Students Aoife Randles, Mark O’Sullivan, James Lynch and Aisling Burke are putting in their final preparations before departing to compete in this year’s AgroChallenge in the Netherlands.

Now in its eight year and hosted by EUROPEA Netherlands from June 24-27, the Irish team from Clonakilty Agriculture College and Salesian Agricultural College Pallaskenry will compete against teams of students from 15 countries. Over the course of the competition, they will partake in 18 timed tasks, assessing their skills in the areas of animal husbandry, crop agronomy, forestry and machinery operation.

The Irish team consists of:

• Aoife Randles, Co. Kerry, attending Clonakilty Agricultural College,
• Mark O’ Sullivan, Co. Cork, attending Clonakilty Agricultural College,
• James Lynch, Co. Clare, attending Salesian Agricultural College Pallaskenry,
• Aisling Burke, Co. Limerick, attending Salesian Agricultural College Pallaskenry.

After the opening of the competition on Tuesday, June 24, the Irish team will face into two days of competition, something they have being preparing for diligently in run up to the competition under the guidance of mentors John Flannery, Assistant Principal and Teacher at Salesian Agricultural College Pallaskenry, and Miriam Dineen, College Teacher at Clonakilty Agricultural College.

Speaking in advance of the competition, Miriam Dineen said: “Everyone at Clonakilty Agricultural College is getting behind the Irish team, who are very excited to demonstrate their practical learnings on an international stage, competing with some of the brightest and the best of land-based students across Europe.”

John Flannery added: “Competitions like AgroChallenge foster teamwork, where students from various colleges and backgrounds can come together to represent Ireland on the largest stage. Aoife, Mark, James and Aisling have done the groundwork in advance of AgroChallenge 2025, and we wish them every success in the competition.”

Sending support and best wishes to the Irish team ahead of the competition, Head of Education at Teagasc, Dr. Anne-Marie Butler added: “Along with providing an international flavour to their education journey, competitions like AgroChallenge are an opportunity for students to take their learnings from agricultural colleges and showcase them on the biggest of stages, while also fostering peer-to-peer learning and team building, skills that will stand to them throughout their future careers. At Teagasc, we wish Aoife, Mark, James and Aisling all the best in AgroChallenge 2025.”

James Maher, Education Specialist at Teagasc, added: “AgroChallenge will be a great experience for the Irish team, providing them with opportunity to represent their country at something they are passionate about. Aoife, Mark, James and Aisling get the opportunity to do that, and we wish them all the best in the competition over the coming days.”