Bobby Miller has been announced as the overall winner of the Tirlán Grain Quality Awards.
The announcement was made at an awards ceremony in Cork on Tuesday 10 February.
Miller, from Co Laois, won the food-grade oats award and was then crowned the overall winner.
Tirlán chair John Murphy said: “It is always a pleasure to recognise the growers who are delivering excellent-quality [grain] year after year.
"The winners announced today reflect the high standards that exist right across our grower base. Our growers delivered outstanding crops and demonstrated remarkable professionalism throughout a highly concentrated harvest window.
“As Ireland’s largest buyer of native grains, Tirlán remains fully committed to supporting farm families and maximising the value of Irish-grown crops.”
Head of grains at Tirlán Michael Ryan said the co-op continues to focus on innovation in the marketplace and that native grain has strong traceability and clean label attributes.
He said: “Our strategy remains focused on expanding market opportunities and building value from Irish grain, ensuring we can continue offering competitive and sustainable premium crop options into the future.”
Award winners took a tour of Midleton Distillery before the ceremony. Tirlán owns half of the Malting Company of Ireland, which supplies malting barley to Irish Distillers Limited, which owns Midleton Distillery.
Speaking at the awards, CEO of the Malting Company of Ireland Paul McGillicuddy commented: “Irish malting barley - grown to the highest standards by farmers like those honoured at the awards - is the backbone of our world-class brewing and distilling industries.
“Demand for premium Irish whiskey and Irish-crafted beers continues to grow globally and with that comes a significant opportunity for our native grain sector.”
Tirlán grain award winners for 2025
Winter roasting barley - Clive and Lynn Bayley, Coolraine, Co Carlow.Malting barley - John and Colette Hosford, Rathcormac, Co Cork.Premium spring barley - Roy and Frieda Coyle; Robert and Nancy Coyle, Moone, Co Kildare.Green feed barley - Kieran and Maureen O'Neill, Dungarvan, Co Waterford.Dried feed grain - Gary Pearson, Rathangan, Co Kildare.Seed barley - Eugene and Eimear Ryan, Portlaoise, Co Laois.Green feed wheat - Seamus and Caroline Grace, Ballyhale, Co Kilkenny.Seed wheat - Padraig and Anna-Leigh Kehoe, Enniscorthy, Co Wexford.Food grade oats - Bobby and Denise Miller, Stradbally, Co Laois.Green feed oats - Martin and Breda McDonald, Clonroche, Co Wexford.Green feed beans - Declan Heaney, Navan, Co Meath.Green oilseed rape - Ger and Niamh Leahy, Cahir, Co Tipperary.
Bobby Miller has been announced as the overall winner of the Tirlán Grain Quality Awards.
The announcement was made at an awards ceremony in Cork on Tuesday 10 February.
Miller, from Co Laois, won the food-grade oats award and was then crowned the overall winner.
Tirlán chair John Murphy said: “It is always a pleasure to recognise the growers who are delivering excellent-quality [grain] year after year.
"The winners announced today reflect the high standards that exist right across our grower base. Our growers delivered outstanding crops and demonstrated remarkable professionalism throughout a highly concentrated harvest window.
“As Ireland’s largest buyer of native grains, Tirlán remains fully committed to supporting farm families and maximising the value of Irish-grown crops.”
Head of grains at Tirlán Michael Ryan said the co-op continues to focus on innovation in the marketplace and that native grain has strong traceability and clean label attributes.
He said: “Our strategy remains focused on expanding market opportunities and building value from Irish grain, ensuring we can continue offering competitive and sustainable premium crop options into the future.”
Award winners took a tour of Midleton Distillery before the ceremony. Tirlán owns half of the Malting Company of Ireland, which supplies malting barley to Irish Distillers Limited, which owns Midleton Distillery.
Speaking at the awards, CEO of the Malting Company of Ireland Paul McGillicuddy commented: “Irish malting barley - grown to the highest standards by farmers like those honoured at the awards - is the backbone of our world-class brewing and distilling industries.
“Demand for premium Irish whiskey and Irish-crafted beers continues to grow globally and with that comes a significant opportunity for our native grain sector.”
Tirlán grain award winners for 2025
Winter roasting barley - Clive and Lynn Bayley, Coolraine, Co Carlow.Malting barley - John and Colette Hosford, Rathcormac, Co Cork.Premium spring barley - Roy and Frieda Coyle; Robert and Nancy Coyle, Moone, Co Kildare.Green feed barley - Kieran and Maureen O'Neill, Dungarvan, Co Waterford.Dried feed grain - Gary Pearson, Rathangan, Co Kildare.Seed barley - Eugene and Eimear Ryan, Portlaoise, Co Laois.Green feed wheat - Seamus and Caroline Grace, Ballyhale, Co Kilkenny.Seed wheat - Padraig and Anna-Leigh Kehoe, Enniscorthy, Co Wexford.Food grade oats - Bobby and Denise Miller, Stradbally, Co Laois.Green feed oats - Martin and Breda McDonald, Clonroche, Co Wexford.Green feed beans - Declan Heaney, Navan, Co Meath.Green oilseed rape - Ger and Niamh Leahy, Cahir, Co Tipperary. 
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