Mayo finalist as Teagasc hails graduates at Student of the Year finals

THE Teagasc/FBD Student of the Year finalists have been hailed as wonderful ambassadors for the sector.

The awards were presented to the top graduates of Teagasc Level 6 agriculture, horticulture, equine and forestry training programmes in 2025, with Robyn Dowling from Dublin emerging as overall winner.

Colin Mullahy, from Claremorris, was among the finalists.

Colin balanced his studies alongside work, family, and farming commitments. He applied his learning to develop his farm, managing both suckler and calf-to-beef systems, showing a strong interest in sustainability and the use of new technologies.

At the awards, Teagasc chairperson Liam Herlihy congratulated the finalists: “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, commented: “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.”

Dr. Anne Marie Butler, head of education in Teagasc, added: “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.”