By Dan Walsh
The annual general meeting of Bree Macra Na Feirme held in Bree Community Centre featured opening addresses from Chairperson Eddie Casey and Secretary Mary Byrne reflected on the club’s many high points throughout their 65th year.
They thanked the outgoing committee for their dedication throughout the year, and expressed sincere gratitude to former members Willie Wickham, Kate English, Brendan Byrne, and Sinéad Kinsella (née Doyle), who worked with current club members in organising the 65th Anniversary Dinner Dance in September.
The event saw 150 past, present, and future members of Bree Macra, as well as well-wishers from further afield, gather to celebrate 65 years of the club’s success. Bree Mara stalwart PJ Darcy was honoured with a presentation by the 60th Anniversary Committee of Niall Doyle, James Byrne, Sinead Doyle (née Kinsella), Áine Doyle, Cáit Doyle, and Johanna Wickham, in recognition of his decades of service.
The annual general meeting also saw James Byrne and PJ Darcy thanked for their continued dedication to coaching the club’s Public Speakers and Debaters. Both highly decorated alumni in their own right, they have been essential to the club’s continued success in competitions, most recently in bringing home All-Ireland Titles in Novice Debating, with a team of Sarah Byrne, Eddie Casey, and Mark Waters, and Team Public Speaking, with a team of Mary Byrne, Sarah Byrne, and Eddie Casey.
The club also took home the All-Ireland title in Mastermind (Sarah Byrne), third place in Question Time (Sarah Byrne, Mary Byrne, Eddie Casey, and Sinead Kinsella), and joint third place in Creative Writing (Sinead Kinsella). They were well represented in a number of other national competitions, including in the Mr. Personality Festival by Kieran Banville.
Bree Macra has also participated in a growing number of community events and charitable causes, such as the Adamstown Agricultural Show, the Shoebox Appeal and Relay for Life. The club has grown exponentially over the last number of years, with a current active membership of almost thirty.
The 2026 AGM reflected this growth, with a total of ten officers elected, including three newly formed positions. The new committee consists of Chairperson Eddie Casey, Secretary Mary Byrne, Treasurer Katie Sutton, PRO Brónagh Murphy, Print PRO Sarah Byrne, Competitions Officer Anthony Doyle, Development Officer Eimear Jackman, Agricultural Affairs Officer David Finn, Rural Youth Officer Gary Murphy, and Ordinary Committee Member Kieran Banville.
The club already has a variety of exciting activities planned, with Beach Rounders taking place on Curracloe Beach at 8pm on the first, second and fourth Friday of the month. Newcomers are always welcome and can contact club Chairperson Eddie Casey on 087 1007373.
WexfordLocal.com 