Macra na Feirme recruiting new members

WITH New Year’s resolutions still fresh in everyone’s minds, Dublin County Macra na Feirme is looking forward to recruiting new members to take part in its three Dublin clubs. 

Once a small club set up as a social outlet for youths from agricultural rural backgrounds, Macra Na Feirme has grown into a national organisation with clubs in every county in Ireland. 

The organisation caters for people between the ages of 17 and 35 with an interest in sports, travel, drama, debating, performing arts, or those who just want to make new friends. Chairperson of Dublin County Macra Tina Glynn explained how the organisation came to be.

“Way back, when the whole organisation was set up, there was a group of agricultural science teachers and they decided that the rural areas of Ireland needed a better social outlet,” said Glynn.  

“They set up Macra Na Feirme in an effort to try give young people in rural areas somewhere to meet up with like-minded people and discuss different things.”

Now a thriving organisation, Glynn gave an insight into the beginnings of Macra in Dublin. 

“It started with a fishing centre club called Dublin City Macra, as far as I know,” she said. “It was a group of country people living in Dublin that decided to set this up as sort of a social scene.”

Today, Macra na Feirme have North County Dublin, based out of the Swords area, Hill 16 (Drumcondra and the North city) and Treble R (Ranelagh, Rathmines and Rathgar). Treble R is the oldest standing of the three clubs. Glynn confirmed that Dublin Macra is in the process of setting up a new club in Lucan and South West Dublin. 

Macra na Feirme host competitions every year, varying from sports, to talent shows, to pageants. There are three pageants for females and one for males, Mr Personality, taking place in Kilkenny in April. 

“Everyone gets something different out of the pageants, whether you were nervous going on stage, you build on that, whether it’s making new friends, you develop yourself somehow. That’s what Macra is all about, your personal development and trying to develop people between 17 and 35 to take on new ideas and tasks to become the future leaders of things,” Glynn said. 

Dublin County Macra is hosting its Dublin round of the pageant to select their Dublin representative, along with their Dublin round of the national talent competition, in Kettles Country House Hotel, Swords, on February 21. 

“It’ll be a fun night where people are welcome to come and just spectate, if they’re members or want to become members on the night, or want to learn about Macra, they’re welcome to come along,” Glynn said.

Why someone should join Macra Na Feirme? 

“The diversity of Macra allows you to explore the opportunity of things. It’s a very welcoming, friendly and safe environment,” answered Glynn.

“There’s no judgement in Macra through any of the competitions, the club meetings, social gatherings. Everyone is very welcoming and open and that’s something that I noticed straight away when I joined. To be honest, it’s one of the best things I’ve ever done.” 

Glynn highlighted the importance of face-to-face socialisation. 

“I guess in the age where we’re all on Social Media, Macra gives you the opportunity to actually go and meet your friends. There are lots of social occasions that are organised for you and you go out and you meet and talk face-to-face to people rather than online,” added Glynn. Dublin County Macra is hoping to launch its own website (www.dublinmacra.com) shortly. 

REPORT: Hayley Halpin