Set up in 2022, the John Fitzgerald travel bursary awards four Teagasc students €1,000 towards their overseas placement to offset the costs involved.
The bursary was developed in memory of the late John Fitzgerald of Ross Kilmeaden, Co Waterford, a prominent dairy farmer who passed away in April 2021. John served on the board of management of Co Waterford Farm Relief Services for many years and held the position of treasurer up to the time of his death.
He also held other positions over the decades, serving as a board member, and was held in high esteem by both the board of management and the management of Co Waterford FRS LTD.
Many Kildalton agricultural science students benefited from his knowledge, time and skillset as he was a host farmer who hosted many students for their placement on his dairy farm in Kilmeaden. He passed on his knowledge and dairy husbandry skills with great patience and dedication.
To honour John’s valued contribution, time and commitment to Co Waterford FRS Ltd, a travel bursary was set up in June 2022 in conjunction with Teagasc Kildalton College.
Earlier this year, 12 students were interviewed by Declan Byrne, Kildalton placement officer, Lorraine Delahunty, Teagasc national placement co-ordinator and Ger Malone, general manager of Waterford FRS.
This year’s bursaries were awarded to John Lyndon from Gorey, Co Wexford, who is travelling to New Zealand; Michael Beresford from Ballinamult, Co Waterford, who is travelling to America; Jackie Prendergast from Coon, Co Kilkenny who is also travelling to New Zealand; and Sarah Blake from Stratford-on-Slaney, Co Wicklow, who is travelling to Scotland.
The four selected students were presented with cheques at a small gathering in Kildalton at the end of October.
Patrick Delahunty.
Benefit to students
Patrick Delahunty is a Level 6 advanced dairy student who previously benefited from the bursary.
“Our dairy farm is located in Glenmore, Co Kilkenny. From a young age, I was out on the farm with my father, and I’ve always had a great interest in farming.
“I recently graduated from Kildalton Agricultural College, after completing my level 6 agriculture dairy course and achieving the Green Cert in June 2025. The reason I chose to go to Kildalton was to get a qualification in dairy management, to use the agricultural opportunities available to me and to take over the family farm in the near future. Kildalton was a great experience – I especially liked the different ways to leave, from the book and then physically being out on the farm. I also made lifelong friends from all around the country.
“In the second year of my course, I had to complete four months of placement either in Ireland or abroad.
“I chose to go to New Zealand, which was a blast as I was based on a 600-cow family dairy farm in Greymouth, Ikamatua (275km from Christchurch). The farm milked cows in a 54-unit Waikato rotary parlour. My work rota was eight days on, three days off. Milking was from 4am to 7.30am and 3pm to 5.30pm, and we had time off during the middle of the day.
“One of the main benefits of being out there was being able to manage a farm of that scale, which I would probably never have had the opportunity to scale up to back home.
“It gave me the chance to understand the different ways things can be done on the farm.
“Before going abroad for placement, I was awarded the John Fitzgerald bursary from Kildalton and FRS, which made it so much easier to carry out my placement abroad – it definitely helped to pay with the cost of travelling.
“As my college years are now over, the plan is to go into a farm partnership with my father next year and eventually take over the family farm.
“I’ve learned a lot from what my father has taught me, my placement and my college experience. I will put all that knowledge into our farm for a better future and will always remember the experience of farming in New Zealand.”
Set up in 2022, the John Fitzgerald travel bursary awards four Teagasc students €1,000 towards their overseas placement to offset the costs involved.
The bursary was developed in memory of the late John Fitzgerald of Ross Kilmeaden, Co Waterford, a prominent dairy farmer who passed away in April 2021. John served on the board of management of Co Waterford Farm Relief Services for many years and held the position of treasurer up to the time of his death.
He also held other positions over the decades, serving as a board member, and was held in high esteem by both the board of management and the management of Co Waterford FRS LTD.
Many Kildalton agricultural science students benefited from his knowledge, time and skillset as he was a host farmer who hosted many students for their placement on his dairy farm in Kilmeaden. He passed on his knowledge and dairy husbandry skills with great patience and dedication.
To honour John’s valued contribution, time and commitment to Co Waterford FRS Ltd, a travel bursary was set up in June 2022 in conjunction with Teagasc Kildalton College.
Earlier this year, 12 students were interviewed by Declan Byrne, Kildalton placement officer, Lorraine Delahunty, Teagasc national placement co-ordinator and Ger Malone, general manager of Waterford FRS.
This year’s bursaries were awarded to John Lyndon from Gorey, Co Wexford, who is travelling to New Zealand; Michael Beresford from Ballinamult, Co Waterford, who is travelling to America; Jackie Prendergast from Coon, Co Kilkenny who is also travelling to New Zealand; and Sarah Blake from Stratford-on-Slaney, Co Wicklow, who is travelling to Scotland.
The four selected students were presented with cheques at a small gathering in Kildalton at the end of October.
Patrick Delahunty.
Benefit to students
Patrick Delahunty is a Level 6 advanced dairy student who previously benefited from the bursary.
“Our dairy farm is located in Glenmore, Co Kilkenny. From a young age, I was out on the farm with my father, and I’ve always had a great interest in farming.
“I recently graduated from Kildalton Agricultural College, after completing my level 6 agriculture dairy course and achieving the Green Cert in June 2025. The reason I chose to go to Kildalton was to get a qualification in dairy management, to use the agricultural opportunities available to me and to take over the family farm in the near future. Kildalton was a great experience – I especially liked the different ways to leave, from the book and then physically being out on the farm. I also made lifelong friends from all around the country.
“In the second year of my course, I had to complete four months of placement either in Ireland or abroad.
“I chose to go to New Zealand, which was a blast as I was based on a 600-cow family dairy farm in Greymouth, Ikamatua (275km from Christchurch). The farm milked cows in a 54-unit Waikato rotary parlour. My work rota was eight days on, three days off. Milking was from 4am to 7.30am and 3pm to 5.30pm, and we had time off during the middle of the day.
“One of the main benefits of being out there was being able to manage a farm of that scale, which I would probably never have had the opportunity to scale up to back home.
“It gave me the chance to understand the different ways things can be done on the farm.
“Before going abroad for placement, I was awarded the John Fitzgerald bursary from Kildalton and FRS, which made it so much easier to carry out my placement abroad – it definitely helped to pay with the cost of travelling.
“As my college years are now over, the plan is to go into a farm partnership with my father next year and eventually take over the family farm.
“I’ve learned a lot from what my father has taught me, my placement and my college experience. I will put all that knowledge into our farm for a better future and will always remember the experience of farming in New Zealand.”
SHARING OPTIONS