Francis Derwin wins the 2024 GAIN/Alltech National Grand Prix League 

The 2024 GAIN/Alltech National Grand Prix League concluded last weekend at the Irish Breeders Classic in Barnadown Equestrian Centre, Gorey, Co Wexford. The season-long competition, which spanned from April to September, featured 20 individual legs, showcasing the very best of Irish show jumping talent.

Following a fiercely competitive league, Francis Derwin claimed victory, while Team GAIN rider Vincent Byrne secured second place in the overall standings and Katie McEntee earned a well-deserved third place. Their consistent performances throughout the season demonstrated the high level of skill and determination that this league demands.

Each leg offered a minimum prize fund of €4,000, drawing top riders from across the country to compete at the highest level. GAIN Equine Nutrition is proud to support such a prestigious league in the Irish show jumping calendar, which has successfully launched the careers of many of our top national and international riders and horses.

We’re giving back to the community with two great events

At Tirlán, we’re committed to giving back to our communities as part of our Living Proof sustainability strategy. Our partnership with mental health charity, Aware, is Living Proof in action.

This year, we’re excited to remind you all about two great events that will challenge the limits of endurance and raise funds for a great cause – the Tour de Tirlán and the Tirlán Mountain Challenge. If you’re interested in participating in either events, registration is open! Register soon to secure your spot!

Tour de Tirlán
The charity cycle will take place on Friday, September 6th. Tour de Tirlán is a one-day event comprising of four distances – 45km, 95km, 136km, and 201km.

Participants will pedal their way through some of the most scenic routes our region has to offer, all while supporting a number of worthy charities. Whether you’re a seasoned cyclist or a weekend enthusiast, this event promises to be a fun, fulfilling experience for a noble cause. More information here…

Tirlán Mountain Challenge
Our charity hike will take place in Connemara National Park in County Galway over two days on Friday 11th and Saturday 12th of October.

The Tirlán Mountain Challenge invites adventurers to scale new heights. This hiking and climbing event will test your mettle as you explore the mountains of the Connemara National Park. It’s a chance to push your boundaries, enjoy the great outdoors and will raise funds for our charity partner, Aware. More information here…

Find out more:

Both events are not just about physical challenges; they’re about coming together as a community, learning from each other, and making a difference. If you are interested in getting involved in fundraising activities at Tirlán please get in touch at employeecomms@tirlan.ie

Each month, we put the spotlight on a Tirlán employee and for our August newsletter, we’re talking to Lisa O’Rourke, Employee Communication Specialist

As a native of Castlecomer, Co. Kilkenny, I joined Tirlán’s HR team as an Employee Communication Specialist at the start of this year. I have learned a lot since joining the team, not only about Tirlán itself, but also about the significant role employee communications can play in promoting a positive workplace.

Leveraging my degree in Marketing, I enjoy the creative challenges of my role. These include delivering messaging across all of our digital and in-person communication channels. I’m proud of my work which can be viewed across our digital screens, on sites, in employee email bulletins, on our Tirlán Intranet or occasionally through our internal social media platform, Viva Engage.

Each day at Tirlán offers me a new opportunity to develop communications which will resonate with our people, whether that’s to inform, a call to action, or a nudge to engage in a conversation and learn more about a specific topic or initiative. I’d consider myself as someone who thrives in a sociable environment. I value the opportunity to collaborate with others across roles, teams, sites and countries! No two communications projects are the same and I love the opportunity to contribute across a broad range of initiatives, helping to bring them to life for our employees.

It is important to me that our communications are impactful, and whilst all news is not necessarily good news, I still feel our team can make a positive impact by promoting trusted, transparent and authentic communications – all the while promoting a positive outlook.

Following the warm reception I’ve experienced since joining the Tirlán team these past few months, I am filled with gratitude and enthusiasm for the role I can play in connecting people through inclusive communications across our business.

As if starting a new job this year wasn’t enough, I have also been selected to represent Kilkenny in the Rose of Tralee festival and fulfilling the role of Kilkenny Rose for a two-year period.

Since that momentous night when I became the Kilkenny Rose, it’s been a non-stop stream of events, ranging from charity functions and social gatherings to promotional activities for the festival. A particularly proud moment for me was the honour of serving as the Relay for Life Kilkenny ambassador for 2024, supporting the Irish Cancer Society – a cause deeply personal to me and my family.

My decision to participate in the Rose of Tralee comes from the immense pride I have for my home county of Kilkenny, for the values our communities uphold, and for the chance to honour my family’s unwavering support for me in such an impactful way. People have asked me how I feel about the exposure that goes with the role and whether I’m daunted by standing on such a public stage. But, as someone who has participated in musicals and pantos in Kilkenny from a very young age, I’m no stranger to the stage!

Tirlán’s Kilkenny credentials are well known and the encouragement and support I have received from my Tirlán colleagues means the world to me and I will be forever grateful.

A visit to Abbey Quarter gave Apple Foods the chance to experience the expertise and dedication of the Tirlán team

On July 11th, a significant event took place when the GM and CEO of Apple Foods led a delegation of six Key Account (KA) customers to visit Abbey Quarter. Apple Foods are our largest UHT Whipping Cream customer. Tirlán’s UHT cream business with Apple has grown to over 8m litres within five years. Avonmore now ranks Top 3 in the imported UHT cream category in China. The visit was marked by a presentation from Nicola O’Connell and Niamh Parlon, who provided valuable insights into the company’s development and current business situation.

The Apple Foods team, consisting of eight members, were warmly received by Seán Molloy and Jim O’Neill in the Customer Experience room. During this meeting, the customers had the opportunity to offer personalised suggestions for the products and Jim O’Neill expressed his gratitude for Apple Food’s ongoing support.

Special thanks were extended to Niamh Parlon, Joseph Roche and Nicola Miller for their robust support and assistance throughout the customer visit. The visit also included a tour of the Innovation Centre, where Michelle Collins and her team gave an introduction to the centre’s research and development capabilities and direction.

Additionally, the group visited the Ballyragget – Butter & Cheddar Factory, showcasing the strength of Tirlán’s capabilities across various functions such as quality, operations, supply chain and R&D. The visit was a testament to the collaborative efforts and the multifunctional prowess within Tirlán. They also visited the McDonnell Farm in Knockbridge, Co Louth (Gordon Grey, Neville Leary and Anna Tully) and the Lough Egish UHT facility (Sean O’Brien) on July 9th.

The visit was a success, thanks to the concerted efforts of all the team members who supported the event.

This visit not only strengthened the relationship between Apple Foods and its key supply partner, but also highlighted Tirlán’s commitment to innovation, quality and customer-centric approaches. It was an excellent opportunity for key stakeholders to witness first-hand the expertise and dedication that goes into Tirlán’s operations and product development.