Carbery man Patrick O’Leary, from Kilmeen Macra, has won this year’s final of the Macra na Feirme All-Ireland welding competition, sponsored by Griffin Welding and Engineering Supply Centre, Midleton, Co Cork.

Philip Dennehy, Sliabh Luachra Macra, Avondhu, Co Cork, was awarded second place. In third place was Darren Walsh from Kilmacthomas Macra, Co Waterford.

Macra national president Seán Finan said: “I’d like to thank Griffin Welding and Engineering Supply Centre for their generous sponsorship of the competition and the staff of the Cork Training Centre in Bishopstown for their assistance in running the event. Congratulations to all the finalists and winners who demonstrated a very high level of skill.”

The event took place at the Cork Training Centre in Bishopstown last Friday, 11 December, with 19 competitors from Macra clubs all over the country battling it out for the prize of a welder, generously donated by the competition’s sponsors, as well as a place on the Macra prizewinners’ trip abroad next year.

The competition involved a written theory test, followed by practical welding tasks.