On Thursday, 22 May, in the Castleknock Hotel, Co Dublin, Teagasc students and faculty members gathered to celebrate the finalists of the 2024 Teagasc/FBD student of the year.
With over 4,000 students graduating from Teagasc courses across the country, it is an opportunity to commend the effort’s put in during their programmes.
“We ask teachers to nominate students every year, and it’s never easy to pick what we might say was the best of the crop, but it’s so important to recognise the achievements. People are nominated not just for their academics, but how they contributed to a course, how they got on with their peers and how they have engaged,” says Anne-Marie Butler, head of education at Teagasc.
The awards, sponsored by FBD, were presented to the top graduates of Teagasc Level 6 agriculture, horticulture, equine and forestry training programmes in 2024.
Kate Curran, winner of the Teagasc/FBD student of the year 2024 with her husband Shane Fitzgerald.
Waterford dairy farmer Kate Curran was named the overall winner of the Teagasc/FBD student of the year 2024.
From a young age, Kate had a passion for livestock and farming. She would run home from school to help her father on their suckler farm outside Dungarvan.
Sadly, her father died by suicide in 2017, which meant they had to make the hard decision to sell the herd. At the age of 21, Kate got the cows ready for the sale and took on a full-time job in the local factory to support her family.
After returning to farming in 2021, Kate is now working alongside her husband, Shane Fitzgerald and father-in-law John on their dairy farm in Portlaw Co Waterford.
Kate completed the Level 6 specific purpose certificate in farming (distance education) at the Teagasc Kildalton College in Piltown, Co Kilkenny, this year.
She was also awarded the part-time and distance education category award.
“I can’t believe it, I am absolutely still in shock. Even to get the category winner was a bonus, everyone who was here today was a winner. I never win anything and it was the icing on the cake. It is for my dad, but I also need to take into consideration that I did the course for myself. Coming back to farming is where I am supposed to be, I absolutely love it,” she says.
Thomas O’Connor from Caherbreagh, Tralee in County Kerry won the ‘Full Time Agriculture Category’ of the Teagasc/ FBD Student of the Year Awards 2024. Thomas is pictured receiving his award from Dr Anne Marie Butler, Head of Education in Teagasc. Photo: John Ohle Photography.
Category winners
The winner of the full-time agriculture category was Thomas O’Connor from Caherbreagh, Tralee in Co Kerry. He completed the Level 6 advanced certificate in agriculture in Pallaskenry Agricultural College, Co Limerick.
Tipperary native Niamh Duggan, from Ballinagranna, Carrick-on-Suir took home the award for the full-time other land-based enterprises category. She completed the Level 6 advanced certificate in horticulture in Kildalton Horticulture college.
On Thursday, 22 May, in the Castleknock Hotel, Co Dublin, Teagasc students and faculty members gathered to celebrate the finalists of the 2024 Teagasc/FBD student of the year.
With over 4,000 students graduating from Teagasc courses across the country, it is an opportunity to commend the effort’s put in during their programmes.
“We ask teachers to nominate students every year, and it’s never easy to pick what we might say was the best of the crop, but it’s so important to recognise the achievements. People are nominated not just for their academics, but how they contributed to a course, how they got on with their peers and how they have engaged,” says Anne-Marie Butler, head of education at Teagasc.
The awards, sponsored by FBD, were presented to the top graduates of Teagasc Level 6 agriculture, horticulture, equine and forestry training programmes in 2024.
Kate Curran, winner of the Teagasc/FBD student of the year 2024 with her husband Shane Fitzgerald.
Waterford dairy farmer Kate Curran was named the overall winner of the Teagasc/FBD student of the year 2024.
From a young age, Kate had a passion for livestock and farming. She would run home from school to help her father on their suckler farm outside Dungarvan.
Sadly, her father died by suicide in 2017, which meant they had to make the hard decision to sell the herd. At the age of 21, Kate got the cows ready for the sale and took on a full-time job in the local factory to support her family.
After returning to farming in 2021, Kate is now working alongside her husband, Shane Fitzgerald and father-in-law John on their dairy farm in Portlaw Co Waterford.
Kate completed the Level 6 specific purpose certificate in farming (distance education) at the Teagasc Kildalton College in Piltown, Co Kilkenny, this year.
She was also awarded the part-time and distance education category award.
“I can’t believe it, I am absolutely still in shock. Even to get the category winner was a bonus, everyone who was here today was a winner. I never win anything and it was the icing on the cake. It is for my dad, but I also need to take into consideration that I did the course for myself. Coming back to farming is where I am supposed to be, I absolutely love it,” she says.
Thomas O’Connor from Caherbreagh, Tralee in County Kerry won the ‘Full Time Agriculture Category’ of the Teagasc/ FBD Student of the Year Awards 2024. Thomas is pictured receiving his award from Dr Anne Marie Butler, Head of Education in Teagasc. Photo: John Ohle Photography.
Category winners
The winner of the full-time agriculture category was Thomas O’Connor from Caherbreagh, Tralee in Co Kerry. He completed the Level 6 advanced certificate in agriculture in Pallaskenry Agricultural College, Co Limerick.
Tipperary native Niamh Duggan, from Ballinagranna, Carrick-on-Suir took home the award for the full-time other land-based enterprises category. She completed the Level 6 advanced certificate in horticulture in Kildalton Horticulture college.
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