Skerries equine graduate is Teagasc student of the year

Robyn Dowling completed Advanced Certificate in Horsemanship

Robyn Dowling from Skerries in Dublin was last week named as the overall winner of the Teagasc/FBD Student of the Year 2025 award. The awards, sponsored by FBD, were presented in Kilkenny by Noel Grealish, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine, to the top graduates of Teagasc Level 6 agriculture, horticulture, equine and forestry training programmes in 2025.

Robyn Dowling completed the Level 6 Advanced Certificate in Horsemanship (Equitation) at the Teagasc Kildalton College in Piltown, Co Kilkenny. In addition to winning the Overall Teagasc / FBD Student of the Year 2025 award, she was also successful in the ‘Other Land Based Category’.

Two other category awards were presented. Edmund Motherway from Ladysbridge, Midleton, Co Cork won the Full-Time Agriculture Category. He completed the Level 6 Advanced Certificate in Agriculture (Dairy Herd Management) in Teagasc Kildalton College in Piltown.

Bernadette Donohoe, from Kildavin, Enniscorthy, Co Wexford, was successful in the ‘Part-Time and Distance Education Category.’ She completed the Level 6 Advanced Certificate in Agriculture at the Teagasc Tinahely.

Teagasc chairperson, Liam Herlihy said: “The agriculture, horticulture, equine and forestry sectors need young people with new ideas, and the right skill sets and knowledge to drive the development of the Irish land-based sectors. You epitomise the high calibre of student emerging from Teagasc education courses."

Michael Berkery, chairman of FBD Trust, added: “FBD have been supporting the student of the year awards since their inception and are proud of our involvement in these awards. We value education as a vital contributor to a progressive, sustainable farming sector, which we have in Ireland today. The Teagasc/ FBD Student of the Year finalists are wonderful ambassadors for this sector, and we are proud to sponsor these awards which highlight their accomplishments.”

Dr Anne Marie Butler, head of education in Teagasc concluded: “This is a great occasion for all the finalists, as we celebrate their achievements, and their learning journey with Teagasc. These awards showcase the agriculture, horticulture, equine and forestry courses, and the best students that have come through those. In Teagasc, we continuously strive to improve our education offering and it is on days like this we see how you, the students, have embraced our education programme and blossomed as individuals ready to move to the next stage of your career. I congratulate all the finalists and wish you all the best in your future careers.”