Welcome to Kilkenny Macra na Feirme
Welcome to Kilkenny Macra na Feirme!
If your a person who whats to enjoy life and have a good time doing so then macra is for you.Kilkenny Macra can be outlined by the following statement:
Macra na Feirme is a voluntary organisation for young people between the ages of 17 and 35. Macra consists of a nationwide networks of clubs with six key areas of activity: agriculture, sport, travel, public speaking, performing arts and community involvement. Macra na Feirme is committed to the personal development of members and puts emphasis on the social interaction and participation.
So if you think macra may have something for you why not contact us and find out for yourself.
Best of luck to Philip at the Mr. Personality Festival!
The 7th Annual Mr. Personality Festival was organised by Kilkenny Macra na Feirme and took place from the 27th to the 28th of April in the Springhill Court Hotel. The Festival was again sponsored by Kilkenny, Carlow and District Farm Relief Services. Eoghan O'Neill from Mountmellick took this years title. EoghanO’Neill beat 26 other contestants from all over Ireland to take the title. Eoghan is from Mountmellick Macra and is a 23 year old Cabinet Maker. In second place was Aonghus O’Brien from Wicklow and third was Niall Doyle from Wexford. Eoghan was presented with a €500 cheque, a perpetual trophy and a weekend break in any of the Brennan Hotels. Aonghus received a trophy, a cheque for €300 and a mid-week break in any of the Brennan Hotels and Niall received a trophy, €200 and a weekend break in the Aspect Hotel in Kilkenny. Aonghus O’Brien is a 19 year old student from Rathdrum Macra and Niall Doyle is a 24 year old bank official who is a member of Bree Macra.Thecontestants were interviewed on stage with optional party piece, completed challenges and were interviewed by the three judges –Irene Maloney, former Munster Vice President of Macra, Clara Walsh, Midland 103 FM and John Nolan, Freshford Macra. Speaking at the banquet, Michael Dempsey, Chairman of Kilkenny Carlow and District Farm Relief Services, said, “Kilkenny Carlow and District Farm Relief Services are delighted to be involved in such a successful festival. I remember all the friends I met myself in Macra.”
Pictured above is Michael Dempsey, Kilkenny Farming and District Farm Relief Services, Niall Doyle from Wexford (3rd), EoghanO’Neill, Mr. Personality 2012, Aonghus O’Brien from Wicklow (2nd) and Chairperson of the Mr Personality Festival Carmel Brennan.
Basketball.
A huge congratulations to the Thomastown men's team and the Callan ladies team on winning the National basketball finals in Limerick. A great achievement by both teams.
Twenty six teams from around the country took part in the day-long event held at the University of Limerick last Sunday. Speaking after the event, Macra na Feirme National President, Alan Jagoe, congratulated all the participating teams on the dedication and hard work that has gone into preparing for the competition. He said, "Basketball is a great team sport. Macra encourages team work, along with leadership skills, and sports are a great way to develop both." Mr Jagoe also thanked sponsors, the National Dairy Council, for their support and reminded all competitors to visit the Health and Wellbeing section of the Macra.ie website for further information on Macra’s sporting events and also on healthy recipes.
(L-R) Back Row: James Healy, Macra Competitions Committee Chair, Martin Wall, Paddy O'Keefe, Shane O'Keefe.
Front Row: David Kennedy, Steven O'Keefe (Capt.) Chris Hickey.
(L-R) Back Row; Kathleen O'Keeff, Ashling Murphy, Aine Sheehy, Laureena Murphy,
Front Row: Elaine Kennington, Sheila Sheehy, Roisin Kirwan.
Get on your bike
From the 9th of April to the 14th of April, June Grennan and Bernie Woods of Mullinavat Macra na Feirme are cycling from Donegal town to Mullinavat, Kilkenny to raise money for SOS Kilkenny and Down Syndrome Waterford. Here is the route the girls will be taking so you can turn up and show your support: Monday 9th April: Donegal to Sligo town. Tuesday: Sligo to Tulsk (Roscommon). Wednesday: Tulsk to Athlone. Thursday: Athlone to Mountmellick. Friday: Mountmellick to Kilkenny. Saturday: Kilkenny to Mullinavat. Well done to the girls in supporting this local charity from all of us in Kilkenny county macra.
Kilkenny Black Tie Ball.
The 42nd annual Kilkenny City Black -Tie Ball was held on Saturday night, the 11th of February, in the Ormonde Hotel in Kilkenny city centre. This premier event is one of the highlights of the Kilkenny social calendar and is organised and hosted by Kilkenny City Macra na Feirme. The evening kicked off with a mulled wine reception for the 240 guests who were in attendance.
Guests travelled from all over Ireland and must be commended for the style and elegance they brought to the event.
The delicious four course banquet was followed by an evening of dancing to music by the infamous Domino Effect. The shoes were kicked off and bow-ties discarded as the dance floor filled and the guests danced the night away. There were many tired feet by the end of the night but Cupid played his part and romance was truly in the air as new friendships and relationships were formed. The organising committee would like to thank all who helped make the night a huge success.
Below is a picture of members of Kilkenny City Macra who attended on the night.
Scholarship
John Kelly from The Rower in Kilkenny won his college round of the Farm Relief Services Memorial Scholarship which rewards students who show outstanding leadership ability. The National finals of the Farm Relief Services Memorial Scholarship took place at the Teagasc Colleges Challenge Day
in Kildalton College, Co. Kilkenny on Thursday 19th January. The Scholarship is run in conjunction with Macra and a Winner is selected to represent each Teagasc college as a National Finalist. John was representing the Kildalton Horticulture students. In the National Final he gave his presentation
on the leadership skills of General Eisenhower to a judging panel made up of Peter Byrne, FRS Network CEO, and Alan Jagoe National President of Macra and Paddy Browne Head of Education with Teagasc.
Below is John Kelly from The Rower in Kilkenny won his college round of the Farm Relief Services Memorial Scholarship which rewards students who show outstanding leadership ability. He is pictured here with (l-r) Paddy Browne, Teagasc, Peter Bryne, FRS Network and Alan Jagoe, Macra National President.
Recent News - by Kilian Kane
Basketball Champion’s
On the 25th of March Kilkenny became the home of two new titles for the following year as the
triumph Thomastown macra men’s team and the victorious Callan’s macra ladies team both became
the New Macra National Dairy Council All-Ireland basketball Champions respectably. For the one of
the newest clubs in Kilkenny macra, Thomastown, it’s a great achievement to accomplish in their
first year and for the ladies in Callan it adds to their long list of sporting achievements from threw
out the years. Well done to both teams from everybody in Kilkenny County macra, you’ve done us all
very proud.
Girls get on your bikes
From the 9th of April to the 14th of April, June Grennan and Bernie Woods of Mullinavat Macra
are cycling from Donegal town to Mullinavat, Kilkenny to raise money for SOS Kilkenny and Down
Syndrome Waterford. Here is the route the girls will be taking so you can turn up and show
your support: Monday 9th April: Donegal to Sligo town. Tuesday: Sligo to Tulsk (Roscommon).
Wednesday: Tulsk to Athlone. Thursday: Athlone to Mountmellick. Friday: Mountmellick to Kilkenny.
Saturday: Kilkenny to Mullinavat. Well done to the girls in supporting this local charity from all of us
in Kilkenny county macra.
As always you can check out all of the latest news on the Kilkenny county Macra website at
www.kilkennymacra.com or on Macra’s website at www.macra.ie or find us on Facebook. You can
also subscribe to the Macra national weekly newsletter on www.macra.ie . Anybody interested in
joining any of the Macra clubs or indeed start up a new club in Kilkenny should contact the county
training officer Mick Wall on 0868359891 for further details. You may think macra is not for you but
give it a try. You have nothing to lose but a lot to gain.
