This year’s guest speaker was Patrick Frankel, Patrick studied Science & Zoology at Trinity College Dublin but his deep connection to the green pastures of Doneraile, where his Dad had started dabbling in Organic Agriculture, grew stronger and stronger. Patrick spoke about the difficulties in starting up his business but how he overcame those obstacles and now has a booming business. Despite endless academic opportunities at his feet, Patrick – crowned ‘Rising Star’ at this year’s Zurich Farm Insurance Farming Independent Farmer of the Year Awards – could never escape the feeling of digging into the earth and watching all kinds of life sprout around him. His Kilbrack Farm currently has 6 acres of Organic field-scale vegetables, and 6 polytunnels. Patrick sells at the Coal Quay Farmers Market in Cork City and supplies 14 restaurants in Cork, and shops in Mallow and Doneraile. As well as the vegetables there are Sheep, Cattle, Hens and Geese on the Farm and Patrick planted a new 4 acre orchard this Spring. In line with increased production on the farm.
Last night we saw our students graduate with QQI Level 5 and Level 6 Certificates in in both Day students and Distant Learning. We also had our IOFGA students get their Certificates… We would also like to thank Miriah, Philomena and the ‘First year Team’ for catering for this event.
We would like to wish all our students the very best of luck in the future.
QQI Level 5 2015 were: Alice Ahern, Sean Conway, Mike Dalton, Mary Dore, Jerry Fitzgibbon, John Keating, Elmarie O’Connor, Liam O’Sullivan, Patrick O’Sullivan, Robin Piggott, Joe Rigney, Lucy Shanahan, David Sims.
QQI Level 5 Hort 2016: June Fitzgibbon, Michael Guiry, Alan Lawlor, John McBreen, Katie McGuire, Shirley Morrow, John Murphy, Thomas O’Connor, Bryan O’Driscoll, Janet Power, Damien Twohig,
QQI LEVEL 6: Rose Burke Quin, Helen Curtin, Deirdre O’Brien, Daniel Shalvey, Jenny Watkins.
IOFGA Certs 2015
Anthony Hartnett, Eugene Hartnett, Michael O’Mahony
QQI Level 5 Beekeeping: John Barrett, Antonio Lopez Castro, Lynn Fitzpatrick, Michael Keane, Cora Kennedy, Luke Murphy, Michael Sheehan, Ciara Quinn.
QQI Level 5 Full Cert Distant Learning.
Anne Akamnonu, James Condon , Eoin de Buitelar, Lee Brennan , Conor Cagney, Vanessa Clarke, Martin Doyle, Brenda Fuller, Patrick Hunt, Antoinette Lyons, Judith O’Connor, Freda McKittrick, Paul McNamara, Brendan Spillane, Maggie O’Connor, Paul Singleton, James Quinn, Katja Seitz, Helena Walsh