By Sean Moriarty

Three students from St Brigid’s Secondary School will spend the next 18 months rearing five Angus calves after being shortlisted for a national agricultural competition.

Abbie Daly, Kate Donoghue and Alanna Brady will rear the calves while carrying out research on ‘Improving farm outcomes through education’, highlighting the importance of farm planning, the positive effect of education on farmers' mental health and farm safety, and how to enhance farm income and quality beef production.

St Brigid’s were one of just six schools nationally to be selected for the final of the initiative organised by Certified Irish Angus.

At a special event at the National Ploughing Championships in Ratheniska, County Laois yesterday (Thursday), RTÉ broadcaster Carl Mullan revealed the six finalists.

“We are honoured to be welcomed back by the National Ploughing Association for this special event, allowing the school’s competition finalists to meet their Angus calves for the first time. Standards were extremely high once again this year, with brilliant applications received from students of all backgrounds – inner-city schools and groups with rural and farming background,” Charles Smith, General Manager for Certified Irish Angus.