Press Release:
2025 Winners of Certified Irish Angus Schools Competition Announced
Tech-forward approach to research and promotion scoops top prize for Mercy Secondary School, Kilbeggan
@certifiedirishangus
Friday 7th March 2025: Today, three students from Mercy Secondary School, Kilbeggan Co. Westmeath were announced as the overall winners of the 2025 Certified Irish Angus School’s Competition at an awards ceremony in Croke Park. Students Jack Larkin, Eoin Robinson and Shane King wowed judges of the competition, which is, now in its 11th year, with their IT 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 ICBF evaluations 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.
In attendance was Minister for Education and Youth Helen McEntee who 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.”
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 IT 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. 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.”
About the competition
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 – demonstrating the continues success of the initiative.
Competition growth
Now in its eleventh year, the Certified Irish Angus Schools Competition has experienced its biggest year yet. In 2024, over 188 groups, over 650 students took part in the competition with 26 counties represented from all provinces.
The Certified Irish Angus Schools Competition is celebrating its eleventh year in 2025 and farming experts are currently judging the next batch of potential entrants from a pool of 46 shortlisted schools. The judges include representatives from right across the agri-food industry ABP, Kepak, Tesco, Bord Bia, Dromoland Castle, Dovea Genetics, IASTA, Agriland, IFA and Macra na Feirme. The five schools that best demonstrate an understanding of the competition, along with innovative project ideas will be announced later this year at the National Ploughing Championships in September.
