Farming at 750 feet above sea level beneath the Comeragh Mountains isn’t for the faint-hearted, but for John and Mary Byrne of Coolnasmear, Dungarvan, it’s home, heritage and a way of life they cherish and champion.
John is the fifth generation to farm here, but it was his grandfather Jack Byrne, a decorated veteran of the US Army in WWI, who first married into the holding.
After fighting at Château-Thierry, Cambrai and the Meuse-Argonne, Jack returned from Europe’s battlefields to marry Peg Dwyer, the youngest of five daughters who inherited the farm.
His brother, in a twist of fate, also married into the neighbouring farm.
John’s father, Eamonn, took over in 1971 and combined milking cows with training showjumpers.
One of his finest mares had been earmarked for the Army, but a fall during a trial ride, breaking the late Captain Con Power’s leg, brought the deal to an abrupt end.
John left school at 16 to study at Kildalton and worked at Dungarvan Mart and in relief milking before coming home full time in the late 1990s.
When he married Mary in 2001, they inherited the family farm and set about expanding from 59 cows to the 220-strong, high-performance herd they milk today.
Mary, from a farming family in Kilkenny, works four days a week in an off-farm job but, in John’s words, “the place would close down without her.”
She handles all the administration, compliance, and herd records, turning handwritten notes on the whiteboard into digital gold via Herdwatch
and ICBF.
Together, they’ve turned what was once a challenging, rocky landscape into a top-class grazing platform, reclaiming tough fields in a feat that “would give the Bull McCabe a run for
his money.”
The farm now boasts precision spreading, top-notch slurry infrastructure, a chlorine-free wash routine with on-demand hot water, and plans for
solar installation.
Sustainability is central to the Byrnes’ philosophy. Protected urea, a dribble bar and pending Flexi Shoe slurry system, GPS spreader, and soil testing every two years reflect a deep commitment to nutrient management.
With a carbon footprint of just 0.91, they’re leading by example.
Cow comfort is a daily priority, rubber matting, well-managed calving pens, and high-spec calf sheds with good ventilation systems and auto feeders are just some of the investments.
A Bobman keeps cubicles clean, regular routine liming reduces infection, and a drafting gate and cow collars have revolutionised fertility and work-life balance.
It is a true family affair. Molly (16) and Eamon (14) milk cows, raise pedigree Herefords acquired from Val Ledwith’s Co Meath herd, and are heavily involved in sport.
Mentor
Molly plays ladies football for club and county, having won an All-Ireland at U14 and currently starring on the U16 team.
Eamon is a dual player and John serves as mentor to his team. John is also part of a new initiative among local dairy farmers sponsoring the Waterford Ladies Football Team, a project blending community, sport and dairy nutrition with real impact.
Work-life balance, prompted by some family health scares, is now a priority. Trusted help – Padraig Duff (full-time), Darragh Devine (student) and Teagasc placement students keep the farm running smoothly and let the Byrnes enjoy the matches and quality time together.
A few months ago, John hosted an open day for the local school.
“Dairy farming isn’t just about producing milk,” he says.
“It’s about pride in what we do, running a food business that delivers a healthy, natural product, honouring what we’ve inherited, caring for the land and animals, and passing the farm on to the next generation in even better shape, all while staying rooted in the community
we love.”
Byrne family Tirlan
Byrne family Tirlan
Byrne family Tirlan
Byrne family Tirlan
Farming at 750 feet above sea level beneath the Comeragh Mountains isn’t for the faint-hearted, but for John and Mary Byrne of Coolnasmear, Dungarvan, it’s home, heritage and a way of life they cherish and champion.
John is the fifth generation to farm here, but it was his grandfather Jack Byrne, a decorated veteran of the US Army in WWI, who first married into the holding.
After fighting at Château-Thierry, Cambrai and the Meuse-Argonne, Jack returned from Europe’s battlefields to marry Peg Dwyer, the youngest of five daughters who inherited the farm.
His brother, in a twist of fate, also married into the neighbouring farm.
John’s father, Eamonn, took over in 1971 and combined milking cows with training showjumpers.
One of his finest mares had been earmarked for the Army, but a fall during a trial ride, breaking the late Captain Con Power’s leg, brought the deal to an abrupt end.
John left school at 16 to study at Kildalton and worked at Dungarvan Mart and in relief milking before coming home full time in the late 1990s.
When he married Mary in 2001, they inherited the family farm and set about expanding from 59 cows to the 220-strong, high-performance herd they milk today.
Mary, from a farming family in Kilkenny, works four days a week in an off-farm job but, in John’s words, “the place would close down without her.”
She handles all the administration, compliance, and herd records, turning handwritten notes on the whiteboard into digital gold via Herdwatch
and ICBF.
Together, they’ve turned what was once a challenging, rocky landscape into a top-class grazing platform, reclaiming tough fields in a feat that “would give the Bull McCabe a run for
his money.”
The farm now boasts precision spreading, top-notch slurry infrastructure, a chlorine-free wash routine with on-demand hot water, and plans for
solar installation.
Sustainability is central to the Byrnes’ philosophy. Protected urea, a dribble bar and pending Flexi Shoe slurry system, GPS spreader, and soil testing every two years reflect a deep commitment to nutrient management.
With a carbon footprint of just 0.91, they’re leading by example.
Cow comfort is a daily priority, rubber matting, well-managed calving pens, and high-spec calf sheds with good ventilation systems and auto feeders are just some of the investments.
A Bobman keeps cubicles clean, regular routine liming reduces infection, and a drafting gate and cow collars have revolutionised fertility and work-life balance.
It is a true family affair. Molly (16) and Eamon (14) milk cows, raise pedigree Herefords acquired from Val Ledwith’s Co Meath herd, and are heavily involved in sport.
Mentor
Molly plays ladies football for club and county, having won an All-Ireland at U14 and currently starring on the U16 team.
Eamon is a dual player and John serves as mentor to his team. John is also part of a new initiative among local dairy farmers sponsoring the Waterford Ladies Football Team, a project blending community, sport and dairy nutrition with real impact.
Work-life balance, prompted by some family health scares, is now a priority. Trusted help – Padraig Duff (full-time), Darragh Devine (student) and Teagasc placement students keep the farm running smoothly and let the Byrnes enjoy the matches and quality time together.
A few months ago, John hosted an open day for the local school.
“Dairy farming isn’t just about producing milk,” he says.
“It’s about pride in what we do, running a food business that delivers a healthy, natural product, honouring what we’ve inherited, caring for the land and animals, and passing the farm on to the next generation in even better shape, all while staying rooted in the community
we love.”
Byrne family Tirlan
Byrne family Tirlan
Byrne family Tirlan
Byrne family Tirlan
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