A graduate of South East Technological University (SETU) achieved double success at the 2024 FBD Young Farmer of the Year finals.
Martin O’Reilly, from Killeshin, Co Laois, was honoured with the prestigious FBD Young Dairy Farmer of the Year award. In addition, he secured the Macra Agricultural Skillnet Biodiversity Young Farmer of the Year award.
Martin graduated from SETU in 2022 with a BSc (Hons) in Land Management in Agriculture. Speaking about his recent success, Martin said, “I am very proud of this achievement and wanted to thank SETU because studying at the University helped improve my knowledge and life skills. The judges were really impressed with how much knowledge I had gained from my studies. They liked that I had completed a Biodiversity management plan as part of my college modules with my course leader, Dr Nicholas McCarthy.”
Martin's educational journey was not without challenges. In 2018, just two days before transferring from Kildalton College into the second year of his Agriculture degree at SETU, he sadly lost his father.
“At the time, I was advised that I wouldn’t be able to complete the Level 7 course while also managing the dairy farm before and after college, especially with the long commute. It was a great achievement for me to complete my studies and go on to finish the Level 8 programme,” Martin said.
Since completing his degree, Martin has continued to broaden his skills and knowledge, studying a range of courses such as Artificial Insemination (AI), hoof pairing, bovine scanning, quad safety, and pesticide management. He has also been an active participant in Teagasc, Tirlan, and various agricultural discussion groups, further deepening his expertise in modern farming techniques.
This is a huge personal achievement for him. I would also like to acknowledge and recognise the role Martin’s lecturers at SETU and Teagasc Kildalton College played in his education and skills development.
Eleanor Kent Head of the Department of Land Sciences, SETU
Congratulating Martin, Head of the Department of Land Sciences, Eleanor Kent said, “We are immensely proud that as a graduate of the Land Sciences Department at SETU Martin has been awarded the FBD Young Dairy Farmer of the Year award for 2024, and also the Macra Agricultural Skillnet Biodiversity Young Farmer of the Year award.
“This is a huge personal achievement for him. I would also like to acknowledge and recognise the role Martin’s lecturers at SETU and Teagasc Kildalton College played in his education and skills development.”
