Farming « Thurles Information

International Miss Macra 2010 – Miss Wicklow Crowned

The winner of the coveted title of “International Miss Macra 2010” organised by Clonoulty/ Rossmore Macra Club, Co.Tipperary, was announced to a packed attendance at the annual Macra Gala Banquet in Dundrum House Hotel, Co.Tipperary, last night.

The event which attracts large numbers of the farming community, both young and old each year, saw no drop in support, despite recessionary times.

The title “International Miss Macra” went to Annabelle Keohe representing Co.Wicklow, with 2nd and 3rd places going to Alicia O’Keeffe representing North Tipperary and Elma Walshe representing Co Laois respectively.

Picture shows Miss Elma Walshe (Representing Laois), Michael Gowing (National President of Macra), Annabelle Keohe (Newly Crowned International Miss Macra 2010, Representing Co.Wicklow) with runner-up Alicia O’Keeffe (Representing North Tipperary).

Mr Michael Gowing, Macra National President, stated that the high standard of educational qualifications, public speaking ability, musical talent and fresh ideas displayed and expressed by this years contestants, left him in no fear regarding the future of farming and Ireland as a whole.

The talented winner of the event received a cheque for €1000, a Tipperary Crystal vase and a silver perpetual trophy kindly sponsored by Dundrum House Hotel.

Runners up received generous prizes from sponsors, Nu-du Lounge Beauty Salon, Clonoulty and Tipperary Co-Operative respectively. All of the contestants taking part were each presented with a beautiful pieces of specially commissioned jewellery as a memento of the occasion, kindly sponsored by Michael’s Jewellers, Thurles, Co.Tipperary.

This annual event has now been running for the past 39 years and its popularity continues to increase with each passing year, encompassing not just the farming community. This years winners fought off strong competition from 20 other talented competitors who had been selected by their farming organisations to compete in the competition.

Attending the festival this year were visitors returning from contries such as Scotland, England, USA and Germany, to name but a few.

International Miss Macra Festival 2010 In Tipperary

Clonoulty/Rossmore Macra na Feirme is once again proud to announce details of it’s 2010 International Miss Macra Festival, to be held this year from Thursday 29th July to Monday 2nd August.

Now in it’s 39th year, this popular festival has continued to go from strength to strength. This years festival will see girls coming from all across Ireland to compete for the honour of becoming Miss Macra 2010 and taking over from the 2009 winner Edel Ronan from the Carbery region in Co Cork.

The festival committee have once again chosen the luxurious Dundrum House Hotel, which boasts a top quality golf course and leisure centre, as its venue. This oasis in the Golden Vale provides the perfect escape for those of you seeking relaxation and fun during this forthcoming August bank holiday weekend.

The committee send a huge ‘Thanks You‘ to all their sponsors, host families, local businesses and especially to Dundrum House Hotel, Michael’s Jewellers Thurles, The Nu Du Lounge, Clonoulty, and to Tipp Co-Op in Tipperary Town, to name but a few.

The festival will return to the heart of the community on Thursday 29th July with the annual traditional Ceilli and welcoming session, for the contestants in Clonoulty Community Hall. Here the contestants will meet with their host families, latter who accept them into the bosom of their families for the duration of the weekend festival. Host families are a very central part of this strong community based festival and and are made up solely of families who have long standing connections with the festival, assuring each contestant a warm welcome.

Continue reading International Miss Macra Festival 2010 In Tipperary

Agriculture Commissioner Dacian Ciolos Could Visit Tipperary

Commissioner Dacian Cioloş

The Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers (ICMSA) said it would schedule a meeting of the European Milk Board (EMB) in Dublin to coincide with Agriculture Commissioner Dacian Cioloş‘ forthcoming visit.

Although the Commissioner’s travel arrangements have not been confirmed, it is expected he will arrive on the evening of September 30th and depart on October 1st, 2010, following scheduled meetings. However, a spokesperson for the EU Commission in Dublin said the arrangements were “very tentative” at the moment and were subject to change.

The farm body said it had proposed to the EMB that it hold its next conference in Dublin in October but would be prepared to move that date forward so that the Commissioner could be in attendance.

An ICMSA spokesman said the conference will will be attended by dairy farmers from all over the European Union.

It is understood that Commissioner Ciolos has expressed a wish to visit a farm while in Ireland depending on time constraints.

The ICMSA have proposed the farm of Mr Pat McCormack, Lisheen, Co Tipperary, to host the Commissioner’s anticipated farm visit. Mr McCormack’s is considered one of the best young farmers in the Munster region and his expertise has been recognised by his recent election to the ICMSA Dairy Committee to host the Commissioner’s much anticipated farm visit.

Staying on farming matters:-

Teagasc Forced To Consider Turning Away Agri Students

Hundreds of agricultural students are expected to be refused entry to Teagasc courses this Autumn, due to a massive surge in applications.

Continue reading Agriculture Commissioner Dacian Ciolos Could Visit Tipperary

Scoil Na mBriathre Tipperary Know Their Onions

The prize winning pupils in the Agri-Aware’s nationwide Incredible Edibles competition gathered in Dublin Zoo yesterday to receive prizes worth over €5,000 to help them develop school gardens.

Monastery Primary School (Scoil na mBriathre 3rd class) in Tipperary town was the nationwide winner out of thousands of primary schools which took part in the competition to grow their own potatoes, onions, baby carrots, lettuce, spinach and strawberries .

Agri Aware’s Mairead Lavery stated:

“The competition has given tens of thousands of children the thrill of growing their own food and understanding from whence their food is derived. They also understand how important it is for their health and the effort it takes to actually grow their own ‘five-a-day’.”

IFA Conference – Profitable Tillage Production

The IFA will hold a major tillage conference on the theme of “Returning to Profitability Tillage Production” next Thursday June 17th at 7.00pm in the Anner Hotel, Thurles. The conference is designed to guide tillage farmers and help them make the most of existing and new market opportunities.

The conference will provide the most up to date information, which will enable farmers to make informed decisions and extract the best price from the market.

The Conference will be opened by IFA President John Bryan and addressed by Grain Chairman Noel Delany and Executive Fintan Conway who will set out the market outlook and price prospects for the 2011 harvest.

David Neale of Masstock UK Arable will focus on producing for niche markets and de-risking grain production, while Farmers’ Journal tillage editor Andy Doyle will urge growers to think outside the box to regain profitability.

Practical advice on the rapidly growing area of farm to farm trading and using the iFarm trading platform will be covered in a special session.

IFA Alternative Land Use Chairman J.J. Kavanagh will describe the opportunities opening up in renewable energy for arable crops.

Irish farmers, similar to their EU counterparts, face huge challenges arising out of two very difficult harvests in 2008 and 2009 when prices hit historic lows.

To Register: Please contact IFA on 4500266.