Clonakilty Macra

Twenty-First Century: In community involvement the club began the West Cork Inter School’s Quiz in 2001 and continues to take part in the summer festivals. Success in competitions continued into the new millennium when Michael O’Donovan won the National U23 Beef Stock judging title in August 2003. The club reached the pinnacle of its success when the National Club of the Year 2003 Title was brought back to the club by its representatives the then Chairperson Ann Murphy, Secretary Linda Ryan, Treasurer Orla Whelton and P.R.O. Sean Ronan. The fifth National title to the club has opened the door to many more successes in competitions. National Treasurer of the Year 2003 Orla Whelton, National Secretary of the Year 2003 Linda Ryan, Be Creative National Title 2003 Orla Whelton, National Senior Dairy Stock judging Title 2004 Alan Buttimer and almost ten years to the day since it was last won by a club member the National Welding Title 2005 Brian Fleming. Sean Ronan, Orla Whelton, Ann Murphy and Padraig Griffin were national runners up 2005 at the Creative Challenge Final in Nenagh and Padraig won a national medal for carpentry on the day. In September 2005 the club were awarded the Carbey Winter Efficiency title for a third consecutive year and later were also awarded with the Carbery/AIB Macra Club of the Year title. The 2006 National Title in Farm Skills went to the clubs James Kingston, Gavin Buttimer and Alan Buttimer. The team also were awarded the national safety award on the day. The 2007 National Title in Beef Stockjudging was awarded to John Applebe at the South Tipperary Macra Rally. In January 2008 the National Title in Public Speaking was awarded to Alan Buttimer, Edel Ronan and Irene Cullinane. Irene also won best speaker at the final. At the National A.G.M. in 2010 the club team of Irene Cullinane, Alan Buttimer, Edel Ronan and Orla Whelton won the national debate title.

Nineties: Thirty Eight years after the first National Title came to Clonakilty, two more were awarded to the club in consecutive years. In 1995 Donal Santry won the National Welding Title and a trip to Russia. Donal Santry along with Tadhg Healy and Facthna Duggan won the National Farm Tasks competition and a trip to Cape Cod. A second National Title in Farm Skills was won in quick sucession when Jim Duggan, Maurice Whelton and David Hayes brought home the title in 1997 and won places on the prizewinners trip to Russia. The Golden Jubilee was celebrated with a large dinner dance for all past and present members in Fernhill House Hotel in 1998.

Eighties: A new group of members joined the club and the club completed two major community involvement events. The club collected 18 tonnes of glass in the town which instigated the first permanent bottle bank arriving in Clonakilty. The club also helped University College Cork excavate Liosnagun Ringfort that today is an important tourist attraction.

Seventies: Education and Information nights were incorporated into the club programme and lectures held on subjects such as ‘Motor Accidents and Insurance’ ‘Family Law’ and ‘Interior Decoration’. The club celebrated its silver jubilee and the first female chairperson Teresa O’Driscoll (nee Brickley) was elected in 1973.

Sixties: The club won the county Public Speaking competition for three consecutive years 1961,1962 and 1963. The club took part for the first time at Cork show in 1962 and began a community involvement programme that saw members helping at the ‘Festival of West Cork’.

Fifties: Field days, competitions and social events were organised at club, regional and county level as Macra clubs spread across Cork county. The first National Title was awarded to the club when Kathleen Santry won the National Poultry Stock-judging title.

Forties: The club took off with twenty members and a club programme that involved trips to the cinema in Dunmanway and tours of farms in towns like Mitchelstown.