Meath schools advance to Croke Park stage of Certified Irish Angus competition
Aishling Monaghan
Meath schools advance to Croke Park stage of Certified Irish Angus competition
Transition Year students from seven County Meath schools have advanced to the next stage of the Certified Irish Angus Schools Competition, following a national round of student interviews showcasing projects focused on sustainability, innovation and the future of farming.
The competition, now in its tenth year, is run by the Irish Angus Producer Group in partnership with ABP and Kepak. It invites students to rear five Irish Angus calves over an 18-month period while developing a research project aligned with key issues in agriculture. The initiative offers hands-on farming experience and the opportunity to engage directly with agri-food industry leaders.
Students from across the country applied before Christmas and were recently invited to present their project concepts in person to a panel of representatives from the Certified Irish Angus Producer Group and its industry partners. According to organisers, the panel was “really impressed” by the level of knowledge and enthusiasm demonstrated by students.
“We saw some fantastic ideas and strong communication skills from the students. Their knowledge of sustainability, animal welfare and innovation was clear, and we look forward to seeing how these projects develop,” a spokesperson said.
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Boyne CSImage 2 of 8
O'Carolan College.Image 3 of 8
Ashbourne CSImage 4 of 8
Mercy Secondary School, Navan, focusing on the use of virtual reality to educate consumers on the rearing of Certified Irish Angus cattle. Ruby Califf, Megan GallagherImage 5 of 8
Coláiste na hInse, investigating sustainable feed alternatives in beef productionImage 6 of 8
Genevieve Dorrigan, Dara Brady, Emma FitzsimonsImage 7 of 8
Eureka students.Image 8 of 8
Last year's winners.. Dunshaughlin CC.The seven Meath schools progressing to the next round, set to take place at a national showcase in Croke Park this March include:
Mercy Secondary School, Navan, focusing on the use of virtual reality to educate consumers on the rearing of Certified Irish Angus cattle
Eureka Secondary School, Kells, exploring disease prevention and calf health management
Coláiste na hInse, investigating sustainable feed alternatives in beef production
Boyne Community School, researching generational renewal and the long-term viability of family farming
Ashbourne Community School, addressing environmental preservation through sustainable farming practices
O’Carolan College, studying optimal animal health during winter housing
Ratoath College, examining the importance of biodiversity on Irish farms
At the Croke Park event, shortlisted teams will present their projects to a panel of industry experts. Just five groups nationwide will be selected to rear five Certified Irish Angus calves and progress to the final phase of the competition, which concludes at the National Ploughing Championships in September.
The final teams receive financial benefits through the sale of their animals, and the overall winning group is awarded a €2,000 education bursary. The programme also supports student learning through alignment with the Leaving Certificate Agricultural Science project, providing a structured research opportunity and industry mentorship.
Since its launch, the competition has become a recognised platform for promoting awareness of sustainable agriculture and career opportunities across Ireland’s agri-food sector.