Tipperary Farmer is Teagasc / FBD Student of the Year
Tuesday 11 April 2006
James Breen, a 22 year old student from Tipperary, representing the Teagasc Agricultural College in Clonakility, is the 2006 FBD National Student of the Year. The Awards were presented by the Minister for Agriculture and Food, Mary Coughlan TD in Dublin today, Tuesday April 11.
James Breen, from Lisduff, Lattin, Co Tipperary completed the Level 5 Vocational Certificate in Agriculture at Kildalton College, before going on to complete the Advanced Certificate in dairy Herd Management at Clonakilty Agricultural College. He has now progressed to the Ordinary Bachelor Degree in Agriculture run jointly by Kildalton Agricultural College and Waterford Institute of Technology. James is also very actively involved running the 70 cow dairy herd and the beef and sheep operations on the home farm. He is currently overseeing a major land reclamation programme on the farm and intends to increase dairy cow numbers and reduce drystock numbers in the coming years.
Speaking at the presentation of the awards, Teagasc Chairman, Dr. Tom O Dwyer said,
“The organisation has recently completed a review of its education and training programmes. Training for young entrants to farming continues to be provided in the main in the colleges, but the integration of training programmes with the advisory service is being significantly enhanced. To facilitate the growing number of part-time farmers, courses are also being delivered in a more flexible way to facilitate students who are pursuing an off-farm job or an apprenticeship.”
Andrew Gilmore, from Cortubber, Kingscourt, Co. Cavan was presented with the runner up award by Minister Mary Coughlan, while John Maloney from Aughlingham, Castlegar, Co Galway was in third place.
Andrew Gilmore completed the Vocational Certificate in Agriculture Level 5 at Gurteen College and followed this by completing the first Advanced Certificate in Drystock course also at Gurteen College. Andrew comes from a drystock farm in County Cavan and is very involved in all aspects of this operation. Since last September he has undertaken a long term lease of 80 acres on which he intends to develop a suckler and pure breed sheep breeding enterprise. He is a member of Macra na Feirme and a keen sportsman.
John Maloney attended Mellows College in Co. Galway and completed the Teagasc part-time Vocational Certificate in Agriculture. This course was designed specifically for part-time farmers and John has combined his participation in the course with running a milk round with Dawn Dairies and also running his 80 acre farm on which he runs 40 suckler cows and their followers. His farm is situated on the shores of Lough Corrib and he has also commenced a tourism project with accommodation for fishermen on the lake.
The awards, now in their 21st year, have been sponsored since their inception by FBD.
Awards were also presented to the following local winners:-
| Michael Tobin, Knockdoorish, Kilbride, Co Carlow. | Kildalton College |
| Anthony Brabazon, Killruddery, Bray, Co Wicklow. | Mountbellew College |
| Gary Pepper, Caldry, Cootehill,Co Cavan. | Ballyhaise College |
| James Duggan, Casheliskey, Clonakilty, Co Cork. | Macroom Centre |
| James Murphy, Meenleitrim, Knocknagoshel, Co Kerry. | Pallaskenry College |
| Wilma Agar, Coolnakisha, Leighlinbridge, Co Carlow. | Mullinavat Centre |
