Four of the six finalists who have made it into the finals of Bank of Ireland’s National Leadership Awards are from Co Cork. Even more unusually, two of those, Aisling Lewis and Gerard Griffin, are from the same branch, Mitchelstown Macra. Donal Sweeney is a member of Carrigaline Macra and John O’Sullivan is from Whitechurch Macra. The other two finalists come from counties Laois and Sligo.

Each finalist went through a challenging interview process and will now proceed to the final interview stage. The awards are organised as part of Macra’s leadership training programme which aims to provide opportunities for members to develop the knowledge, skills and attributes necessary for leadership positions either in Macra or in other voluntary roles or future occupations.

The national final is due to take place on Tuesday, January 29 in Bank of Ireland business banking headquarters in Dublin.

“I’m delighted, it was great to get this far,” Mitchelstown member Gerard Griffin told the Avondhu this week. Gerard and Aisling were among those who revived the Mitchelstown branch of Macra, they were also responsible for helping to set  up new clubs in recent times in Fermoy, Charleville and Sliabh Luachra. Gerard has been a member of Macra for the past seven years.

The opportunity to develop extra skills necessary for leadership positions was particularly apt for Aisling Lewis who, as we reported last week, has made a bid for the Presidency of Macra. Aisling has also been a Macra member for seven years. “It’s fantastic, very exciting to be in the last six, I hope I can match the calibre required,” she said.