Mayo teacher named lady farmer of the year

A BALLYHAUNIS schoolteacher has been named Lady Farmer of the Year.

Ann Marie Byrnes O’Reilly, who lives in Carrick-on-Shannon but teaches at Ballyhaunis Secondary School, was one of five finalists in the finals at the National Ploughing Championships, presented by Darragh McCullough of Ear to The Ground and Editor of The Farming Independent. 

The competition was run by Corrib Oil to highlight the importance of women in farming and to show that there are hundreds of farms that have women managing them along with holding down a job and being a home maker.

The judges were John Lynskey, chairman of the IFA national sheep committee, Assumpta Mullin, secretary of the South Mayo Quality Lamb Producer Group, and Richard Moeran, chairman of Agri Aware.

The competition attracted entries from all over Ireland. From an entry of almost 200, the other four finalists were Geraldine Faherty, Headford Road, Galway, Joy Carton, Grenagh Co. Cork, Hannah Landers, Tralee, Co. Kerry, and Geraldine Herlihy, Bruree, Co. Limerick.

Galway native Ann Marie won a two-night getaway break worth €1,000 plus a Galway crystal presentation.