A 24-year-old sheep farmer from Clonmel has been named runner-up in the inaugural New Entrant to Farming Awards, receiving €2,000 for a business based on mountain and lowland sheep.
Tom Morrissey lambs around 150 ewes and supplements the flock with approximately 750 store lambs. He also operates an agricultural contracting business in the area and said the award money would be invested back into his farming enterprise.
Recognition at succession planning event
The awards were announced by Clonmel Credit Union in association with the South Tipperary and West Waterford Irish Farmers Association (IFA). The presentation took place at Hotel Minella in Clonmel on Wednesday 28 October, during an IFA event focused on succession planning.
The competition was launched in July and covered several parts of agriculture, including livestock, tillage, breeding, horticulture and agri-tourism. Clonmel Credit Union sponsored both the overall award and the runner-up prize.
| Award | Recipient | Farming enterprise | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall winner | Michael Tobin | Grass-based dairy enterprise across 100ha, with 180 cows plus replacements | €5,000 |
| Runner-up | Tom Morrissey | 150 ewes and 750 store lambs | €2,000 |
“Farming is a very rewarding career; it's hard work, but you get a lot back out of it.”
Overall winner Michael Tobin farms in partnership with his parents, Julie and Michael Snr, on a multi-generational family holding near Cashel. His grass-based dairy enterprise extends across 100ha and includes some beef finishing alongside the milking herd.
Investment in a developing sheep business
Morrissey’s combination of sheep production and agricultural contracting reflects the range of activities supporting his entry into farming. His flock includes both mountain breeds and lowland sheep, while the additional store lamb enterprise increases the scale of stock managed beyond the breeding flock.
The award organisers said the initiative was intended to strengthen a vital regional sector. For sheep farmers in Ireland and the UK, the event also places attention on the practical challenge of bringing new entrants into businesses where succession, access to land and investment decisions are closely linked.
The presentation formed part of a wider discussion on farm succession rather than a sheep-specific sale or market report. Morrissey’s decision to reinvest the prize in his business nevertheless provides a clear example of financial support being directed towards a developing sheep enterprise.
- Tom Morrissey: runner-up in the New Entrant to Farming Awards
- Flock: around 150 ewes, comprising mountain and lowland breeds
- Additional stock: approximately 750 store lambs
- Prize: €2,000 sponsored by Clonmel Credit Union
