Local students compete at 'high steaks' Irish Angus Beef Schools Competition

By Shane King

With three Westmeath teams competing, the ‘steaks’ were high at the 2023 Certified Irish Angus Beef Schools Competition in Croke Park on Friday March 31,

The competition, supported by ABP and Kepak, challenges students to rear five Irish Angus calves and learn about the care and attention required to produce quality beef for consumers.

Mercy Kilbeggan are proving to be strong contenders in the competition with two teams from transition year making it to the final stages this year. One of last year's groups to receive calves hailed from Kilbeggan and are currently rearing their five Angus calves, while continuing to carry out their research project.

This year's entrants from the school are Shane King, Eoin Robinson and Jack Larkin with their project investigating genetics and its impact on a sustainable output. Ciara Kealy and Isobel Larkin’s project is themed around reducing emissions.

Dara Fagan, Laoise Byrne and Elizabeth Carey flew the flag for St Josephs Rochfortbridge with their project completing the Westmeath line-up at the event.

A record 170 groups entered this year's contest with only 42 groups being chosen to participate in the Croke Park stage. Prior to last week's exhibition, the groups first had to produce a three-minute video outlining their project for round one. The top groups were then invited to attend an interview with the judges in January, where the best projects were selected to present their ideas at GAA headquarters.

Of the 42 exhibiting schools, the top five teams who best demonstrated an understanding of the project along with innovative ideas will be presented with Irish Angus calves at the National Ploughing Championships in September 2023.

The groups will learn their fate by the end of the month.