Ballycallan farmer is nominated to National Hall of Fame

The 19th National Hall of Fame Awards presentation and banquet, was held in the Sheraton Hotel Athlone - with a farmer from Kilkenny among those honoured.

Twenty-two recipients from the bovine, equine and ovine industries were inducted into the 2023 National Hall of Fame, before an audience of 400 guests who had travelled from all over Ireland.

Local farmer Christy Finn, a long-time Hereford Breeder, of Bawngarriff Ballycallan, was nominated to the Hall of Fame by the Irish Hereford Breed Society. John Horgan, Chairman Kepak Group received a “Lifetime Achievement Award” in recognition of his 20 years as CEO of the Group, and building its profile to what it is today.

The idea for the National Hall of Fame Awards originated in 2003, when Michael Flanagan believed that individuals from the bovine, equine and ovine industries should be recognised and acknowledged for their dedication, commitment and the outstanding service they have given, for the betterment of their particular breed. And that this should be done while they can celebrate the achievement, rather than writing glowing obituaries when they have passed away.

Gowran man Gearoid Kennedy is Teagasc/ FBD Student of the Year Finalist

The 2023 Nominees
Irish Angus Cattle Society - John Farrell, Roscommon.
Irish Aubrac Cattle Society - Kim and Mireille Mc Call, Kildare.
Irish Belgian Blue Cattle Society - Tom Fitzgerald, Laois.
Irish Charolais Cattle Society - Pat Stephens, Carlow.
Commercial Cattle Exhibitors Society - Martina Craig, Longford.
Irish Hereford Breed Society - Christy Finn, Kilkenny.
Irish Holstein Friesian Association - Bobby Franks, Cavan.
Irish Limousin Cattle Society - Frank Buckley, Cork.
Salers Cattle Society of Ireland - Padraig Mc Conn, Galway.
Irish Shorthorn Cattle Society - Mary O’Boyle, Sligo.
Irish Simmental Cattle Society - Mary and Winston Ashmore, Wexford.