YFA/Macra Imokilly to mark 80-year milestone this autumn
The Young Farmers' Association/Macra Imokilly region in Co. Cork will be celebrating its 80th year this October.
The anniversary will be marked at a dinner dance in the Radisson Hotel, Little Island, Cork, on Saturday, October 3.
Chair of Imokilly Macra, Anthony Lane said: "We will welcome everyone including past and current members of Imokilly Macra Na Feirme, as well as Macra Na Feirme members from across the country who wish to be part of this milestone celebration.
"The event will draw people from the immediate east Cork community and further afield, creating a gathering that truly reflects the reach and impact of our organisation."Zeus Packaging and Ballymaloe Cookery School and Ballymaloe House are sponsors of the dinner dance, which was launched on Friday, July 3.
Following the annual general meeting (AGM) of Imokilly Macra on July 16, the current committee comprises: chairperson, Anthony Lane; secretary, Brittany Devine; treasurer, Edmond Russell; public relations officer, Hannah Colbert; and young farmer development officer, Claire Gould.
Inaugural meeting
The first meeting of the Young Farmers' Association in the Imokilly area was held in the old school in Shanagarry on October 31, 1946.
Lane said: "One of the first women to join Shanagarry Macra was the late Mrs Myrtle Allen.
"In 1959, Mrs Allen was appointed vice-president for the Munster region but her bid for the presidency in 1963 was unsuccessful.
"Historically, Imokilly Macra has been very active throughout the region with clubs such as Ballynoe and Conna very busy in their respective regions."
In 1964, Ballynoe Macra represented the Imokilly region at the Cork County summer efficiency competition at the Upton steam rally on Sunday, June 5.
In 1969, Balynoe Macra held a field day. In the 1980s, Conna Macra was the east Macra na Feirme efficiency winner.
Imokilly Macra
Imokilly Macra now includes three clubs: Killeagh Macra, Midleton Macra, and Aghada Whitegate Macra.
It covers a wide geographic area that includes Youghal; Midleton; Killeagh; Carrigtwohill; Clonmult; Dungourney; Whitegate, and Shanagarry.
"This wide reach strengthens the club, bringing together members with diverse talents and skills.
"Members have a wide range of jobs including teachers, farmers and a tax adviser," the Imokilly chairperson said.
Members of the Imokilly Macra region have contested the Munster vice-president role in recent years.
Liam Coppinger (2025) and Áine McCarthy (2021) were both unsuccessful in their bids.
In 2007, Flor O’Gorman (2007) was elected, who went on to run for the national Macra presidency in 2009, though he was ultimately unsuccessful.
Many trips were held over the last 80 years including club exchanges to Wales, Ballybunion and the National Ploughing Championships.
Competitions
Over the last 12 months, Imokilly Macra members have attended events ranging from saunas to balls to attendance at national conferences, such as that held by Dairy Women Ireland.
Imokilly Macra members have also taken part in numerous competitions.
These have included: Lane in the Mr. Personality Festival; Kerrie Fitzgerald in the 2025 Blue Jeans festival; and Kate Gould in the 2026 All-Ireland welding competition.
Gould will also be taking part in the Queen of the Castle competition over the August Bank Holiday weekend.
Updates on how their members get on at upcoming competitions will be posted on the club's social media channels.
On July 8, Lane and Ian Landers represented the region at the All-Ireland dairy stock judging competition in the senior and U23 categories respectively.
Lane outlined some further activities of the club's members over the years:
He said: "In 2011, John Casey from Imokilly won the All-Ireland welding competition. Eoghan O’Neill from Imokilly was victorious in the same competition in 2017.
"In 2013, a team from Midleton took the gong in the national FBD farm skills competition."
Members from the region have taken part in the National Ploughing Championships over the last 80 years. In 2022, William Mulcahy from Killeagh won the Macra conventional plough class.
Drama has been popular among members throughout the club's history.
Its success in this area was perhaps best portrayed in 2016, when two teams from the region reached the national drama finals.
That year, second place went to Killeagh Macra. The club also took home the best actress award, thanks to the efforts of Nora Walsh. Third place in the competition went to Midleton.
Midleton also had success in 2011, when it came second in the Cork county stage of the Capers competition and advanced to the national rounds.
Club couples
Romance has blossomed in the Imokilly region over the last 80 years, with many members tying the knot.
Jennifer Grey from Aghada Whitegate club met her husband Brian Twomey from Conna Macra in 2015 at the Macra Mr. Personality Festival in Springhill Court, Kilkenny. She was the chairperson of Aghada Whitegate club at the time.
Stephen O’Connell from Killeagh club met his wife Sheila from Aghinagh Macra in 2023.
Billy Fitzgerland met his wife Áine when she joined Killeagh club of which he was already a member. They got married in 2022. Billy and Áine now have two children; Róisín who is two and five-month-old Ciarán.
Marie Kearney from Midleton club met her fiancé Padraig from Co. Limerick Macra at a Macra event a number of years ago.
Meanwhile, Ashley McCarthy from Aghada Whitegate Macra met his fiancé Hannah Colbert from Midleton Macra a number of years ago.
May their happiness last as long as the Imokilly region club
