This past summer, as my colleague Ciara Leahy was handing over the Women & Agriculture Conference notes to me (in anticipation of her upcoming maternity leave), she said something which, at the time, I didn’t understand.
“There’s a feel in that room which is difficult to describe, but it’s unlike anything else you’ll ever experience.”
At our Women & Agriculture Conference, which was held on 27 November in Trim, we spent the day in the company of many old friends reuniting – perhaps for the first time in a long time.
We met new friends – younger women farmers and those working within the industry. We danced, ate, drank and socialised. We learned a thousand new things from our many speakers and presenters.
Irish Country Living editor Amii McKeever helps an Taoiseach Micheál Martin TD with a dried flower boutonniere made by flower farmer Aine Kinsella. Farmers Journal CEO Justin McCarthy looks on \ Philip Doyle
Attendees met and spoke with an Taoiseach Micheál Martin TD during his time at the conference \ Philip Doyle
Farmers Journal policy analyst Dr Anne Finnegan leads a panel discussion around farm, family and personal finance with Noreen Lacey, Mairead O'Mahony and Rose Mary McDonagh \ Philip Doyle
And we grieved together, too. Every person in the room had experienced some form of loss since the last time they were all together. The blur of laughter and fun; seriousness and emotion didn’t fully hit me until I woke up the following morning, having finally digested the event and the enormity of what we collectively experienced.
Now, I understand what Ciara meant. It’s like nothing else I’ve ever experienced. Women & Agriculture is an intimate event.
Most of our attendees have been coming for many years. But the welcome given to those newer to the experience (myself included) was unconditional.
From our youngest teenage attendee (who milks cows with her sisters, mum and dad) to public figures like Dermot Bannon and An Taoiseach Michael Martin, whom so many were delighted to meet and speak with.
Farmers Journal photographer Claire Nash takes a selfie with RTE presenter and architect Dermot Bannon \ Philip Doyle
Farmers Journal news editor Caitriona Morrissey sits down with Minister for Justice Helen McEntee to discuss her life in politics \ Philip Doyle
Irish Country Living editor Amii McKeever, adorned with a dried flower headpiece made by flower farmer Aine Kinsella, takes a moment before the beginning of the 2022 Women & Agriculture Conference \ Philip Doyle
"With change comes opportunity, and I would ask that we take those opportunities and remain positive about our industry." Irish Farmers Journal CEO Justin McCarthy addresses the crowd at the Women & Agriculture Conference \ Philip Doyle
After hearing our keynote speaker, Minister for Justice Helen McEntee, speak with such clarity about her work in domestic violence and her life in politics, I wouldn’t be surprised if we start seeing some of our attendees on election posters in the near future.
Irish Country Living columnist Katherine O'Leary introduces the short video Returning After COVID \ Philip Doyle
Women from all over the island of Ireland travelled to Trim to attend the first Women & Agriculture Conference since 2019. \ Philip Doyle
Irish Farmers Journal CEO Justin McCarthy and former Irish Country Living editor Mairead Lavery take a moment to chat between presentations. \ Philip Doyle
Dr Kirstie McAdoo, head of research and education at Airfield Estate, shares her knowledge of how best to address the urban-rural divide to attendees. \ Philip Doyle
Irish Country Living editor Amii McKeever and Irish Country Living columnist Katherine O'Leary sit with an Taoiseach Micheál Martin TD ahead of his address .\ Philip Doyle
Musician Jake Carter entertains attendees at the 2022 Women & Agriculture Conference. \ Philip Doyle
Celebrated endocrinologist Dr Mary Ryan stops for a picture with RTE presenter and architect Dermot Bannon and Farmers Journal policy analyst Dr Anne Finnegan. \ Philip Doyle
Irish Country Living features editor Maria Moynihan leads a panel discussion on women's health with journalist Margaret Hawkins, Dr Mary Ryan, Dr Amy Morgan and Dr Enda Murphy \ Philip Doyle
Farmers Journal market intelligence and EU specialist Phelim O'Neill speaks with Malachy O'Connor, Mairin Byrne and Aisling Roche Flanagan about the rising cost of food and food production \ Philip Doyle
We need to hear more strong, rural female voices, and I think we all left the conference feeling that collective call to action.
Women & Agriculture 2022 was a resounding success after a few very difficult years. We can’t wait to see your faces again (or, hopefully, for the first time, too), next October.
Read more
More women's participation in farming ‘vital’ - Taoiseach
Women & Ag: “We have a beautiful business and we'd like to keep it that way”
This past summer, as my colleague Ciara Leahy was handing over the Women & Agriculture Conference notes to me (in anticipation of her upcoming maternity leave), she said something which, at the time, I didn’t understand.
“There’s a feel in that room which is difficult to describe, but it’s unlike anything else you’ll ever experience.”
At our Women & Agriculture Conference, which was held on 27 November in Trim, we spent the day in the company of many old friends reuniting – perhaps for the first time in a long time.
We met new friends – younger women farmers and those working within the industry. We danced, ate, drank and socialised. We learned a thousand new things from our many speakers and presenters.
Irish Country Living editor Amii McKeever helps an Taoiseach Micheál Martin TD with a dried flower boutonniere made by flower farmer Aine Kinsella. Farmers Journal CEO Justin McCarthy looks on \ Philip Doyle
Attendees met and spoke with an Taoiseach Micheál Martin TD during his time at the conference \ Philip Doyle
Farmers Journal policy analyst Dr Anne Finnegan leads a panel discussion around farm, family and personal finance with Noreen Lacey, Mairead O'Mahony and Rose Mary McDonagh \ Philip Doyle
And we grieved together, too. Every person in the room had experienced some form of loss since the last time they were all together. The blur of laughter and fun; seriousness and emotion didn’t fully hit me until I woke up the following morning, having finally digested the event and the enormity of what we collectively experienced.
Now, I understand what Ciara meant. It’s like nothing else I’ve ever experienced. Women & Agriculture is an intimate event.
Most of our attendees have been coming for many years. But the welcome given to those newer to the experience (myself included) was unconditional.
From our youngest teenage attendee (who milks cows with her sisters, mum and dad) to public figures like Dermot Bannon and An Taoiseach Michael Martin, whom so many were delighted to meet and speak with.
Farmers Journal photographer Claire Nash takes a selfie with RTE presenter and architect Dermot Bannon \ Philip Doyle
Farmers Journal news editor Caitriona Morrissey sits down with Minister for Justice Helen McEntee to discuss her life in politics \ Philip Doyle
Irish Country Living editor Amii McKeever, adorned with a dried flower headpiece made by flower farmer Aine Kinsella, takes a moment before the beginning of the 2022 Women & Agriculture Conference \ Philip Doyle
"With change comes opportunity, and I would ask that we take those opportunities and remain positive about our industry." Irish Farmers Journal CEO Justin McCarthy addresses the crowd at the Women & Agriculture Conference \ Philip Doyle
After hearing our keynote speaker, Minister for Justice Helen McEntee, speak with such clarity about her work in domestic violence and her life in politics, I wouldn’t be surprised if we start seeing some of our attendees on election posters in the near future.
Irish Country Living columnist Katherine O'Leary introduces the short video Returning After COVID \ Philip Doyle
Women from all over the island of Ireland travelled to Trim to attend the first Women & Agriculture Conference since 2019. \ Philip Doyle
Irish Farmers Journal CEO Justin McCarthy and former Irish Country Living editor Mairead Lavery take a moment to chat between presentations. \ Philip Doyle
Dr Kirstie McAdoo, head of research and education at Airfield Estate, shares her knowledge of how best to address the urban-rural divide to attendees. \ Philip Doyle
Irish Country Living editor Amii McKeever and Irish Country Living columnist Katherine O'Leary sit with an Taoiseach Micheál Martin TD ahead of his address .\ Philip Doyle
Musician Jake Carter entertains attendees at the 2022 Women & Agriculture Conference. \ Philip Doyle
Celebrated endocrinologist Dr Mary Ryan stops for a picture with RTE presenter and architect Dermot Bannon and Farmers Journal policy analyst Dr Anne Finnegan. \ Philip Doyle
Irish Country Living features editor Maria Moynihan leads a panel discussion on women's health with journalist Margaret Hawkins, Dr Mary Ryan, Dr Amy Morgan and Dr Enda Murphy \ Philip Doyle
Farmers Journal market intelligence and EU specialist Phelim O'Neill speaks with Malachy O'Connor, Mairin Byrne and Aisling Roche Flanagan about the rising cost of food and food production \ Philip Doyle
We need to hear more strong, rural female voices, and I think we all left the conference feeling that collective call to action.
Women & Agriculture 2022 was a resounding success after a few very difficult years. We can’t wait to see your faces again (or, hopefully, for the first time, too), next October.
Read more
More women's participation in farming ‘vital’ - Taoiseach
Women & Ag: “We have a beautiful business and we'd like to keep it that way”
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