News RSS

Macra has today launched its Pre-Budget 2027 submission, calling on Government to deliver targeted measures that will support young farmers and ensure rural Ireland remains a prosperous, liveable and healthy place to live and work. Macra National President Josephine O'Neill, pictured with Ag Affairs Chairperson Seán Kelly and Rural Youth Chairperson Emma Kate O'Dwyer at the launch of Macra's Pre-Budget Submission ahead of the organisation's AGM on Saturday.  Launched at Macra’s Annual General Meeting, the submission sets out a wide-ranging series of proposals aimed at addressing the key challenges facing young people and young farmers, with a particular emphasis on...

Know Your Ag Science Quiz Winners Presentation Secondary School Wexford, Niamh Donohue, Sadhbh McDonald, Mia Moran Curran and Aoibhínn Kelly, pictured with Jim Power (IASTA), Professor Frank Monahan, Macra National President Josephine O'Neill and teacher Amy Cahill    The hugely successful “Know Your Ag Science” competition returned this year, hosted by Macra and IASTA, in collaboration with University College Dublin. More than 200 fifth-year students from schools across the country gathered at the UCD Astra Hall to put their agricultural science knowledge to the test for a fun but hotly contested quiz. Participants were challenged on a wide range of...

The 19th annual Mr. Personality Festival 2026 took place in Langton’s Hotel Kilkenny on the 10th and 11th of April. Patrick Walton, from Callan Macra represented Kilkenny throughout the weekend and went on to be crowned the first Kilkenny winner of Mr Personality. The festival was hosted by Kilkenny County Macra and was sponsored by Kilkenny/Carlow and District Farm Relief Services.  25 contestants travelled from across the country to Langton’s Hotel, Kilkenny for a fun-filled weekend.  On Friday afternoon, the contestants were brought to the Smithwick’s experience for their first activity of the weekend. This was later followed by on-stage...

Macra National President Josephine O’Neill, accompanied by members of the organisation, met with MEPs Norbert Lins and Maria Walsh at UCD Lyons Farm on Thursday, 9th April, to discuss the key challenges facing young farmers in Ireland and the future of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). The engagement brought together representatives from Macra, UCD and EU policymakers for a focused discussion on generational renewal and the sustainability of the agricultural sector. During the visit, Macra outlined the significant barriers currently facing young farmers, with particular emphasis on succession, access to land and access to finance. The organisation stressed that without...

Macra welcomes the €100m emergency package announced by the Government as a significant step in the right direction towards supporting young farmers and rural young people over the next five months. Macra had been calling for the development of a crisis response scheme, and following direct engagement with the Minister for Agriculture over the weekend, during which the organisation highlighted the need for targeted support and concerns surrounding criteria of the proposals, which may affect young farmers' accessibility. The organisation welcomes the usage based support scheme and the confirmation of consideration for new entrants in the development of the scheme....