Macra na Feirme (; officially meaning "Stalwarts of the land") is an
Irish voluntary rural youth organisation. The organisation provides a social outlet for members in sport, travel, public speaking, performing arts, community involvement and agriculture.
History
It was founded in 1944 by Stephen Cullinan, a rural science teacher. The organisation's original purpose was to provide young
farmers
A farmer is a person engaged in agriculture, raising living organisms for food or raw materials. The term usually applies to people who do some combination of raising field crops, orchards, vineyards, poultry, or other livestock. A farmer mig ...
with adequate training to ensure their livelihood and to provide an outlet for socialising in rural areas.
Macra na Feirme has been involved in the establishment of:
* ''
Irish Farmers Journal
The ''Irish Farmers Journal'' is a weekly newspaper (published Thursdays) which provides farming news, specialist advice, market data and country living features to the Irish agricultural industry. As of October 2019, it reportedly had a weekly ...
''
* Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Associateion
* Macra na Tuaithe (now
Foróige)
* National Farmers' Association (now the
Irish Farmers' Association
The Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) ( Irish: ''Feirmeoirí Aontaithe na hÉireann'') is a national organisation to represent the interests of all sectors of farming in the Republic of Ireland. The IFA is Ireland's largest farming representative ...
)
* Farm Apprenticeship Scheme
* Irish Farm Accounts Co-op (IFAC Accountants)
* National Co-operative Farm Relief services Ltd
Since its foundation, over 250,000 young people have passed through the ranks of Macra na Feirme.
As of August 2016, Macra na Feirme had approximately 8,000 members in clubs around Ireland.
Approximately one-third of Macra members are directly involved in farming, with males making up 60% of the membership and females 40%. Macra is a democratic organisation, with membership representation at club, regional and national levels.
See also
*
Blue Jean Country Queen Festival
*
Queen of the Land Festival
References
External links
*
1944 establishments in Ireland
Agricultural organisations based in Ireland
Agrarianism in Ireland
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