A farm family from Co. Fermanagh has been crowned the supreme champions of the Lakeland Dairies milk quality awards.

David and Irene from Irvinstown took home the top prize for the exceptionally high quality of milk produced on their farm throughout the past year.

The winners emerged from among 3,200 farm families across 17 counties who produce two billion litres of milk for Lakeland Dairies.

The awards were presented by Lakeland Dairies’ chair Niall Matthews and group chief executive Colin Kelly with guest of honour Professor Patrick Wall at a special event in the Virginia Park Lodge Hotel, Co. Cavan.

Along with being named supreme champions, the Kerrigans also took home the less than one million litre producer category award in Northern Ireland.

Lakeland Dairies also announced winners in several categories of the Milk Quality Awards.

Republic of Ireland

Oliver and Ciaran McElroy from Carrickmacross, Co. Monaghan won the greater than 500,000 litre producer category award in the Republic of Ireland.

The highly commended runners-up in the category was David Doughty, Drumgora Farm Ltd, Virginia, Co. Cavan.

PJ and Colm Geraghty from Rochfordbridge, Co. Westmeath won the less than 500,000 litre producer category.

David Clabby, Abbeyshrule, Co. Longford was the highly commended runner-up in this category.

Anthony and Niall Cadden from Clones, Co. Monaghan won the Lakeland Dairies Sustainability Award for outstanding commitment to sustainable milk production as well as environmental and economic sustainability.

Northern Ireland

James and Richard Barr from Ballymoney, Co. Antrim won the greater than one million litre milk producer category in Northern Ireland.

Paula L Neill of Neill Farms, Portadown, Co. Armagh were the highly commended runners-up.

David and Irene Kerrigan from Irvinstown, Co. Fermanagh won the less than one million litre producer category in Northern Ireland. The Kerrigans also took home the overall Supreme Champions.

James and Tom McClelland from Limavady, Co. Derry was the highly commended runner-up.

Best New Entrants

Ronan Brady from Cootehill, Co. Cavan was declared winner of the Republic of Ireland Best New Entrant Category.

Martin McConville from Rathfriland, Co Down won the Northern Ireland Best New Entrant Category.

Lakeland Dairies Young Farmer Award

Eoin Lenehan from Duleek, Co. Meath won the second annual Lakeland Dairies Young Farmer Award.

The award is aimed at recognising the activity and involvement of young farmers in bringing fresh and new ideas to the family farm.

The winner receives a bursary to take part in an agricultural study tour of their choice before the end of 2026.

Lakeland Dairies vice-chairperson, Keith Agnew, paid tribute to the award winners.

"Milk quality is the backbone of everything we do. It ensures that our products end up in the best markets in the world, maintaining our reputation and supporting our livelihoods.

“At a time when there is huge policy uncertainty regarding the future of the Nitrates Derogation in ROI and the Nutrients Action Programme in NI, it is heartening and reassuring to see farmers’ unwavering commitment to producing quality milk," he said.

Lakeland Dairies group chief executive Colin Kelly added:

"Thanks to our world-class farmers and their quality milk, Lakeland Dairies is well positioned to meet the demand for dairy products with some of the largest and most innovative global food companies.

“We are currently exporting 240 different dairy products and food ingredients to customers in 100 countries worldwide and we want to continue to grow and develop this network of customers in partnership with our farm families.”