A Dublin student at Kildalton Agricultural College in Co. Kilkenny has won the Teagasc/FBD Student of the Year 2025 award.

Robyn Dowling, from Skerries, was named the overall winner at the award ceremony, which took place in Kilkenny today (Thursday, May 7).

The awards were presented by Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine Noel Grealish.

The awards, which are sponsored by FBD, were presented to the top graduates of Teagasc Level 6 agriculture, horticulture, equine and forestry training programmes in 2025.

Dowling, the overall winner, completed the Level 6 Advanced Certificate in Horsemanship (Equitation) at Teagasc Kildalton College in Piltown, Co. Kilkenny.

In addition to winning the overall award, she was also successful in the ‘Other Land Based Category’.

Two other category awards were presented.

Edmund Motherway, from Ladysbridge, Midleton, County Cork won the ‘Full-Time Agriculture Category’. 

He completed the Level 6 Advanced Certificate in Agriculture (Dairy Herd Management), also at Teagasc Kildalton College.

Bernadette Donohoe, from Kildavin, Enniscorthy, County Wexford, was successful in the ‘Part-Time and Distance Education Category’. She completed the Level 6 Advanced Certificate in Agriculture at the Teagasc Tinahely in Co. Wicklow.

Speaking to the finalists at today's awards, Teagasc chairperson Liam Herlihy said: "This is a proud day for you and your families and I want to congratulate you on being finalists in these awards.

"The agriculture, horticulture, equine and forestry sectors need young people with new ideas and the right skill sets and knowledge to drive the development of the Irish land-based sectors," Herlihy added.

Also commenting, Michael Berkery, chairperson of FBD Trust, said: "The Teagasc/ FBD Student of the Year finalists are wonderful ambassadors for this sector, and we are proud to sponsor these awards which highlight their accomplishments.

"On behalf of the team at FBD, I would like to congratulate Robyn Dowling and all the finalists on their achievements and wish them every success in the future," Berkery added.

Dr. Anne-Marie Butler, head of education in Teagasc, said: "This is a great occasion for all the finalists, as we celebrate their achievements, and their learning journey with Teagasc.

"These awards showcase the agriculture, horticulture, equine and forestry courses and the best students that have come through those," Butler added.

Apart from the winning students, the other finalists that were in contention at this year's awards were:

Eileen Collins, Douglas, Co. Cork;
Róisín Corkery, Kinsealy, Co. Dublin;
Audrey Dunne, Drumcondra, Dublin;
Aoife Jones, Naas, Co. Kildare;
Jason Kelleher, Innishannon, Co. Cork;
Martha Longford, Piltown, Co. Kilkenny;
Eoin Loftus, Ballinasloe, Co. Galway;
Shane McAuliffe, Dromagh, Mallow, Co. Cork;
Charmaine McDermott, Redcastle, Co. Donegal;
Colin Mullahy, Claremorris, Co. Mayo;
Oscar Ó Marcaigh, Blackrock, Co. Dublin;
Jack Stevenson, Lifford, Co. Donegal;
Beth Thornton, Mallow, Co. Cork;
Christina Tobin, Castletownroche, Co. Cork.