Waterford family wins Tirlán Milk Supplier of the Year award
Tirlan has revealed the winners of it's Sustainable Dairy Awards at the Heritage hotel in Portlaoise, Co. Laois today (April 29).
The awards recognise the long standing commitment of Tirlán's dedicated suppliers to developing high quality, sustainably produced milk from grass-based herds.
A total of 18 awards were presented across a variety of categories, from exceptional milk quality and milk solids to environmental stewardship and innovation.
The highlight of the afternoon, was the announcement of the Tirlán Milk Supplier of the Year. The award recognises outstanding performance across the board in a variety of areas including milk quality, sustainability, and animal welfare.
Tirlán chairperson John Murphy congratulated all the farmers who received awards.
He said: "These awards are a celebration of the passion, care, and innovation that our family suppliers bring to their work every day. It all starts on the family farm, and it's about so much more than milk.
"It's about the family farm business, it's about values, progress, and pride in doing the right thing."
John and Mary Byrne, from Coolnasmear, Dungarvan, Co. Waterford were presented with the Milk Supplier of the Year award.
Byrne is the fifth generation of his family to farm there, and says the family farm is very special to him.
"We put a huge emphasis on animal health, whether it be the calves or the cows. We try to keep their nutrition right at all times. Grass in number one, and we try to get as much quality grass into them as we can."
"If we don't look after this country and this earth, nobody else is going to. We have to keep things right on the farm. The vast majority of farmers are doing that, and doing it very well," he added.
The list of the award Tirlán Dairy and Sustainability Award winners is as follows:
| Tirlán Sustainablity Champion | Rose Bridge Farm Ltd, Ballyowen, Gorey, Co. Wexford |
| Farming for Water Champion | Carrigeen Dairy Ltd, Baltinglass, Co. Wicklow |
| Milk Solids Champion | John and Mary Byrne Ltd, Coolnasmear, Dungarvan, Co. Waterford |
| Avonmore Fresh Milk Supplier | John, Mona and Mark Finnegan, Balrath, Navan, Co. Meath |
| Milk Quality Award over 600,000L | Graham Farms, Maguiresbridge, Co. Fermanagh |
| Milk Quality Award under 600,000L | Dermot, Angela, and Noel Kehoe, Ballycullane, New Ross, Co. Wexford |
| North Region Award | John and Sean McDonnell, Knockbridge, Dundalk, Co. Louth |
| East Region Award | Sean Tracey, Tomhaggard, Co. Wexford |
| South Region Award | John Kirwan Jr, Butlerstown, Co. Waterford |
| West Region Award | Jimmy and Sarah Morris, GlenGoole, Co. Tipperary |
| Young Farmer Award | Martin O'Reilly, Killeshin, Co. Carlow |
| New Entrant Award | John Doyle, Ballygarret, Gorey, Co. Wexford |
| Farming Ambassador | Brian Rohan, Mountrath, Porlaoise, Co. Laois |
| Cathal Moran Innovation Award | Bryan and Gail Daniels, Bawnlusk, Co. Kilkenny |
| Farming Appreciation | Aidan O'Halloran, Tullow, Co. Carlow |
| Driver Recognition | Daniel O'Brien, from Dj O'Brien and Sons, Tallow, Co. Waterford |
