Offaly pupil receives top honours in farm safety awards

Offaly's Niamh Meagher has received top honours in Irish Rural Link's second annual AgriKids Farm Safety Ambassador School Programme, as she became one of four recipients recognised nationwide.

Funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, the programme aims to bring practical, curriculum-aligned farm safety education into primary school classrooms, while strengthening links between schools, local farmers, and the wider community.

Niamh was nominated for this award through her strong farming background, helping bring agricultural awareness to her school community.

Her father, Eoin Meagher of Coolmore Stud, delivered a farm safety presentation, and Niamh arranged for her brother to visit with an Irish Angus calf, delighting pupils.

Judges noted Niamh’s initiative highlighted the pride and contribution of farm families and the importance of community involvement in farm safety.

The AgriKids Farm Safety Ambassador Awards are part the AgriKids Farm Safety Ambassador Programme, a wider initiative from Irish Rural Link’s AgriKids, funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

The programme offers participating schools two flexible formats, the AgriKids Farm Safety Hour and the more immersive, flag linked Farm Safety Day, to embed farm safety into the curriculum.

Schools that choose to run a Farm Safety Day are also eligible to apply for the AgriKids Farm Safety Ambassador Awards.

The AgriKids Farm Safety Ambassador Programme and Awards will return next year. Schools can sign up from August 25 2026. Stay informed and up to date at www.agrikids.ie