National calf-rearing competition won by Terenure girls

Four pupils from Our Lady’s School in Terenure have been declared the winners of the national ABP Certified Irish Angus Beef competition for schools, following their successful rearing of five Irish Angus Cross calves over an 18-month period. The announcement was made at a celebratory event held in Croke Park today. Despite their urban background and lack of agricultural experience or family farming connections, the team excelled, securing their victory against the odds. The triumphant team members, Eithne Murray, Tara Frehill, Emily Browne, and Shauna Jager, are also set to be among the first students to undertake the inaugural Agricultural Science Leaving Certificate exam at Our Lady’s School, Terenure, this coming June. Their award-winning initiative involved nurturing their calves on a farm located in Manor Kilbride, Tallaght, from September 2015 until their eventual processing in November 2016. Furthermore, they engaged in a comprehensive study and successfully executed a campaign to enhance the recognition and appreciation of Certified Irish Angus Beef among their peers, educators, family members, and specific groups at Scifest in Tallaght IT and the Bushey Park farmers market. The Certified Irish Angus Beef Schools Competition, orchestrated by the Irish Angus Producer Group, is designed to inspire secondary students to understand the meticulous care and marketing efforts necessary to produce and supply top-tier beef to consumers. Annually, five groups from various schools are selected to receive five Irish Angus Cross calves. As a component of their Leaving Certificate Agricultural Science coursework, the students are tasked with planning and achieving key developmental milestones for the calves, overseeing their growth until processing, and exploring the journey from farm to table by visiting processing plants and retail outlets.