Athlone man graduates with top dairy qualification

An Athlone man was among 17 graduates of Teagasc/University College Dublin Level 7 Professional Diploma in Dairy Farm Management course who were presented with their diplomas at an awards ceremony at Teagasc Moorepark, last week.

The awards were presented to Aaron Murphy, of Athlone, and the other graduates by Dr Anne-Marie Butler, Head of Education at Teagasc and Professor Karina Pierce, Dairy Production at University College Dublin (UCD).

Dr Anne Marie Butler congratulated the 17 graduates and their families on the significant achievement of graduating with a dairy farm management diploma. Dr Butler commended the graduates on the knowledge and skillset they have developed over the last two years and wished them well in their future endeavours in the dairy industry. Dr Butler also thanked University College Dublin as the awarding body for the Professional Dairy Diploma, and emphasised the continued and close working relationship between Teagasc and UCD in the areas of education, knowledge transfer and research.

Professor Karina Pierce congratulated the graduates on behalf of UCD. Professor Pierce commended the graduates on their resilience and adaptability in recent years and encouraged each graduate to continue to grow and develop their unique knowledge and skill set, as professionals in the dairy industry. Professor Pierce also acknowledged the commitment of host farmers who run successful farm businesses, alongside providing invaluable mentoring to students and very generously share their time and farm information with students.