High praise for Salesian Agricultural College at graduation event

OVER 400 people were in attendance at a Salesian Agricultural College graduation ceremony in the Radisson Hotel to celebrate some of the very best farmers anywhere in the country.

Minister of State Niall Collins addressed the crowd which included Dr Anne-Marie Butler, Teagasc director of education; Derek O’Donoghue, principal; John Flannery, assistant principal; Fr John Horan, college rector, staff, students and their families.

Mr Collins said the agriculture college in Pallaskenry is one of the finest facilities anywhere in the country.

“Thousands of students have come through the hallowed halls over the past 100 years. The college has helped carve a future for some of the very best farmers anywhere in the country.

“The college has some 550 acres servicing 700 head of top-class dairy and beef cattle. I believe that we are in the engine room of food production here in this region. We have productive farmland coupled with ambitious and committed farm families. You all are playing a key role in the success of our multi-billion-euro agri-food export sector. Agriculture is our largest and most important indigenous industry,” said Mr Collins, who congratulated the students on their success."

In Pictures: John Kiely 'honoured and humbled' to receive an Honorary Doctorate from UL

“You have worked exceptionally hard and sacrificed much to be where you are today and I commend you and your families for that effort. This is a proud moment for you all and everyone who has helped you in getting this far in your education and in your career.

“The college that you are all graduating from, as well as the network of Teagasc colleges, plays an enormous role in preparing the next generation of farmers. There is tremendous demand for the level 5 and 6 Green Cert at present which, I think, is a good barometer for the state of the industry,” added Mr Collins in his address.

Having young, dynamic, enthused and, most importantly, educated farmers is critical for Irish agriculture to continue to grow and prosper, he said.

“We are facing into one of the most challenging periods facing our great sector. But we have faced challenges in the past and overcome them by working together as a unit.

“The 130,000 farming families in every rural parish are the bedrock of our €13.5bn export sector and I know despite the current uncertainties, we will still have a world-class farming sector producing proteins like dairy, beef, sheep, pig and poultry in 10 or even 20 years’ time.

It is important that we should all look forward collectively to the future with optimism. Because, as a country, we have a calling card known across the world. We export the food produced on your farms to more than 180 markets across the globe. Irish food is in high demand,” said Mr Collins.

Publicans serve their last round after 46 years serving Limerick village

The long-term prospects for our farming and food sectors are incredibly strong, said the minister for state.

“We need farmers, we need young and dynamic farmers to drive change. Ultimately, we need you,” he concluded.

The country is in safe hands with the students graduating from an agricultural centre of excellence in Pallaskenry.