John and Maria Walsh with their son, Brendan, are currently milking 110 cows and supplying Dairygold Co-op, but have plans for further on-farm development.

Like with all successful family dairy enterprises, there is plenty of help in the background to keep the farm and facilities spotless, with other family members, Helena, Clare, Ann, Maria and Andrew Myles, all helping in various ways on this south Tipperary farm.

Like with all successful family dairy enterprises, there is plenty of help in the background

The annual awards recognise excellence in milk quality.

Last year’s winner were Glanbia suppliers Tom Walsh and family from near Dungarvan, Co Waterford.

Previous to that were Carbery suppliers Kieran and Cathal O’Sullivan, from Goleen in west Cork.

The joint overall runners-up this year were Ger Doyle and family, from Owning in Co Kilkenny, and Michael and Marguerite Crowley, from Skibbereen in west Cork.

The winners were announced in Dublin on Wednesday, 4 October, with presentations to 14 of Ireland’s top dairy farms by Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed.

Winners John and Maria Walsh were accompanied by their family, receiving a prize of €5,000 and the coveted NDC and Kerrygold Quality Milk Awards perpetual cup.

High quality

Zoe Kavanagh, CEO of NDC, said: “Our work in the NDC is really made possible because of the high quality of Irish milk and dairy produce available to consumers here, produced from top-quality farms, off grassland.”

The farmers who are nominated for the NDC and Kerrygold Quality Milk Awards represent milk pools of hundreds or sometimes even thousands of dairy farmers in their own co-ops.

It is a serious short-listing process for the three judges, Professor Pat Wall from UCD, Dr David Gleeson from Teagasc and Dr Jack Kennedy from the Irish Farmers Journal.

This year the competition organisers introduced Irish chef Clodagh McKenna as the food ambassador, celebrating the delicious taste and quality of Irish dairy produce both at home and abroad.

Dedication

At the awards ceremony, Dr David Gleeson from Teagasc spoke on behalf of the national judging panel and thanked the farmers and co-ops for participating in the awards.

“When we visit the short-listed farms we see first hand the genuine pride of Irish farmers. What stands out is dedication to doing things right.”

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