Kerry native William Dennehy was named the overall winner of the inaugural Teagasc FBD Environmental Sustainability Award for 2026.

The dairy farmer from Currow, Co Kerry, supplies Kinisla and took home the top prize at the ceremony in Co Laois on Thursday night. According to the judges, Dennehy’s farm demonstrates how productivity, profitability and environmental sustainability can work together.

He also picked up the category award for improving water quality.

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With a spring-calving herd, the farm produced 497 kgs of milk solids per cow in 2025 from a predominantly grazed-grass diet, with strong breeding performance and an EBI of €156.

Over 55% of the milking platform is carrying clover and 98% of nitrogen applied is protected urea.

Located along the Brown Flesk River, Dennehy has worked with ASSAP to identify water-quality risks and introduced riparian buffers, hedgerows and a reedbed.

According to Professor Frank O’Mara, director of Teagasc, the awards celebrate of the progress of farmers to improve environmental sustainability while continuing to produce high quality, nutritious food, in a profitable manner.

“These farmers are an inspiration to all farmers in their local area to continue to adopt the key technologies that will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve water quality and enhance biodiversity," he said.

"Teagasc will continue to support the farming community through an extensive research programme in the area, our advisory service and education programmes."

Commitment to progress

Michael Berkery, chairman of FBD Trust, congratulated this year’s winners and finalists at the event in the Heritage Hotel, Co Laois, by acknowledging their commitment to delivering real progress in areas such as water quality, soil health and biodiversity.

“These awards provide an important opportunity to recognise those achievements and to showcase examples of how environmental sustainability can be successfully integrated into profitable farm businesses,” he said.

Category winners

  • Reducing greenhouse gas emissions: Aileen Sheehan and Philip O’Leary.
  • Enhancing biodiversity: Peter and Thomas O’Hanrahan.
  • Improving water quality: William Dennehy.
  • Improving soil health: Matt Hennessey.
  • Farming with innovation: Alan McCann.

    • Watch the full interview with William here: