Farmer of the Year finalists announced
FINALISTS from all corners of the country have been shortlisted for the Zurich Farm Insurance Farming Independent Farmer of the Year Awards.
The awards, which will be announced at a gala event on Thursday, November 1 in the Hodson Bay Hotel, Athlone, are one of the industry’s most prestigious accolades.
The judges had the onerous task of compiling a shortlist of entries received from farmers of all ages.
Prizes are up for grabs in dairy, tillage, beef, sheep and rising star categories, and there is also the overall Farmer of the Year award. The finalists are:
Edward Kenny, Navan, Co Meath Michael Macken, Slane, Co Meath Patrick Brennan, Roscrea, Co Tipperary.
Alex Butler, Streete, Co Westmeath John Kearney, Fermoy, Co Cork
John Cullen, Enniscorthy, Co Wexford. John Phelan, Kilkenny
Nicola Murtagh, Mullingar, Co Westmeath Darragh McManus, Enniscrone, Co Sligo.
George Finlay, Glen of Imaal, Co Wicklow,
Eoin Larkin, Ballinasloe, Co Galway
John Bell, Mullingar, Co Westmeath. Meanwhile Gillian O’Sullivan from Dungarvan Co Waterford and Willie Allshire of Rosscarbery, Co Cork will go head to head in the Rising Star category.
The main category winners will receive a prize of €2,500 each, while the overall winner will receive a prize of €4,000.
The title sponsor for the awards for the fifth year is Zurich Insurance plc, one of the country’s leading farm insurers.
Category sponsors are ICMSA, Farming Independent, Teagasc and Cormac Tagging.