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St Oliver’s pupils came face-to-face with a Lely Robot

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By Michelle Crean 

Children got to experience first-hand the difference between urban and rural life last week after a school trip to a local farm.

Sixth class pupils from St Oliver’s who are taught by Joanne Rattigan, took some time out from their books and visited Mark Leslie’s farm in Drombrick, Beaufort, a family run farm with over 70 cows that produce milk, and got hands-on experience that no books could ever provide.

“Growing up in an urban environment, there’s one thing you know children are missing out - a trip to the rural areas and seeing a real live working farm with animals is rare these days,” Joanne told the Killarney Advertiser.

Farms are a great place to visit any time of year because they provide students with an experience to see how farms work, how animals help us, and it is great!”

The visit came about as their classmate Pierce Leslie, had a very strong connection to a working farm, she added.

“With the help of Pierce’s dad, Tom, and his uncle Mark, we were able to arrange a class trip to a working dairy farm. There are a few children in my class that are farming fanatics and their enthusiasm for farming and farm machinery had rubbed off on the rest of the children!”

The whole class were excited to see the milking machines, the robots that helped out on the farm and the huge tractors that they had heard so much about.

Tom Leslie started off the visit by briefing the children on the changes that he had seen down through the years on dairy farms. The children then had the opportunity to see old milking methods and old milking machines. They then got to experience the current methods of milking cows using the Lely milking robots.

“They were amazed!” she said.

Mark and Tom Leslie brought the children on a tour around the farm and explained in detail about the robots.

“The children got to see how the robots are managed, what information the robots give to the famers and the difference they make to the life of a modern day farmer. Farming is educational, and teaching your children where exactly their food comes from is a lesson itself. Children will see the hard work and effort that goes into planning, growing and harvesting crops as well as raising and caring for livestock.”

And understanding the farming process can help children to be grateful for their food, she added.

“Because of children’s inquisitive minds, they are eager to know why things are the way they are and will ask many questions about their immediate environment. Mark and Tom were on hand to answer the multitude of questions that were thrown at them.”

Tom ended the tour with a lesson on farm safety.

Tom pointed out numerous hazards on a farm and things that farmers need to do to ensure safety for farm workers and the animals.

“We were fascinated walking around the farm, meeting the cows, watching them feeding, learning about the daily life of a dairy cow and experiencing the smells and aromas that we were unaccustomed to! We were fascinated by the robots and were delighted to see them in action. We had a lovely time on the farm and thoroughly enjoyed the trip. Thanks very much to Tom Leslie for organising the trip. Thanks to Mark Leslie and his father Michael for inviting us to the farm and educating us. We appreciate the time you spent with us and for making the trip really enjoyable.”

 

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Kerry coaches firm honoured with All-Ireland title

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Kerry Coaches named All-Ireland All-Star Bus & Coach Company of the Year 2025

Killarney-based Kerry Coaches has been named All-Ireland All-Star Bus & Coach Company of the Year 2025 by the All-Ireland Business Foundation. This recognition also marks Kerry Coaches’ second Business All-Star Accreditation, having received its first accolade in 2024.

Founded in 1957, Kerry Coaches has established itself as a leader in the Irish transport industry, known for its exceptional service and commitment to quality.  With a fleet of over 100 modern chauffeur vehicles, mini-buses and coaches the company provides a wide range of transport services, including corporate travel, executive golf transportation and bespoke tours throughout Ireland and Scotland.

 Speaking on the achievement, Mike Buckley, Director of Kerry Coaches, said:

“We are incredibly proud to receive this national recognition from the All-Ireland Business Foundation. It’s a true reflection of the dedication, professionalism, and passion shown by every member of our team. Our mission has always been to deliver exceptional travel experiences, and this award reaffirms our position as a leader in the industry.”

Announcing the news of Kerry Coaches’ achievement, Deputy Chair of AIBF’s Adjudication Board, Kieran Ring, said: “It is my pleasure to commend Kerry Coaches for its outstanding performance in achieving the Business All-Star accreditation. After a thorough review, the firm has been honoured with All-Ireland All-Star Bus & Coach Company Of The Year 2025. Kerry Coaches is distinguished not only for its superior fleet but also for its exceptional team, some of whom have been with the company for over 25 years. This seasoned team brings an extraordinary level of knowledge and expertise, ensuring that every client experience is exceptional.”         

Managing   Director   of   the   All-Ireland   Business   Foundation, Kapil   Khanna, said:  “The accreditation, which is now held by over 700 firms, is needed by the thousands of small and medium businesses which operate to their own standards but have nothing to measure them by.”

He   added: “We   evaluate   a   company’s   background, trustworthiness and performance, and we speak to customers, employees and vendors. We also anonymously approach the company as a customer and report back on the experience. The business goes through at least two interviews and is scored on every part of the process against set metrics.”

About The All-Ireland Business Foundation

The All-Ireland Business Foundation is an autonomous national accreditation body tasked with enterprise development and the promotion of Best-in-Class Irish businesses.

As the accreditation body for the Business All-Star mark, the AIBF recognises Best-In-Class Irish 

businesses.   Companies   that   merit   recognition   based   on   an   independent   audit   of   their performance, reputation, and customer-centricity.

Business All-Star Accreditation Is The Nation’s Symbol Of Trust. Currently, there are over 700 

companies that are accredited by AIBF. Since 2014, over 5000 companies have participated in their programmes.

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Trainee Blacksmith forging a career at Muckross Traditional Farms

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Phillip Pestor-Young, a trainee blacksmith from County Kildare, is currently gaining experience under Master Blacksmith Tom Allison at Muckross Traditional Farms.

Pestor-Young is enrolled in the All-Ireland Heritage Skills Programme. This programme is a cross-border educational initiative by the King’s Foundation, The Heritage Council, and the Historic Environment Division in Northern Ireland. 

Prior to moving to Ireland in 2019, Phillip trained as an engineer and fabricator in the UK. He is now developing his blacksmithing skills in Kerry.

For more information on the program, visit https://kings-foundation.org/study/all-ireland-heritage-skills-programme/.

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