Society people get their night in the spotlight at Hall of Fame gala
Lavish awards ceremony honours breeders, officials and judges for services to their breeds, writes Martin Ryan
OVER the past 16 years, the National Hall of Fame Awards has honoured ordinary people, from the four corners of the country, and across a diverse range of farming activities, who have accomplished extraordinary achievements.
The awards are the brainchild of multitalented Crossmolina native Michael Flanagan, who started his career with the Department of Agriculture and was then a showband manager for a decade, before becoming a successful pedigree livestock breeder and exhibitor, among other business interests.
Now resident at Moydrum Castle, Athlone, Michael’s family traditions drew him back to establishing the Moydrum Pedigree Angus Herd, and becoming a founding member of the Angus Producer Group.
He also became chairman of Athlone Agricultural Show.
More than 400 people attended the 2018 Hall of Fame Awards at the Sheraton Hotel, Athlone.
Guest of Honour was Denis Naughten, Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, who presented awards to 21 recipients across bovine, equine and ovine cate- gories. The awards were sponsored by Tesco, Kepak, ABP and Certified Irish Angus.
Minister Naughten said Ireland “needs to be and should be the food basket for Europe” in a carbon-efficient environment for food production.
In the equine sector, Margaret Buckley, Cappawhite, Co Tipperary was honoured for her contribution to the Irish Draught Horse Society of which she is the membership secretary.
Margaret was described as having worked “tirelessly and selflessly” for the society, along with her late husband, Jim, who passed away in 2011. Another Tipperary resident, Niall O’Connor, of New Inn, was honoured for his work with the Irish Pony Society, for which he has served as chairman for three years.
Clare native James Wyse, now living in Blackrock, Co Dublin, received an award for his contribution to the Irish Donkey Society over the past three decades; he is lead organiser for the annual RDS Donkey Exhibition during Horse Show week.
More than half a century ago, Padraig Fitzpatrick completed all of the farm work, including mowing and ploughing, with horses on the family farm at Greenacres, Boggaun, Manorhamilton, where he went on to breed Irish draught horses with great success. He also became a judge at shows across Ireland, England and the United States.
Being presented with the Hall of Fame Award for his contribution to the Irish Draught Horse Breeders Association was recognition of a lifetime of dedication.
His mare Benbo Hero bred the reserve champion Irish draught colt foal in both 2015 and 2017.
NAUGHTEN SAID IRELAND ‘NEEDS TO BE AND SHOULD BE THE FOOD BASKET FOR EUROPE’