The awards celebrate the excellent contribution made by dairy farmers to produce safe, nutritious and high-quality milk, which is enjoyed by consumers in Ireland and across the world.

The current winners, the Ryan family from Tipperary, recently held an open day on their farm, where they welcomed visitors from all over the country.

This year, the nominees from each co-op have been narrowed down to a short list of 12 families.

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The representative families are:

  • Arratipp Co-op – Breen Farm, Gorteen, Co Tipperary.
  • Aurivo Co-op – Kelly Farm, Ballyarrell, Co Donegal.
  • Bandon Co-op – Kelleher Farm, Tullyland, Co Cork.
  • Barryroe Co-op – Kirby Farm, Ballinascarthy, Co Cork.
  • Centenary Thurles Co-op – Campion Farm, Graigue, Co Tipperary.
  • Dairygold Co-op – Carroll Farm, Coolrus, Co Limerick.
  • Drinagh Co-op – O’Donoghue Farm, Maulatrahane, Co Cork.
  • Kinisla – Troy Farm, Newtownshandrum, Co Cork.
  • Lakeland Dairies – Loughrey Farm, Multyfarnham, Co Westmeath.
  • Lisavaird Co-op – Buttimer Farm, Lyre, Co Cork.
  • North Cork Creameries – Dennehy Farm, Kilbrin, Co Cork.
  • Tirlán – Fitzgerald Farm, Portlaw, Co Waterford.

    • The 12 finalist farms have been assessed by an independent judging panel comprising Professor Karina Pierce, dean of agriculture and head of the UCD School of Agriculture and Food Science; Dr David Gleeson, one of Ireland’s leading dairy milk quality specialists; and Professor Patrick Wall, former chief executive of the Food Safety Authority of Ireland and former chair of the European Food Safety Authority.

    Paddy Daly, chair of Centenary Thurles with host farmers Michael, Mary and Tom Ryan.

    All three have visited all of the farms and have the unenviable task of choosing the winners for the award ceremony on 30 September. Speaking on behalf of the judges, Professor Karina Pierce said: “These finalists have already achieved something very special.

    “Each has been selected by their co-operative as the farm to represent its milk suppliers, so the national competition is effectively an all-Ireland contest between the very best dairy farms.

    “What the judges are now looking for is excellence across the entire farming system; exceptional milk quality, healthy animals, environmental responsibility, commercial viability and the ability to act as an ambassador for Irish dairying.

    “The farm that ultimately wins will be one that demonstrates that all of these elements can be successfully combined on a modern family farm.”