Kevin McInerney of Pullabawn, Co Cavan won the Lakeland Dairies supreme milk quality award and also won the 500,000l+ milk production category. Kevin will now go on to compete for the national milk quality awards.

The runner-up in this category was Nicholas Cooney, Tymullen, Monasterboice, Co. Louth.

Eamonn Gargan from Mullagh, Kells, Co Meath, won the under 500,000l milk production category, closely followed by runners-up Derek and Daniel Flynn, Kinnegad, Co Westmeath.

In the category for new entrants to dairy farming, Ciaran and Kathy Kavanagh, Ballycommon, Tullamore, Co Offaly won this award for exceptional milk quality.

The overall Northern Ireland milk quality award winner was Rex Wilson, Cookstown, Co Tyrone. The Northern Ireland runners-up are Albert and David McCrea, Newtownstewart, Co Tyrone.

Minister for Regional Development, Rural Affairs, Arts and The Gaeltacht Heather Humphreys presented the awards and said: "Our dairy industry has a very positive reputation worldwide and this is underpinned by our vibrant co-operative sector and by dairy farmers who go the extra mile to ensure quality from farm to fork. In doing so, they are playing a very important role in the rural and regional economy, supporting employment and opportunities in rural communities."

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