Macra has confirmed that it will increase its membership prices beginning on February 1, 2025.
Current membership will not be impacted by the changes, only new memberships and renewals will be changed.
Membership prices are set to increase from €60 to €66.50. Direct debit membership rates will also increase, from €50 to €56.50.
The organisation has announced that it is phasing out student memberships. From February 1, it will no longer be possible to take out a student membership, or renew a student membership.
Existing student memberships are still valid until their renewal date.
A new youth membership scheme is going to replace student memberships. A youth member is a member who is under the age of 23 on the day that they take out or renew their membership.
The rate for a youth member is €46.50, and €41.50 for an existing member paying by direct debit.
Once it is taken out, membership will be valid for 12 months. This does not affect the Macra year, which runs from September 1 until August 31.
Macra elections
Candidates have started launching their campaigns for the 2025 Macra presidential elections.
Members will be invited to elect a new national president for the 2025-2027 term. Elections will also fill the roles of the organisation’s three vice-presidents in the Munster, Leinster and Northwest regions.
The elections take place biannually and it is expected that nomination papers will be issued to clubs in February, 2025.
Current Macra president, Elaine Houlihan, was the only presidential nominee in 2023, so there was no presidential election.
In 2021, John Keane became the 38th president of Macra and the fourth Tipperary Macra member to serve in the role.
More than one candidate has expressed their intention to run in this year’s election.
Macra is a voluntary organisation representing 13,500 young people from rural Ireland.
The group advocates for its members aged between 17 and 40 in a “fun, inclusive and supportive environment”.