ABP Ireland and Irish Country Meats have announced the winners of the 2026 Farmer Recognition Awards, which were presented at the Tullamore Show on Sunday 9 August.

The awards recognised farmer suppliers who had demonstrated excellence across beef, dairy beef, dairy steer, organic and lamb supply categories, reflecting the quality, consistency and commitment of suppliers to ABP Ireland and Irish Country Meats.

Winners were selected across 10 award categories, with ABP Ireland awards recognising best in class beef, lamb and organic production.

Winners

This year’s award winners are:

  • ABP Suckler Bull Benchmark Award: Patrick Noel Higgins, Athenry, Co Galway.
  • ABP Suckler Heifer Benchmark Award: Graham Kavanagh, Kilbride, Co Carlow.
  • ABP Suckler Steer Benchmark Award: Nicholas Doherty, Slieverue, Co Kilkenny.
  • ABP Dairy Beef Bull Benchmark Award: Aidan Connolly, Drumhillock, Co Monaghan.
  • ABP Dairy Beef Heifer Benchmark Award: Thomas O’Keeffe, Knocktopher, Co Kilkenny.
  • ABP Dairy Beef Steer Benchmark Award: Patrick O’Neill, Cahir, Co Tipperary.
  • ABP Dairy Steer Benchmark Award: Edward and Eamonn Corcoran, The Rower, Co Kilkenny.
  • ABP Advantage Beef Programme Farmer of the Year: Jimmy Madigan, Ballyhale, Co Kilkenny.
  • Irish Country Meats Supplier of the Year: Ellen and JP Furlong, Enniscorthy, Co Wexford.
  • Good Herdsmen Organic Supplier of the Year: Colm McElroy, Lisnalong, Co Monaghan.

    • Felim McKeown of ABP, presents the ABP Advantage Beef Programme Farmer of the Year award to Jimmy Madigan and his son James, Ballyhale, Co Kilkenny.

    Jerome Aherne, managing director ABP Ireland, said the awards were an opportunity to recognise the quality, professionalism and commitment of its farmer suppliers.

    Daniel Lyons, managing director, Irish Country Meats, said: “Our lamb suppliers play a vital role in supporting the quality and reputation of Irish lamb in domestic and export markets. Ellen and JP Furlong are very worthy recipients of the Irish Country Meats Supplier of the Year award, and we congratulate them on this achievement.”

    Jimmy Madigan, ABP Advantage Beef Programme Farmer of the Year, said the programme had helped focus on the areas that mattered most on the farm, such as animal performance, efficiency and sustainability.

    “Awards like this are important because they recognise the work that goes on every day at farm level and the commitment of families and farm teams to produce quality Irish beef,” he said.