On Sunday 3 May at the Sheraton Hotel in Athlone, the FBD National Hall of Fame Awards will celebrate 22 years acknowledging and honouring people from the bovine, equine and ovine industries in Ireland.

Speaking ahead of the awards, CEO Michael Flanagan said: “Who would have imagined way back in 2003 when the first awards ceremony took place in the Shamrock Lodge Hotel in Athlone, that in 2026 those heroes would still be acknowledged and honoured for their marvellous contributions to their various breed societies.

“Were it not for the loyal sponsors of the event, none of this would be possible.”

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Sponsors

In recent years, FBD Insurance has become the title sponsor, with the Tipperary-based Herdwatch sponsoring the bovine section, Kepak Group sponsoring the ovine section and Horse Sport Ireland sponsoring the equine section.

Associate sponsors include Cormac Tagging, Certified Irish Angus Producer Group, Aurivo/Homeland, Bord-Bia and the Irish Farmers Journal. Then there are nominee sponsors, which the organisers are most grateful for their loyalty and continued support.

Lifetime achievement award

This year the awards’ executive were steadfast in their recognition of one man’s remarkable achievements in industry and his outstanding contribution to the hospitality sector: John O’Sullivan, chairman of the Hodson Bay Group, Athlone, has been selected to receive the 2026 lifetime achievement award.

The Farmer’s Oscar award goes to Dr Dan Ryan, Fermoy founder of ScanInsights, which combines decades of hands-on bovine reproductive experience with cutting edge AI ultrasound technology and is proudly manufactured in Ireland.

This award is kindly sponsored by Cormac Tagging’s managing director, Ursula Kelly.

In fact, Ursula’s father, T J Gormley, was the first recipient of the award.

Both Michael and his son Oliver, who is secretary of the awards, wish to thank all the sponsors and breed societies who have supported the event over the past 22 years and hopefully for many more years to follow.