Macra's newest club gets virtual treatment with online launch

Macra na Feirme has announced the launch of a new club last month, in what the rural youth organisation describes as a great start to the 2021 year.

This new club is located in Ennistymon, Co. Clare – and brings the total number of Macra clubs spread across Ireland to over 160.

The launch of a new club Ennistymon Macra took place last Wednesday evening (January 27) online via Zoom, attracting a “sizeable attendance”, according to the association.

The launch of the Ennistymon club was led by Clare Macra county chairman Cillian Griffey.

Giving a brief description of the rural youth organisation, Griffey explained:

Macra is a national social organisation catering for 17-35 year olds with a wide range of interests including agriculture, sports, public speaking, drama/capers, volunteer work, travel opportunities and festivals.

“There are many leadership opportunities available within Macra including advocating for young farmers at European level and meeting MEPs/commissioners,” he added.

Macra national president Thomas Duffy and Munster vice-president Sean Wallace attended the launch, congratulating everyone on the establishment of Ennistymon Macra.

Guest speaker on the evening was Lahinch resident Ruairi McKiernan. Ruairi is the bestselling author of Hitching for Hope, a former presidential appointee to the Council of State, and founder of the SpunOut.ie national youth information website.

In his speech, Ruairi outlined how community and “meitheal” (co-operative system of working together) have been central themes in his life. He outlined that Macra “embodies this community spirit in terms of how clubs and counties interact while simultaneously enabling personal development”.

Senator and local councillor Roisin Garvey was also in attendance, saying she was “blown away” by the scale and variety of opportunities that Macra had to offer young people in the locality.

Any group of people who would like to set up a new Macra club in their community is encouraged by Macra to get in touch.