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 Mr Thomas Cooke Mr Thomas Cooke, a Tipperary Dairy and Beef farmer has been appointed to the board of Teagasc by the Minister for Agriculture, Mr Simon Coveney TD.
Mr Cooke is based in Renaghmore, Grange Barna, Thurles, Co Tipperary, and is also a member of the National Council of ICMSA and a former chairman of the ICMSA’s dairy and rural development committees.
Currently Mr Cooke is Chairman and founding member of the Irish Wind Farmers’ Cooperative Society (Meitheal na Gaoithe). Active in many other community organisations, he is Chairperson of Barrow Nore Suir Rural Development Ltd. Thomas is also the ICMSA spokesman on renewable energy and represents the independent wind energy development sector on the government sponsored “Renewable Energy Development Group,” which is a national body with advisory functions to government on the renewable industry generally.
Thomas also owns the company Biogas Environmental Tipperary East Ltd – B.E.T.E. and he is currently in the process of developing a biogas plant on his farm.
Mr Cooke will replace outgoing Mr Joe Fitzgerald on the board.
 Clonakilty, Agri Student, Miss Nadia Ross The 2011 Teagasc National Pig Conferences took place on Wednesday, 19th October at the Horse & Jockey Hotel, Thurles, County Tipperary.
The conference, locally directed by Thurles born Ciaran Carroll, (Teagasc Moorpark) provided a great opportunity for all pig farmers to meet fellow producers and to get the latest advice and research results from the Teagasc Pig Development Department.
Attendees at the event learned that the pig sector in general had been through a difficult year since last year’s conference, due mainly to high feed prices which impacted on the profitability of Irish pig production. The issue of feed ingredient, both supply and price prospects, was addressed in detail at Wednesday’s conference.
Latest updates emanating from the Teagasc pig research programme at Moorepark were presented by Teagasc staff reporting on their recent research, while also addressing the costs of pig manure treatment, together with an update on the GM Safe Food project, which is researching the use of GM feed in pig diet.
The Conference provided guidance on the key ingredients of good loose dry sow housing systems and provided a presentation on what is the optimum sow culling strategy and the economics of earlier culling. The “Two Tonne Sow,” first coined at the Teagasc 2009 conference was again revisited.
Presentations from representatives of two of Ireland’s main banks, on the financing of pig production, were particularly relevant to attendees at this conference, taking into account the existing and current pig producing climate.
Closing this conference, Teagasc Director, Prof. Gerry Boyle, presented certificates to attendees of the first ever FETAC level 6 Pig Course, which was run at the Teagasc centres of Moorepark, Clonakilty and Ballyhaise.
But it was Clonakilty agricultural student and attractive conference attendee, Miss Nadia Ross (Pic above), who possibly carried the sentiments of us all, clearly printed on her huddie jacket.
Picture courtesy G.Willoughby, Thurles.
Teagasc adviser Mr Bill Condon informs us of a series of five workshops entitled ‘Exploring all your Options on the Farm,’ which will take place in Teagasc Training Centre Thurles, starting on 4th October.
 The aim of the series is to encourage farm family to take a closer look at their farm situation and become aware of its wider potential to increase income. The series will be opened by Peter Young of the Farmer’s Journal and presenter of the Higher Ground TV series. Peter also has an abundance of ideas from his involvement in the small business innovation awards.
The workshops will include presentation on getting ideas, Energy Crops – their potential, developing a Food Business and Rural Tourism. The presentation will also include Selling Food products from your farm – the challenges of direct selling, Poultry production, Forestry and funding for your idea.
There will also be information on how the Local Development Company (LEADER) can help with grant aid.
Farmers have ‘innate’ skills which very often they do not recognise or credit themselves with, such as management skills, financial and business skills, dealing with government regulations and agencies. These all add up to a good basis for a successful enterprise. At the Options workshops, each night a farm who has succeeded in Small Business Development will present to the group on:- (A) How they have achieved success by developing another enterprise on their farm using these skills to their maximum potential. (B) Not to replace farming but to enhance the total income from the farm.
For attendance at the workshops, which are free, register with your local Teagasc office as spaces to these events are limited.
 A beautiful Rose represents the Premier County. She was born in Clonoulty, Thurles, Co Tipperary and began her early education at Ballagh N.S, Clonoulty. She received her secondary education at the Ursuline Convent Secondary School, Thurles, Co Tipperary, achieving maximum honours in her Leaving Certificate examination results.
During this period, in 2002, she also received a Bronze An Gaisce Presidents award and successfully completed eighth grade piano tuition with the Royal Irish Music Academy.
She has represented her county in Camogie at all under ages levels and Junior level, and in 2010, went on to Captain the Junior A County Tipperary Camogie Team, latter champions that same year.
She also holds various Munster School Hockey medals, an Honorary School Sports Award for her contribution to sport and has represented Munster Hockey at U16 level. She also represent the Tipperary Intermediate Camogie Team for 2011.
In 2005, she began her third level education at the National University of Ireland, Galway, attaining a BSc. (HON) in Occupational Therapy. Since then she has practised and studied at St. John’s Hospital, Co Sligo, at University Hospital, Co. Galway, Tullamore Hospital, Co. Offaly and at Community Paediatrics, Letterkenny, Co.Donegal.
She is widely travelled and admits to enjoying the cultures of other countries. She is also an accomplished horse woman and extremely knowledgeable in most aspects of horsemanship.
Her other endless achievements include, winner of the solo singing competition at the County Tipperary and Munster Scór Sinsear in 2010. She has been selected to represent Tipperary in the Macra na Feirme Queen of the Land festival. She has been an organising member of the successful Clonoulty / Rossmore International Miss Macra committee for many years. She currently holds a full driving licence and enjoys cinema and reading.
OK your time is up. So who am I talking about? One last clue – She was instantly selected this year, to represent Tipperary in the 2011 International Rose of Tralee festival.
Yes you have guessed correctly, the lady with that rare combination of beauty and brains of whom I speak, is the very lovely Noirin Ryan. (Yes Noirin, Thurles Information knows more about you than you think.)
Norin has been out and about this week promoting the International Rose of Tralee Festival, (Lead Sponsor is Newbridge Silverware.) beginning with a massive ‘Tipperary Rose Send Off,’ party at Kennedy’s Bar, Gooldscross, Clonoulty last Friday, where she insisted we must all travel to Kerry.
The 2011 Rose of Tralee International Festival will take place from Friday 19th to Tuesday 23rd August, with many of Noirin’s supporters will be travelling down for the event. Dáithí Ó Sé will once again host the Rose selection nights on RTÉ 1 TV, and all Tipperary eyes will be watching with great pride and fingers crossed.
If you are reading this, note Tipperary are fully behind you Noirin and from the people of Thurles and Co.Tipperary, go our every good wish for your success and enjoyment of this years event.
(Warning: Noirin between you and me, watch that Ó Sé fellow. During an interview with the RTÉ Guide, our Dáithí described his ideal woman as “someone that’s very easy going, who’s good fun, makes me laugh, is kind and loyal.” I think you fit his criteria, but don’t tell him I warned you.)
Watch our lovely Noirin’s progress on Rose TV by Clicking Here
Photo: Courtesy George Willoughby .
 Miss Sarah Louise Healy, Cork. The gorgeous Miss Sarah Louise Healy, representing Cork / Muskerry Macra, was crowned International Miss Macra 2011 at Dundrum House, Co Tipperary last night. Sarah, now brings to six the number of times Cork has won this event in 40 years, making them the county to have won this festival the most times.
Runners up in this years competition were Miss Martina Murphy representing Sligo, and Miss Sharon O’Grady representing Wexford.
A specially commissioned, Sterling Silver Tiara, embellished with cubic zirconia, was presented by Michael’s Jewellers, Thurles, to celebrate this Festival’s 40th Ruby anniversary.
Sarah Louise Healy was presented with the Perpetual Silver Macra Trophy, together with a specially commissioned Perpetual Tiara, a cash prize of €1000 and a Tipperary Crystal trophy sponsored by Dundrum House Hotel.
First Runner up received a specially commissioned piece of Tipperary Crystal and a cash prize of €500, while the second Runner up received a specially commissioned piece of Tipperary Crystal and a cash prize of €300, sponsored by Tipperary Co-Op.
Due to the very high standard of the girl’s competing this year the festival judges, Joan Pollard-Carew, Declan Ryan and Catherine Gowing, described their task as being the most difficult they had yet undertaken.
 Miss Martina Murphy, Miss Sarah Louise Healy, Miss Sharon O'Grady As we forecast, the 2011 International Miss Macra Festival was a sellout, with many supporters, who had failed to book their tickets in advance, unable to gain access to the special Macra Marquee, purposely erected as part of this truly enjoyable three day event.
Highlight of the weekend for the contestants was a visit to Coolmore Stud in Fethard, Co.Tipperary. Highlighting this visit, Clonoulty / Rossmore Chairperson Miss Mary Lyng paid a special tribute to the staff and management, for their extreme professionalism and kindness, paid to the contestants during their guided tour of of the Coolmore complex.
All eyes will be glued to Nationwide on Wednesday evening next, when highlights of the weekends events are to be televised on RTÉ One at the usual time of 7.00.
Following the Macra Banquet, over 300 guests danced the night away to popular Tipperary Band “Silver Dollar” who provided their own very special brand of popular music.
Stills Photographer for the weekend’s event was George Willoughby, Thurles.
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