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.
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.
Indoor Soccer
The national finals of the Ladies' and Men's Indoor Soccer competitions were held on Sunday the 15th of January in Gormanstown College, Co. Meath. Forty teams battled it out for the coveted national titles. Taking part in the final of the competition were the Kilkenny City Ladies Team and the Mullinavat Men’s Team. Well done to both teams for taking part on the day you did both your clubs and Kilkenny County Macra proud. Macra National President, Alan Jagoe, speaking after the event, congratulated all the participating teams. Mr. Jagoe said, “Competitions like indoor soccer are a great hobby for young people along with being great fun. Macra, along with the NDC, encourages members to get involved in sports as great exercise and a way of meeting
new people. Indoor soccer is as popular as ever, as seen by the many competitors’ who battled it out for the coveted titles.” Below are the Kilkenny City Ladies teams at the national final of Macra na Feirme’s NDC Indoor Soccer competition. Back (l-r): Aoife Lanigan, Mary Carroll, Joanne Bolger, Margaret Dooley. Front: Mary Brennan, Liz Dowling, Deirdre Brennan. Also the Mullinavat team of Back (l-r): JT Murphy, Paul Horan, Joeseph Wall, Seamus Farrell. Front: Joseph Jahan, Eddie Head, William Holohan at the National Finals.
Also, congratulations to Callan A men's team and Kilkenny City Women's team who won the county final recently. These teams will represent Kilkenny in the All-Ireland finals next year.
County Pool Final
The Pool Competition was held recently in the KBowl was a great success. We had 16 participating from Kilkenny City, Callan, Thomastown, Slievenamon and Fethard. The winner was Brian Kavanagh, from Kilkenny City and the runner-up was Murt Butler, from Callan.
Impromptu Public Speaking
Congratulations to Michael Somers (KK City) won the national title for Imptomptu Public Speaking on the 10th December in Trim, Co. Meath. Michael beat off stiff competition to land the title and Michael picked the topics of Childcare, Farmers Markets and Croke Park on the night to speak about. Well done Michael. Below is Michael Sommers (middle) with sponsor Basil Bayne from Harper Adams University College and National President Alan Jagoe. Michael has now won a place on the Macra Prize-winner’s Trip which will take place next year. Mr. Basil Bayne from Harper Adams University College attended and presented the new trophy for the Impromptu Public Speaking competition, which has been kindly donated by the college.
Queen of the land
A massive congratulations to Bernie Woods, who won the title of Queen of the Land. The Queen of the Land Festival and FBD were proud on the 13th of November to announce Bernie Woods as the Queen of the Land for 2011. Bernie Woods hailing from the Mullinavat club in Co. Kilkenny was overwhelmed when the announcement was made. Bernie paid great tribute to her fellow contestants who had made it “a most memorable weekend ever” and especially thanked the Queen of the Land committee for making and doing everything in their power to make every one of us feel special. Bernie said that one of the highlights of her weekend was the Treasure hunt and she remarked about the clues for the hunt “would have had the locals confused never mind a
few blow-ins”. Speaking about being on stage on Saturday night, she said she was a little nervous but was put very much at ease by the interviewer MC Deric Hartigan. Bernie comes away from Tullamore with the prestigious Queen of the Land title and the tiara that accompanies the title and €1000 and a voucher. Claire Walsh took 1st runner up and Maria Carey took 2nd runner up. Contestants were judged on a range of attributes. The event is primarily a personality
contest with marks also on offer for appearance, dress sense, rural knowledge and elocution. In addition, contestants underwent an interview encompassing a discussion on one of two pre-chosen topics.
Bernie beat off strong competition to win the title! Congratulations to Bernie and to all who organised such a successful event. Below Bernie (centre) and Runners up Claire Walsh, Laois (left) and Maria Carey, Clare (right)
Kilkenny City Macra
Club Profile:
Founded in 1946.
Achievements:
Queen of the Land Winner, 1999 – Mairead McEvoy
National Bowling Winners, 2005 – Philip Fennelly, Regina Byrne, John Millea,
Catherine Jackman, John Dunne, Jane Morris
National Question Time Winners, 2007 – Fionan Brennan, Mary Brennan, Aoife
Lanigan, Mary Drennan
Bank of Ireland National Leadership Award, 2007 – Denis Drennan
Bank of Ireland National Leadership Award, 2010 – Mary Brennan
Leinster Vice-President, 2007-2009 – Denis Drennan
Kilkenny City Macra holds an Annual Black Tie Ball every February.Current Officers:
Chairperson: Mark Comerford
Secretary: Kilian Kane
Treasurer: Marie Therese Kennedy
PRO: Aoife Lanigan
Meetings are held in the Orchard Bar, New Orchard Road @ 9.30pm. Contact Mark 085 2839023 for further details
Weekly Activities:
Every Monday night, Indoor Soccer in St. Canice’s Hall, Granges Road @ 8pm
Thursday nights, Basketball/Badminton in St. Canice’s Hall, Granges Road @ 8pm
County Officer Positions over the last eight years:
Sinead O’Sullivan, Treasurer, 2003-2004; Chairperson, 2004-2006; PRO, 2006-2007
Denis Drennan, Sports Officer, 2003-2004; Treasurer, 2005-2006, 2007-2008;
Competitions, 2006-2007; Chairperson, 2008-2009
Catriona Byrne, Assistant PRO, 2004-2005
Noreen Butler, Assistant Secretary, 2005-2006, Chairperson, 2006-2008; Assistant
Treasurer, 2008-2009
Helen Mooney, Social & Travel, 2005-2006
Michael Parsons, Young Farmers, 2005-2006
Philip Fennelly, Assistant Sports Officer, 2005-2006
Aoife Lanigan, PRO, 2007-2009; Sports Officer, 2009-20010; Competitions, 2010-
present
Karl Marshall, Development, 2007-2009
Mary Brennan, Treasurer, 2008-2010; Assistant Secretary, 2009-2010; Secretary, 2010-
2011; Chairperson, 2011-present; National Council Rep, 2011-present
Deirdre Brennan, Treasurer, 2010-present
Fionan Brennan, Development, 2010-present
Kilian Kane, PRO, 2011-present
Recent News - by Kilian Kane
Kilkenny Macra news by Kilian Kane
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.
National Indoor Soccer
The national finals of the Ladies' and Men's Indoor Soccer competitions were held on Sunday the
15th of January in Gormanstown College, Co. Meath. Forty teams battled it out for the coveted
national titles. Taking part in the final of the competition were the Kilkenny City Ladies Team and the
Mullinavat Men’s Team. Well done to both teams for taking part on the day you did both your clubs
and Kilkenny County Macra proud. Macra National President, Alan Jagoe, speaking after the
event, congratulated all the participating teams. Mr. Jagoe said, “Competitions like indoor
soccer are a great hobby for young people along with being great fun. Macra, along with the
NDC, encourages members to get involved in sports as great exercise and a way of meeting
new people. Indoor soccer is as popular as ever, as seen by the many competitors’ who
battled it out for the coveted titles.”
Title Fights
Each year Macra holds four pageants (three for the ladies and one for the lads) and they are: Miss
Macra, Miss Blue Jeans, Queen of the Land and Mr Personality. Each year each county/region picks
a member to take part in each of the pageants and Kilkenny always delivers. The following members
will be going forward to do Kilkenny proud in each pageant. Callan’s Phil Daniels will be this year
entry for Mr Personality (held in Kilkenny), Kilkenny City’s Lisa Lynam will be Miss Blue Jeans and
Freshford’s own Colette Power will be Miss Macra, but ladies there is one more pageant for you
currently we do not have are Queen of the Land and are you the one to who would like the honour
to represent Kilkenny this year if so please contact the chairperson of your club as so as possible.
Question time
On Friday the 20th of January the county round of the Kerrygold Question time was held in the
village inn on Patrick Street in Kilkenny. There were several teams taking part on the night hoping to
represent Kilkenny in the National finals to be held on the 18th of February in Enfield, county Meath,
but on the night only two teams could go forward. Both teams from Kilkenny city macra received the
honour so from all of us in the county we wish you the best of luck.
Soccer Blitz winners
Well done to the both the Callan A men’s and Kilkenny city women’s team for making it through to
the national finals of next year’s indoor soccer tournament sponsored the National Dairy Council.
The county finals were held on the Friday the 27th of January in St. Canice’s hall. Well done to all
teams who took part on the night and best of luck to those getting to go forward to the national
finals to represent Kilkenny next year.
Winter Watch
In light of the predicted cold weather conditions and darker evenings all the members of Macra
are encouraged in their local area to be mindful of the needs of the elderly and isolated in our
communities. A simple visit to such people can demonstrate tremendous support and can identify if
people are in need. A simple act of kindness such as delivering a newspaper or groceries or helping
to gather wood for the fire can make all the difference. By spreading this message amongst Macra
members we can play an important role in our communities by looking after our neighbors.
Events
Calling all Kilkenny county macra members, keep Saturday the 11th of February free as it will be a
very busy day. The 1st reason why: our second annual intercounty hurling and camogie blitz will take
place in James Park in Kilkenny. Sign in is at half 10 with the blitz starting at 11o’clock also volunteers
are needed so if your free please contact your club chairperson or Bernie woods. The 2nd reason why
should keep the 11th of February free is the Kilkenny city Black Tie Ball will be taking place that night
from 8 till late in the Ormonde Hotel in Kilkenny. As always the Black Tie Ball is one of the events
held in Kilkenny that no member should miss out on if they can go so book your tickets fast as there
is a lot of interest from outside the county. Tickets cost a recession busting €35 euro and what do I
get for my money: a mulled wine reception, 4 course meal and for entertainment Domino effect to
dance the night away.
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.
