Clon teenagers wow judges
The future of farming is in safe hands following a win for four West Cork students recently.
The teenagers from Sacred Heart Secondary School in Clonakilty were crowned as the overall winners of the 2026 Certified Irish Angus School’s Competition at an awards ceremony in Croke Park.
Students Lucy Kirby, Ciara O’Driscoll, Niamh O’Sullivan and Ellen O’Neill wowed judges of the competition with their creation of a consumer education tool.
They students were tasked with researching the topic ‘Increasing awareness of the Certified Irish Angus brand’ throughout the experience.
With the four students coming from farming backgrounds, they leaned on their existing knowledge and brought great determination and creativity to their project.
They highlighted to farmers how the Angus breed helps to increase the reproductive efficiency of a farm and provided a 'breeding and buying' checklist to support farmers in their work.
Additionally, the students harnessed their educational and creative skills to develop an educational tool to inform consumers about premium Irish beef and the care and attention that is required to product it, which was aided with the development of their mascot, Éire the Angus.
Speaking about the winning students, Charles Smith, General Manager of Certified Irish Angus, said: “These four exceptional young women have demonstrated remarkable talent and limitless potential. Their passion for the sector, strong farming ability and engaging personalities set them apart from the beginning.
“The platform they created to help consumers better understand the Certified Irish Angus brand, and the value of the Angus breed for efficiency on Irish farms showcased real understanding and innovation. Their approach highlights how new ideas and fresh perspectives can help to shape the next generation of Irish agriculture.”
In attendance at the awards ceremony was Minister of State at the Department of Education and Youth, Michael Moynihan who said: “The professionalism and insight shown by the students today highlight the strength of talent developing in schools and communities across the country. Programmes like the Certified Irish Angus Schools Competition offer valuable opportunities for applied learning, critical thinking and personal development. Seeing students engage with these experiences gives real confidence that our future is in the hands of informed, creative and motivated young people.”
Now in its 12th year, the competition, which is run in association with processor partners ABP and Kepak, has attracted more than 1,000 students from 361 groups across 25 counties, blending practical learning and research skills to support students' career development.