagasc Roscommon.
Michael Mulry comes from Tuam, County Galway and completed the Level 6 Specific Purpose Certificate in Farming (Part-Time) in Teagasc Athenry.
Paul Dineen is from County Cork and arrived in Pallaskenry College after completing Level 5 in Clonakilty Agricultural College. He went on to complete the Level 6 Advanced Certificate in Agriculture (Mechanisation) in Pallaskenry.
Liam Herlihy, Chairman of Teagasc congratulated the winners and all the finalists, saying that they and their families can be proud of their achievements, which were acknowledged and recognised in the awards. I wish them well in their careers. I would also like to thank FBD Insurance for their continued support for these awards and other Teagasc initiatives.