Ploughing 2025 had everything for the visitor to the Irish Farmer’s Journal stand, where the team from Irish Country Living served up a feast of informative sessions from panel discussions on mental health and succession, not to mention a feast of mouth-watering dishes served up by our own Janine Kennedy, with her sous-chefs Darren Carty and Aidan Brennan.
However, the undoubted highlight from Screggan this year was the final of our Rising Rural Stars competition, which led to packed crowds in the Irish Farmers Journal tent on day one of the three-day event.
A group of 15 young people with a passion for rural life and community spirit were interviewed on stage by Irish Farmers Journal editor Jack Kennedy and Irish Country Living editor Ciara Leahy where they spoke of their many talents from football to athletics, sean nós dancing and even kettlebell lifting.
With three prizes up for grabs; an under-12, over-12 and overall winner category, it was up to Rose of Tralee, Katelynn Cummins and her two co-judges, Adam Woods, beef and deputy editor of the Irish Farmers Journal and Jacqueline Hogge, rural affairs reporter with Irish Country Living to make some very difficult decisions.
Sligo twins Finn and Ollie Dawdry (9) told Jack of their love for granddad John Joe’s sheep, which graze on the hills of Benbulben behind their home.
They had to clear up some confusion regarding their favourite job on the farm – sheep dipping – which had been mistaken for sheep tipping and told Jack that if they won, they would spend their prize on helping to fix up granddad’s old Massey.
Corks’ Conor William Sheehan (15) told Ciara he has become an entrepreneur by merging his love of sport with his carpentry skills. His fledgling hurling enterprise has picked up a few sales from featuring in the Irish Farmer's Journal as a Rising Rural Star finalist.
Westmeath’s Aoibh Dully (15) gave an impromptu performance of her sean nós dancing skills after she told the audience she has been dancing since she was a small child, while Ruth Murtagh from Newtowncashel, Co Longford spoke of how at only 16 she lines out for her club’s senior football team.
Eight-year-old Fia Finnerty impressed the audience as she spoke of all the after-school activities she’s involved in, from athletics to football, Irish dancing and speech and drama. But farming is her first love and she’s been known to roll up her sleeves and get stuck in at the busiest times of the year, with lambing season her favourite.
Fermanagh’s Brooke Morrow (16) spoke of her pride in her Connemara cross pony Sid, who she cajoled from a scrappy injured youngster into placing at the prestigious Balmoral Show. She said she couldn’t be prouder of Sid, who everyone else had given up on, and had taught her that with patience and perseverance you could achieve anything in life.
Awards on the day went to Ollie and Finn Dawdry in the under-12 category, with Aoibh Dully winning the over-12 award. The overall Rising Rural Star was awarded to Brooke Morrow. Well done to all our finalists – it was a very tough competition – and congratulations to our winners.
Fia Finnerty, 8, from Sligo, a finalist in the Rural Rising Stars competition tells the audience in the Farmers Journal tent at the National Ploughing Championships 2025 why she deserves to win.. \ Philip Doyle
Six-year-old, Jack Roche from Fermoy, Co Cork was the youngest finalist in the Rising Rural Stars competition at the National Ploughing Championships 2025. \ Philip Doyle
Niall Delaney, 17, from Templemore, Co Tipperary speaks with Jack Kennedy at the Rising Rural Stars final at the National Ploughing Championships 2025. \ Philip Doyle
Cillian Murphy from Newport, Co Mayo speaks of his passion for farm safety at the Rising Rural Stars competition at the National Ploughing Championships 2025. \ Philip Doyle
Aoibh Dully, 15, from Co Westmeath scooped the over 12 Rising Rural Stars award. She is pictured with judges, IFJ deputy editor Adam Woods; International Rose of Tralee, Katelyn Cummins; rural affairs journalist Jacqueline Hogge; Irish Country Living editor Ciara Leahy and IFJ editor Jack Kennedy at the National Ploughing Championships 2025. \ Philip Doyle
Twins Finn and Ollie Dawdry were named under 12 Rising Rural Stars award winners. They are pictured with Irish Country Living editor Ciara Leahy; judges IFJ deputy editor Adam Woods; International Rose of Tralee, Katelyn Cummins; rural affairs journalist Jacqueline Hogge; and IFJ editor Jack Kennedy at the National Ploughing Championships 2025.
Brooke Morrow, 16, from Co Fermanagh scooped the overall Rising Rural Stars award. She is pictured with judges, IFJ deputy editor Adam Woods; International Rose of Tralee, Katelyn Cummins; rural affairs journalist Jacqueline Hogge; Irish Country Living editor Ciara Leahy and IFJ editor Jack Kennedy at the National Ploughing Championships 2025. \ Philip Doyle
Ploughing 2025 had everything for the visitor to the Irish Farmer’s Journal stand, where the team from Irish Country Living served up a feast of informative sessions from panel discussions on mental health and succession, not to mention a feast of mouth-watering dishes served up by our own Janine Kennedy, with her sous-chefs Darren Carty and Aidan Brennan.
However, the undoubted highlight from Screggan this year was the final of our Rising Rural Stars competition, which led to packed crowds in the Irish Farmers Journal tent on day one of the three-day event.
A group of 15 young people with a passion for rural life and community spirit were interviewed on stage by Irish Farmers Journal editor Jack Kennedy and Irish Country Living editor Ciara Leahy where they spoke of their many talents from football to athletics, sean nós dancing and even kettlebell lifting.
With three prizes up for grabs; an under-12, over-12 and overall winner category, it was up to Rose of Tralee, Katelynn Cummins and her two co-judges, Adam Woods, beef and deputy editor of the Irish Farmers Journal and Jacqueline Hogge, rural affairs reporter with Irish Country Living to make some very difficult decisions.
Sligo twins Finn and Ollie Dawdry (9) told Jack of their love for granddad John Joe’s sheep, which graze on the hills of Benbulben behind their home.
They had to clear up some confusion regarding their favourite job on the farm – sheep dipping – which had been mistaken for sheep tipping and told Jack that if they won, they would spend their prize on helping to fix up granddad’s old Massey.
Corks’ Conor William Sheehan (15) told Ciara he has become an entrepreneur by merging his love of sport with his carpentry skills. His fledgling hurling enterprise has picked up a few sales from featuring in the Irish Farmer's Journal as a Rising Rural Star finalist.
Westmeath’s Aoibh Dully (15) gave an impromptu performance of her sean nós dancing skills after she told the audience she has been dancing since she was a small child, while Ruth Murtagh from Newtowncashel, Co Longford spoke of how at only 16 she lines out for her club’s senior football team.
Eight-year-old Fia Finnerty impressed the audience as she spoke of all the after-school activities she’s involved in, from athletics to football, Irish dancing and speech and drama. But farming is her first love and she’s been known to roll up her sleeves and get stuck in at the busiest times of the year, with lambing season her favourite.
Fermanagh’s Brooke Morrow (16) spoke of her pride in her Connemara cross pony Sid, who she cajoled from a scrappy injured youngster into placing at the prestigious Balmoral Show. She said she couldn’t be prouder of Sid, who everyone else had given up on, and had taught her that with patience and perseverance you could achieve anything in life.
Awards on the day went to Ollie and Finn Dawdry in the under-12 category, with Aoibh Dully winning the over-12 award. The overall Rising Rural Star was awarded to Brooke Morrow. Well done to all our finalists – it was a very tough competition – and congratulations to our winners.
Fia Finnerty, 8, from Sligo, a finalist in the Rural Rising Stars competition tells the audience in the Farmers Journal tent at the National Ploughing Championships 2025 why she deserves to win.. \ Philip Doyle
Six-year-old, Jack Roche from Fermoy, Co Cork was the youngest finalist in the Rising Rural Stars competition at the National Ploughing Championships 2025. \ Philip Doyle
Niall Delaney, 17, from Templemore, Co Tipperary speaks with Jack Kennedy at the Rising Rural Stars final at the National Ploughing Championships 2025. \ Philip Doyle
Cillian Murphy from Newport, Co Mayo speaks of his passion for farm safety at the Rising Rural Stars competition at the National Ploughing Championships 2025. \ Philip Doyle
Aoibh Dully, 15, from Co Westmeath scooped the over 12 Rising Rural Stars award. She is pictured with judges, IFJ deputy editor Adam Woods; International Rose of Tralee, Katelyn Cummins; rural affairs journalist Jacqueline Hogge; Irish Country Living editor Ciara Leahy and IFJ editor Jack Kennedy at the National Ploughing Championships 2025. \ Philip Doyle
Twins Finn and Ollie Dawdry were named under 12 Rising Rural Stars award winners. They are pictured with Irish Country Living editor Ciara Leahy; judges IFJ deputy editor Adam Woods; International Rose of Tralee, Katelyn Cummins; rural affairs journalist Jacqueline Hogge; and IFJ editor Jack Kennedy at the National Ploughing Championships 2025.
Brooke Morrow, 16, from Co Fermanagh scooped the overall Rising Rural Stars award. She is pictured with judges, IFJ deputy editor Adam Woods; International Rose of Tralee, Katelyn Cummins; rural affairs journalist Jacqueline Hogge; Irish Country Living editor Ciara Leahy and IFJ editor Jack Kennedy at the National Ploughing Championships 2025. \ Philip Doyle
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