Horsemanship student Robyn Dowling of Skerries, Co Dublin, has been named the overall winner of the Teagasc/FBD student of the year awards for 2025. Equine took the overall crown for the first time on Thursday.

Dowling is a Level 6 advanced certificate in horsemanship (equitation) student at Teagasc’s Kildalton College in Piltown, Co Kilkenny.

In addition to winning the Teagasc/FBD overall student of the year for 2025 award, Dowling also claimed gold in the ‘other land-based’ awards category.

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Two further awards, presented by Minister of State Noel Grealish, headed south.

Co Cork’s Edmund Motherway from Ladysbridge in Midleton won the ‘full-time agriculture category’ through his studies in the level 6 advanced certificate in dairy herd management at Kildalton College.

Advanced certificate

The part-time and distance category was taken by Kildavin, Enniscorthy, Co Wexford by Bernadette Donohoe, who completed the level 6 advanced certificate in agriculture at Teagasc Tinahely.

“The agriculture, horticulture, equine and forestry sectors need young people with new ideas and the right skill sets and knowledge to drive the development of the Irish land-based sectors,” said Teagasc chair Liam Herlihy.

“You epitomise the high calibre of student emerging from Teagasc education courses.”

Ambassadors

Chairman of the FBD Trust Michael Berkery, said: “We value education as a vital contributor to a progressive, sustainable farming sector, which we have in Ireland today.

“The Teagasc/ FBD Student of the Year finalists are wonderful ambassadors for this sector, and we are proud to sponsor these awards which highlight their accomplishments.”

“These awards showcase the agriculture, horticulture, equine and forestry courses and the best students that have come through those,” said Teagasc’s head of education Dr Anne Marie Butler.

“In Teagasc, we continuously strive to improve our education offering and it’s on days like this we see how you, the students, have embraced our education programme and blossomed as individuals ready to move to the next stage of your career.”

The other finalists in the awards were:

  • Eileen Collins from Douglas, Co Cork.
  • Róisín Corkery from Kinsealy, Co Dublin.
  • Audrey Dunne from Drumcondra, Co Dublin.
  • Aoife Jones from Naas, Co Kildare.
  • Jason Kelleher from Innishannon, Co Cork.
  • Martha Langford from Piltown, Co Kilkenny.
  • Eoin Loftus from Ballinasloe, Co Galway.
  • Shane McAuliffe from Dromagh, Mallow, Co Cork.
  • Charmaine McDermott from Redcastle, Co Donegal.
  • Colin Mullahy from Claremorris, Co Mayo.
  • Oscar Ó Marcaigh from Blackrock, Co Dublin.
  • Jack Stevenson from Lifford, Co Donegal.
  • Beth Thornton from Mallow, Co Cork.
  • Christina Tobin from Castletownroche, Co Cork.