Christmas Day is a great time to honour farmers who have shown outstanding skill throughout the year. There have been many winners in farming throughout 2019, and here the Irish Farmers Journal acknowledges their hard work and dedication to their craft.
Kieran Coakley – Five Nations ploughing champion
Kieran Coakley getting ready for the ploughing championships 2019. \ Jack Caffrey
The man from west Cork won the Five Nations Ploughing Championship this year in Carlow, something he has achieved many times.
The 30-year-old first started competing at the age of 15 and has become a true champion in his skill. He has won many local matches and in 2009 he took home his first national title. Kieran has won the U21s twice, the U28s five times and has brought home the trophy for the intermediate class too.
“I was happy that I won it this year, but I think that I might be more disappointed if I didn’t win it,” said the competitive farmer. Both his brother and father have represented Ireland in international competitions.
Ivan Scott – All Ireland and All Nations Sheep shearing champion
Ivan Scott holds two world records. \ Evan Logan
The Donegal man is no stranger to a winning shears and his record held strong in 2019 as he won the All-Ireland and All-Nations Shearing Championships. He was also presented with a master shearer’s certificate by the British Isles Shearing Competition Association.
Scott has previously held another 10 All-Ireland titles and holds a number of world records. He set the world record for shearing a sheep in the fastest time of 37.9 seconds in 2016 and a second for shearing 867 ewes over nine hours that same year.
Liam Hanrahan – Macra na Feirme Young Farmer of the Year
Liam Hanrahan holds a PhD in farm effeciency.
The young dairy farmer from Dunbeg, Co Clare, has a PhD in dairy farm efficiency and is the director of Callanview Farm Ltd. He is a member of Kilrush Macra and has worked on farms in France and New Zealand. In New Zealand, he spent six months working on a 750-herd dairy farm.
He was thrilled to win the Macra Young Farmer award.
“A neighbour of mine won the award years ago when I was very young and I became obsessed with wanting it after that. I’ve always looked towards the winners with admiration so it was fantastic when I won it. I was delighted, it’s great to have the title brought back to west Clare,” he said.
Kieran and Ann Hearne - NDC & Kerrygold Quality Milk Awards
Kieran and Ann Hearne, pictured with their children at home.
The Glanbia suppliers milk 190 cows and were awarded the prestigious title in October at an awards ceremony in the RDS, Dublin.
Kieran also breeds high-EBI bulls under the Curra prefix. Curra Fionn is currently one of the top EBI AI sires available in Ireland.
John Jordan, CEO of Ornua, said: “Kieran is a true ambassador for Irish dairy, not only is he dedicated to producing top-quality milk, but he also demonstrated his commitment to sustainable dairy farming. The pride, passion and dedication of our farmers is the vital ingredient to the success of the Kerrygold brand worldwide.”
Breda Lynch – Queen of the Shears
Breda Lynch in the ladies final champion at the 2019 national sheep sheering championships in Cashel, Co. Tipperary \ Phill Doyle
The impressive 59-year-old won the Queen of the Shears at the All-Ireland shearing competition in Cashel, Co Tipperary, this year.
She was also awarded a British Isles Shearing Competition Association certificate that Breda called "a mighty honour". Due to ill-health, the champion had not shorn a sheep for over a year until the day of the competition.
Breda won the All-Ireland title back-to-back from 2005 to 2013 and competed for Ireland with the men in the World Championships in Wexford in 2014.
This saw them invited to shear in the Royal Batten West Championships in 2015, where Ireland placed third.
“Your health is everything, I might compete to defend my title in 2020, but that all depends on my health,” she said.
Thomas and Claire O’Connor – Public’s Choice Award, Farming for Nature
Thomas and Claire O’Connor secured the award for their role in operating Manna Organic Farm.
The O’Connors secured the award for their role in operating Manna Organic Farm. The 25ac farm is situated in Co Kerry and they produce a mix of organic meat, poultry and eggs.
Between Thomas and Claire, they have served three terms on the board of Irish Organic Farmers and Growers Association (IOFGA).
They hold open days, farm visits and workshops on their farm and run transition farming and biodiversity education days to help share their knowledge.
“We truly believe that returning to nature and natural farming systems can only create health and a vibrant environment. It can provide natural, nutrient-dense quality food that can be the corner stone for future generations,” they said.
Bryan and Gail Daniels – Grassland Farmer of the Year
Bryan and Gail Daniels scooped the sustainability award at a ceremony in Moorepark this year.
Bryan and Gail Daniels scooped the sustainability award and the overall award at the Grassland Farmer of the Year awards at a ceremony in Moorepark this year.
Grass is the focus of the farm, with an average of 10.2 grazings per year. Bryan measures the farm on average 38 times per year.
Their 300-strong herd is on track to produce 460kg of milk solids from 430kg of meal this year. The competition was sponsored by the Department of Agriculture as part of the Teagasc Grass 10 programme. The winners received a cheque for €6,000. Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed congratulated the couple for “demonstrating what can be achieved with high levels of grassland management”.
Niall O'Meara – FBD €uro-Star €200 competition
Niall O'Meara took the top prize at the FBD €uro-Star competition 2019
The suckler farmer from Kilimor, Eyrecourt, Co Galway, took the top prize at the FBD €uro-Star competition 2019.
The 70ac farm has 50 sucklers and weanlings are sold at 12 months.
Niall concentrates on breeding, health and grass – three of the cornerstones of a profitable beef production system. He has a weanling target of 500kg at 12 months of age.
For the past five years, the farm has been consistently achieving a calving interval of under 370 days and over one calf per cow per year.
“I’m farming because I want to make money but that doesn’t mean I’m a slave to it. I want a certain quality of life as well,” said the winner.
The judges said Niall's farm was an excellent example of a typical medium-sized west of Ireland family farm operating at high efficiency and managed at a very high level.”
Read more
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Christmas Day is a great time to honour farmers who have shown outstanding skill throughout the year. There have been many winners in farming throughout 2019, and here the Irish Farmers Journal acknowledges their hard work and dedication to their craft.
Kieran Coakley – Five Nations ploughing champion
Kieran Coakley getting ready for the ploughing championships 2019. \ Jack Caffrey
The man from west Cork won the Five Nations Ploughing Championship this year in Carlow, something he has achieved many times.
The 30-year-old first started competing at the age of 15 and has become a true champion in his skill. He has won many local matches and in 2009 he took home his first national title. Kieran has won the U21s twice, the U28s five times and has brought home the trophy for the intermediate class too.
“I was happy that I won it this year, but I think that I might be more disappointed if I didn’t win it,” said the competitive farmer. Both his brother and father have represented Ireland in international competitions.
Ivan Scott – All Ireland and All Nations Sheep shearing champion
Ivan Scott holds two world records. \ Evan Logan
The Donegal man is no stranger to a winning shears and his record held strong in 2019 as he won the All-Ireland and All-Nations Shearing Championships. He was also presented with a master shearer’s certificate by the British Isles Shearing Competition Association.
Scott has previously held another 10 All-Ireland titles and holds a number of world records. He set the world record for shearing a sheep in the fastest time of 37.9 seconds in 2016 and a second for shearing 867 ewes over nine hours that same year.
Liam Hanrahan – Macra na Feirme Young Farmer of the Year
Liam Hanrahan holds a PhD in farm effeciency.
The young dairy farmer from Dunbeg, Co Clare, has a PhD in dairy farm efficiency and is the director of Callanview Farm Ltd. He is a member of Kilrush Macra and has worked on farms in France and New Zealand. In New Zealand, he spent six months working on a 750-herd dairy farm.
He was thrilled to win the Macra Young Farmer award.
“A neighbour of mine won the award years ago when I was very young and I became obsessed with wanting it after that. I’ve always looked towards the winners with admiration so it was fantastic when I won it. I was delighted, it’s great to have the title brought back to west Clare,” he said.
Kieran and Ann Hearne - NDC & Kerrygold Quality Milk Awards
Kieran and Ann Hearne, pictured with their children at home.
The Glanbia suppliers milk 190 cows and were awarded the prestigious title in October at an awards ceremony in the RDS, Dublin.
Kieran also breeds high-EBI bulls under the Curra prefix. Curra Fionn is currently one of the top EBI AI sires available in Ireland.
John Jordan, CEO of Ornua, said: “Kieran is a true ambassador for Irish dairy, not only is he dedicated to producing top-quality milk, but he also demonstrated his commitment to sustainable dairy farming. The pride, passion and dedication of our farmers is the vital ingredient to the success of the Kerrygold brand worldwide.”
Breda Lynch – Queen of the Shears
Breda Lynch in the ladies final champion at the 2019 national sheep sheering championships in Cashel, Co. Tipperary \ Phill Doyle
The impressive 59-year-old won the Queen of the Shears at the All-Ireland shearing competition in Cashel, Co Tipperary, this year.
She was also awarded a British Isles Shearing Competition Association certificate that Breda called "a mighty honour". Due to ill-health, the champion had not shorn a sheep for over a year until the day of the competition.
Breda won the All-Ireland title back-to-back from 2005 to 2013 and competed for Ireland with the men in the World Championships in Wexford in 2014.
This saw them invited to shear in the Royal Batten West Championships in 2015, where Ireland placed third.
“Your health is everything, I might compete to defend my title in 2020, but that all depends on my health,” she said.
Thomas and Claire O’Connor – Public’s Choice Award, Farming for Nature
Thomas and Claire O’Connor secured the award for their role in operating Manna Organic Farm.
The O’Connors secured the award for their role in operating Manna Organic Farm. The 25ac farm is situated in Co Kerry and they produce a mix of organic meat, poultry and eggs.
Between Thomas and Claire, they have served three terms on the board of Irish Organic Farmers and Growers Association (IOFGA).
They hold open days, farm visits and workshops on their farm and run transition farming and biodiversity education days to help share their knowledge.
“We truly believe that returning to nature and natural farming systems can only create health and a vibrant environment. It can provide natural, nutrient-dense quality food that can be the corner stone for future generations,” they said.
Bryan and Gail Daniels – Grassland Farmer of the Year
Bryan and Gail Daniels scooped the sustainability award at a ceremony in Moorepark this year.
Bryan and Gail Daniels scooped the sustainability award and the overall award at the Grassland Farmer of the Year awards at a ceremony in Moorepark this year.
Grass is the focus of the farm, with an average of 10.2 grazings per year. Bryan measures the farm on average 38 times per year.
Their 300-strong herd is on track to produce 460kg of milk solids from 430kg of meal this year. The competition was sponsored by the Department of Agriculture as part of the Teagasc Grass 10 programme. The winners received a cheque for €6,000. Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed congratulated the couple for “demonstrating what can be achieved with high levels of grassland management”.
Niall O'Meara – FBD €uro-Star €200 competition
Niall O'Meara took the top prize at the FBD €uro-Star competition 2019
The suckler farmer from Kilimor, Eyrecourt, Co Galway, took the top prize at the FBD €uro-Star competition 2019.
The 70ac farm has 50 sucklers and weanlings are sold at 12 months.
Niall concentrates on breeding, health and grass – three of the cornerstones of a profitable beef production system. He has a weanling target of 500kg at 12 months of age.
For the past five years, the farm has been consistently achieving a calving interval of under 370 days and over one calf per cow per year.
“I’m farming because I want to make money but that doesn’t mean I’m a slave to it. I want a certain quality of life as well,” said the winner.
The judges said Niall's farm was an excellent example of a typical medium-sized west of Ireland family farm operating at high efficiency and managed at a very high level.”
Read more
Monday management: time for pre-calving minerals
Winter Fair: how much for a cubicle sweeper?
Sheep Management: feeding early lambing ewes and SWS ewe numbers
Funding for research in brewing and distilling welcomed by drinks industry
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