Westmeath students win Certified Irish Angus schools competition
Three students from Mercy Secondary School, Kilbeggan, Co. Westmeath have been announced as the overall winners of the 2025 Certified Irish Angus Schools Competition at an awards ceremony in Croke Park today (Friday, March 7).
Students Jack Larkin, Eoin Robinson and Shane King impressed the judges of the competition, which is now in its 11th year, with their computer skills and sophisticated content creation capabilities.
The Westmeath group were tasked with researching the topic “Applying Technology to Improve Angus Cattle Breeding” throughout the two-year experience.
They demonstrated the use of evaluations by the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF) to further trace Angus beef and developed a 'Bull Finder' database to aid farmers in identifying superior genetic animals.
Leaning into their personal interests in media and content creation, the group also created a successful podcast, “Angus to the Fore”, where they interviewed personnel in the agri sector and advocates for the Angus breed.
The series included a number of high-profile guests including former Irish rugby captain Rory Best, and Ryanair CEO and Angus farmer Michael O’Leary.
Minister for Education and Youth Helen McEntee was at the event today. She said, “This is a momentous occasion to celebrate the passion, creativity and enthusiasm of our youth.
"This initiative not only tasks students with learning practical skills, but also encourages each participating group to develop and demonstrate their own ambition and innovations too.
"The offline nature of the competition is a perfect complement to class-based learning and it is excellent to see students from rural and urban areas engaged. I extend congratulations to the overall winners, and all finalists today on their hard work and determination," Minister McEntee added.
Speaking about the winning students, Charles Smith, general manager of Certified Irish Angus, said: “These three unique young men have unlimited potential. Displaying a combination of [computer] skills, passion for breeding, practical farming ability, and very strong bonds of friendship made this group something more than special.
"Their work simplified, and gave a greater understanding, of breeding indexes and their value in choosing breeding stock to the broader farming industry," Smith added.
"The complexity of their work made them stand out and left the judges in awe of their ability. There is little need for concern for Irish agriculture with young men like these in the wings.”
The runners up of the competition, meanwhile, were Carol Sheehy, Sinead Slevin and Jill Sheehy from Scoil Chríost Rí, Portlaoise, Co. Laois. These students researched the theme “Optimising Sustainable Animal Nutrition for Better Angus Beef Cattle”.
They focused their research on reducing carbon emissions by using a traceable local input supply chain. The students also explored the opportunities for linking tillage and beef enterprises to deliver mutual benefits.
Separately, Nicole Briody from Ballyjamesduff, Co. Cavan, received an outstanding achievement award for her contribution to the competition.
The judges said that Nicole is "exceptionally proud of her farming background.
"A proud young Cavan lady who is immensely kind in attributing her skills and ambitions to others; her family, her school, her teachers, her parents, all of which is true, but the real star of the show is herself.
"This young lady is destined for great things in the future and will be a fantastic ambassador for farming and for Irish food," the judges said.
The Certified Irish Angus Schools’ Competition, in association with ABP and Kepak, challenges students to rear five Irish Angus calves for beef production for two years. It aims to promote the Certified Irish Angus brand while communicating the care and attention required to produce quality beef for consumers.
2024 saw the highest ever number of applicants to the initiative, 188 school groups from across the country.
