Our Excellence Showcase is set to return on 27 November

On Thursday, 27 November, the Operations and Supply Chain Excellence team will host the fourth annual Excellence Showcase at Abbey Quarter. This event has become an important date in the Tirlán calendar, celebrating excellence across our organisation and providing a platform for recognition, knowledge sharing and inspiration.

The Excellence team has been blown away by the number and quality of submissions this year, reflecting the depth of Continuous Improvement initiatives happening across Tirlán. Speaking to Overheard, Will O’Carroll, Business Excellence Manager, said: “I am humbled by the quality of submissions for this year’s Showcase. The shortlisting process was exceptionally difficult and emerging from it, we have 24 truly exceptional projects that deserve to be celebrated. Their collective impact on our organisation is immeasurable – they enable us to remain competitive and future-focused. On behalf of the Excellence team, I look forward to inviting colleagues from across Tirlán to hear from the project teams themselves on their remarkable work.”

Award Categories

The 24 finalists represent seven categories:

• Academy & Best Use of Lean Tools
• COVA
• Problem Solving
• Strategy
• Customer Impact
• Data Driven
• Sustainability

Winners will be announced for each category, along with People’s Choice Awards for Most Inspiring, Most Impactful and Most Collaborative projects – voted by attendees on the day.

Tirlán’s Charity Cheque Handover event highlighted the power of community spirit

The Tirlán Mountain Challenge and Tour de Tirlán committee members gathered at Abbey Quarter for a heartwarming occasion: the handover of €130,000 to three remarkable charities – The Father McGrath Centre, Amber Women’s Refuge and our charity partner Aware. This impressive sum was raised through the collective efforts of our people who took part and supported the Tirlán Mountain Challenge (June) and Tour de Tirlán (September), reflecting the power of teamwork and community spirit.

Representatives from each charity joined us at the end of October to collect their cheques and share how these donations will make a difference:

• Amber Women’s Refuge: Ken Byrne described the donation as “a gift,” enabling the centre to provide vital services to women and children in Kilkenny and Carlow. Last year’s fundraising allowed for 276 free counselling sessions for 74 women. This year, the funds will help build a new playground and sensory garden for children at the refuge, offering a safe and nurturing space for those fleeing violence and abuse.
• Aware: Drew Flood highlighted the urgent need for mental health support, noting that depression is projected to be the leading cause of disease burden globally by 2030. Tirlán’s donations have already funded over 6,000 support line calls, covering three months of helpline services. This year’s contribution will help Aware continue to reach and support even more people across Ireland, ensuring no one faces depression alone.
• Father McGrath Centre: Mike Kelly and team shared how the Centre has evolved from tackling early school leaving to offering a wide range of community supports, including educational programmes, childcare training and addiction recovery initiatives. The funds will help expand their sensory room for children from traumatised backgrounds and support scholarships for young leaders. Last year’s donation enabled youth leaders to participate in an international exchange, described as “life-altering” by those who attended.

The main message from all three charities was one of deep gratitude for Tirlán employees’ support. The stories shared at the event brought home just how much impact our fundraising efforts have, locally, nationally and internationally. It’s a testament to the commitment of our values.

Pictured at the 2025 National Age Friendly Recognition and Achievement Awards were CEO of Galway Chamber Karen Ronan who presented the award to Olivia Treacy, Eimear Lynam and Fergus Holohan at Tirlán, who received the Age Friendly Business Innovation Award (sponsored by Chambers Ireland). The winners were announced at the ninth annual ceremony in Galway, organised by Age Friendly Ireland, the national organisation implementing the Government’s vision of an Age Friendly Ireland
Image: Andrew Downes

Our win is a testament to the hard work and care by our Age Friendly Champions

Thanks to incredible teamwork across retail, operations, training and customer engagement, Tirlán was recently announced as the winner in the Age Friendly Business Innovation category at the National Age Friendly Awards 2025.

Over 40 Age Friendly Champions drove change through introducing better accessibility, clearer signage and tailored in-store supports. Monasterevin proudly showcased these efforts during the Age Friendly judges’ visit, representing all branches.

By year-end, all 52 stores will be Age Friendly certified, marking a major milestone in customer-centric progress. “This award is a testament to hard work, care and belief in making a meaningful impact for our farmers, customers and communities, enhancing the experience for all,” said Olivia Treacy, Supplier and Customer Engagement Manager.

This month we caught up with our R&D Manager for Fresh Milk & Cream, Una Flanagan, whose story at Tirlán has been shaped by courage and passion

This month, we sat down with Úna Flanagan, R&D Manager for Fresh Milk & Cream at Tirlán, whose journey from Cork to Ballyragget has been shaped by both personal resilience and professional passion. Una’s story is one of dedication, to her family, her team and the ever-evolving world of dairy innovation.

Originally from Cork, Úna moved to Ballyragget, Co. Kilkenny in 2006, a decision inspired by her late husband, whose roots were firmly planted in the area. Úna shares that her husband’s passing five years ago is a significant chapter in her life’s journey. Throughout everything, Úna has drawn resilience from her son, Seán, their two dogs and the unwavering support of the Tirlán community: “They’ve truly been a source of strength and comfort over the years.”

With a background in food science and technology from UCC and a farming upbringing, Una’s path into Research and Development felt natural. “Food was always a part of life growing up,” she says. Over 25 years in R&D, Úna has witnessed and driven remarkable change. “You see trends that were in their early stages 10 years ago and now they’re mainstream. The industry has changed and evolved so much.”

One trend that stands out is the rise of protein-rich products. “When we launched our protein milk range in 2014, protein was just for elite athletes. Now, it’s for everyone, people of all ages and life stages. It’s amazing to see how one nutrient can impact so many.”

Since joining Tirlán in 2006, Una’s roles have spanned from soups and sauces to leading the value-added milk team. “There isn’t a product in our milk and cream range that I haven’t worked on in the last 18 or 19 years,” she says with pride. For Una, the real reward comes in those everyday moments: “When you go into the supermarket and see all the products on the shelf, you think, ‘I’ve worked on every single one of them.’ That’s always a proud moment.”

Among her favourite achievements are the protein milk products, which have grown and diversified each year. “From our first launch in 2014 to our coffee protein milk this year, it’s been a journey of continuous innovation and adding value to the business.”

R&D at Tirlán is a team sport. “We work with every department across the business from quality, operations, customer service, sales & marketing,  production operators and supply chain. There’s a lot of knowledge sharing and collaboration,” Úna explains. Whether it’s troubleshooting with technical support challenges or brainstorming with colleagues, Úna emphasises the importance of teamwork: “You might know something that someone else doesn’t, so we’re always sharing and learning from each other.”
As for the future, Úna sees healthy ageing and gut health as key trends. “We’re always looking for ingredients and technologies that can add value to our product portfolio.

Consumer awareness is growing, but so are the challenges, especially with the influence of social media and evolving regulations around processed foods.”

Outside of work, Úna’s life is just as dynamic. With her son’s passion for mountain biking, she’s found herself hitting the trails with him, sometimes outside her comfort zone, but always embracing new experiences. “It’s all about getting more confident. I’m doing things now I probably never would have done before.”

Through her commitment to innovation, collaboration and personal growth, Úna continues to inspire her team and the wider dairy industry, proving that resilience and passion make a lasting impact.