The Ryan family of Lisheen near Moyne, Thurles, have been crowned the overall winners of the 2025 National Dairy Council (NDC) and Kerrygold Quality Milk Awards.
Ornua and the NDC made the announcement that the Centenary Thurles suppliers had taken home the top accolade at ceremony in the Lyrath Estate Hotel, Co Kilkenny, on Thursday 23 October.
Now in its 16th year, the annual awards programme saw 12 farming families from seven counties and 12 dairy co-operatives celebrated for excellence in milk production and sustainable dairying.
Tom, Mary and Michael Ryan excelled through a comprehensive judging process spanning environmental sustainability, animal health and welfare, farm infrastructure, hygiene standards, soil and grassland management, farm advocacy and technical performance.
Success
Minster for Agriculture Martin Heydon congratulated the Ryans from Tipperary on their success.
“The Ryan family from Co Tipperary, whose dedication to everyday excellence from paddock to parlour, has deservedly earned them recognition as the standard-bearers for milk quality.
“Ireland’s global reputation as a sustainable producer of quality dairy is built upon the hard work and commitment of Irish farming families like the Ryans and all those we celebrate today.
“Not only have they each earned the recognition of their own co-operatives, they have represented their families, local communities and the national dairy sector with pride, showcasing what it takes to produce a top-quality product while upholding the highest standards in animal care and environmental stewardship,” he added.
Category winners
In addition to the overall prize, six category awards were presented for excellence in the individual areas of milk hygiene and facilities, environmental stewardship, grassland management, lowest carbon footprint, low somatic cell count (SCC) and animal health and welfare.
Arrabawn-Tipperary – Kelly Farm, Nenagh, Co Tipperary.Aurivo Co-op – Trench / Ronayne Farm, Claremorris, Co Mayo (lowest carbon footprint award winner).Bandon Co-op – O'Donoghue Farm, Bandon, Co Cork.Barryroe Co-op – O'Donovan Farm, Kinsale, Co Cork.Centenary Thurles – Ryan Farm, Thurles, Co Tipperary (overall winner and environmental stewardship award winner).Dairygold Co-op – Sheehan / O'Leary Farm, Whitechurch, Co Cork (grassland management award winner).Drinagh Co-op – Duggan Farm, Dunmanway, Co Cork.Kerry Dairy Ireland – Killeen Farm, Doonbeg, Co Clare (milking hygiene and facilities award winner).Lakeland Dairies – McElroy Farm, Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan.Lisavaird Co-op – O'Neill Farm, Clonakilty, Co Cork (animal health and welfare award winner)North Cork Creameries – Stack Farm, Listowel, Co Kerry.Tirlán – Byrne Farm, Dungarvan, Co Waterford (lowest SCC award winner).The judging panel included professor Karina Pierce of UCD; professor Patrick Wall of UCD; and Teagasc research officer Dr David Gleeson.
NDC CEO Emma Walls said each finalist is “a winner in their own right” as they demonstrate that “excellence in dairy production is achievable every day”.
“Ireland’s global reputation is built on the commitment and sustainability practices of Irish dairy farmers, setting the benchmark for nutritious, grass-based milk production.
“The dedication shown by our finalists, category winners and overall winners reaffirms Ireland’s pride in its dairy farming families, processors and advisers,” she added.
Meanwhile, Ornua CEO Conor Galvin said Irish dairy farmers are foundational to the work of Ornua.
“It all begins at the farm level and I’d like to all of our finalists, their teams, their respective co-operatives and milk advisers for protecting and promoting our reputation as a world leader in sustainable dairy production,” he said.
The Ryan family of Lisheen near Moyne, Thurles, have been crowned the overall winners of the 2025 National Dairy Council (NDC) and Kerrygold Quality Milk Awards.
Ornua and the NDC made the announcement that the Centenary Thurles suppliers had taken home the top accolade at ceremony in the Lyrath Estate Hotel, Co Kilkenny, on Thursday 23 October.
Now in its 16th year, the annual awards programme saw 12 farming families from seven counties and 12 dairy co-operatives celebrated for excellence in milk production and sustainable dairying.
Tom, Mary and Michael Ryan excelled through a comprehensive judging process spanning environmental sustainability, animal health and welfare, farm infrastructure, hygiene standards, soil and grassland management, farm advocacy and technical performance.
Success
Minster for Agriculture Martin Heydon congratulated the Ryans from Tipperary on their success.
“The Ryan family from Co Tipperary, whose dedication to everyday excellence from paddock to parlour, has deservedly earned them recognition as the standard-bearers for milk quality.
“Ireland’s global reputation as a sustainable producer of quality dairy is built upon the hard work and commitment of Irish farming families like the Ryans and all those we celebrate today.
“Not only have they each earned the recognition of their own co-operatives, they have represented their families, local communities and the national dairy sector with pride, showcasing what it takes to produce a top-quality product while upholding the highest standards in animal care and environmental stewardship,” he added.
Category winners
In addition to the overall prize, six category awards were presented for excellence in the individual areas of milk hygiene and facilities, environmental stewardship, grassland management, lowest carbon footprint, low somatic cell count (SCC) and animal health and welfare.
Arrabawn-Tipperary – Kelly Farm, Nenagh, Co Tipperary.Aurivo Co-op – Trench / Ronayne Farm, Claremorris, Co Mayo (lowest carbon footprint award winner).Bandon Co-op – O'Donoghue Farm, Bandon, Co Cork.Barryroe Co-op – O'Donovan Farm, Kinsale, Co Cork.Centenary Thurles – Ryan Farm, Thurles, Co Tipperary (overall winner and environmental stewardship award winner).Dairygold Co-op – Sheehan / O'Leary Farm, Whitechurch, Co Cork (grassland management award winner).Drinagh Co-op – Duggan Farm, Dunmanway, Co Cork.Kerry Dairy Ireland – Killeen Farm, Doonbeg, Co Clare (milking hygiene and facilities award winner).Lakeland Dairies – McElroy Farm, Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan.Lisavaird Co-op – O'Neill Farm, Clonakilty, Co Cork (animal health and welfare award winner)North Cork Creameries – Stack Farm, Listowel, Co Kerry.Tirlán – Byrne Farm, Dungarvan, Co Waterford (lowest SCC award winner).The judging panel included professor Karina Pierce of UCD; professor Patrick Wall of UCD; and Teagasc research officer Dr David Gleeson.
NDC CEO Emma Walls said each finalist is “a winner in their own right” as they demonstrate that “excellence in dairy production is achievable every day”.
“Ireland’s global reputation is built on the commitment and sustainability practices of Irish dairy farmers, setting the benchmark for nutritious, grass-based milk production.
“The dedication shown by our finalists, category winners and overall winners reaffirms Ireland’s pride in its dairy farming families, processors and advisers,” she added.
Meanwhile, Ornua CEO Conor Galvin said Irish dairy farmers are foundational to the work of Ornua.
“It all begins at the farm level and I’d like to all of our finalists, their teams, their respective co-operatives and milk advisers for protecting and promoting our reputation as a world leader in sustainable dairy production,” he said.
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