Over the past year, clubs within Macra na Feirme have re-established and new clubs have also been formed.

Raphoe Macra in Donegal re-established itself in March 2022 as many young people in the area wanted to get involved in Macra once again after the pandemic.

The club formally known as Proper Job Macra was historically always known to be a very active club within Macra, so it was great to see local training and development officer Ciara McDonnell help get the club up and running once again.

Since setting up in March, members have taken part in farm skills competitions and even had a team at the semi-finals round in Gurteen College on 26 June.

Members have also started weekly jiving lessons with the county and the club held a county round of dairy stockjudging.

We asked the members of Raphoe what it was that they liked about Macra.

The club stated: “We are very much enjoying the competitions so far and are getting involved in county rounds in Donegal. Macra has been a great way to create our own community within the area.”

Letterkenny Macra is also a new club that has been set up in Donegal in the past year.

With initiative taken by the club chair to set up a club after only moving to the area last year, the club has been growing ever since.

Committee members have promoted the club on social media and local radio. It was a difficult time to set up a club during the pandemic last June. However, it didn’t stop members getting out and about and attending various activities and events when they could.

The first event organised by Letterkenny Macra was a nitrates farm walk in September with great support from Inishowen Macra and other counties attending on the day.

Since then, the club has continued to thrive with members having attended a wide range of events, including team-building in Carlingford Adventure Centre, a scavenger hunt in Letterkenny, farm walks, a county exchange with Cavan and Roscommon, stockjudging nights, bowling nights, quiz nights, jiving lessons, a hike up Mount Errigal and the Aurivo Northwest Kings and Queens competition.

We asked the members of Letterkenny what it was that they liked about Macra. The club stated: “The great variety of activities and events that members can get involved in and meet new people and make new friends along the way is one of the main reasons that people become members and then friends within Letterkenny Macra.”