Each month, we put the spotlight on a Tirlán employee. For our December newsletter, we caught up with our Site Manager at Ballitore, Aidan Rowan, who’s gearing up for a busy festive season

This month, we sat down with Aidan Rowan, Site Manager at Ballitore, who’s currently ‘in the thick of it’ as he balances a hectic Christmas Cream production schedule along with GAA coaching commitments. Aidan’s story is one of loyalty, to his community, his colleagues and the high standards that define Ballitore’s production excellence.

“I’ve lived all my life in The Swan, Co Laois,” Aidan begins. “It’s a little village of about 500 people with a strong community spirit. We’re on the better side of the Laois-Kilkenny border, located almost halfway between the Ballyragget and Ballitore sites. It’s a village where almost everyone still knows all their neighbours and has been a great environment to raise a family.” That sense of belonging has influenced his approach to leadership and collaboration.
Aidan joined Tirlán, then Glanbia, in February 2013. “I started in the Whey Plant as Shift Manager, then moved into Process Manager and Production Manager roles over the next 10 years,” he explains. “After that, I spent six really interesting months in Business Excellence covering Portlaoise and Clonroche Agri sites, along with Thomas Street, before moving to Ballitore as Production Manager in 2024.” Just two months ago, Aidan stepped up to Site Manager. “It’s rewarding, challenging, interesting and fun, all at the same time!” Before Tirlán, Aidan spent 12 years with the Lagan Group in The Swan, first as a fitter and then as Production Manager. “So I’ve spent the best part of 25 years working with just two companies.”

Despite Ballitore having close to 100 employees, Aidan says the site feels like a much smaller and close-knit team. “There’s a real willingness across the team to help each other and a real drive to hit the numbers every day. Motivation isn’t usually needed because the process is so target-driven, everyone knows what we’re trying to achieve.” Clear measures like OEE and service level keep everyone focused and there’s room for plenty of good-natured banter on the floor. “I had a few testing days earlier this year when Kildare hurlers beat Laois!” he laughs.

Two standout moments for Aidan highlight the team’s spirit. “One was a visit from The Lalor Centre in Baltinglass where 20 people came to the site for a chat and a look at what we do. It was great to meet people who have far bigger challenges in their lives than ourselves and to give them a day out and a bit of fun.” The second was Ballitore’s first off-site training day at the Clanard Hotel in Athy.

“Ballitore never shuts down, so getting large groups together for training is very difficult to co-ordinate. Earlier this summer we made a big leap forward, when over 50 people attended our training day at the weekend, and the engagement was fantastic.”

When it comes to the famous Christmas Cream process, Aidan lights up. “It’s relatively straightforward, we pasteurise and separate cream from milk, add a few magic ingredients, then flavour, whip and package. A typical week sees us produce about 40,000 units, but in December we ramp up to 24/7 production and fill up to 220,000 units per week.” And that’s alongside keeping milk on shelves, 900,000 two-litre units and over a half million smaller cartons. “It’s a really busy month, but you see the very best of Ballitore and its employees in that time.”

Preparation for this starts in late October and early November. “We work with Commercial, Planning, Maintenance and Supply Chain on everything from simple items like the ordering of pallets to flavours, packaging and of course, people. Making sure we’ve enough people and that the workload is fairly shared is a big focus. And we always need a plan for abnormalities such as weather events. Storm Eoghan last year knocked us out for 26 hours and proved to be really challenging.” By the 29th of December, the Christmas campaign winds down, but milk volumes stay steady. “It doesn’t ever feel like we’ve finished, it’s more like going back to the normal day job straight after Christmas.”

Managing such a high-profile seasonal process is something Aidan genuinely enjoys. “It’s rewarding to see people take on the challenge of Christmas Cream each year. You see the pride and willingness to hit those numbers and make top-class products that will sit on most people’s dinner tables over the festive season. Our Brandy, Baileys and Belgian Chocolate flavoured whipped creams, apart from tasting fantastic, are such a key component for the profitability of Ballitore. It’s great to see the shelves filled with them as we approach Christmas.”

Outside of work, Aidan usually heads for the nearest pitch. “I’m fanatical about sports and have worn the ‘Bainisteoir’ bib on every sideline up and down Laois and surrounding counties for at least 15 years, mostly with Ladies Gaelic Football teams. I’m definitely over-competitive and I love the buzz of winning.” Sport is a huge part of his family life and Aidan finds it incredibly rewarding to see young players grow and develop in both skill and personality. When he’s not on the pitch, he’s usually found reading. “I’m an avid reader, especially history, and get through a book or two most weeks on the Kindle, mostly between midnight and 3am!”

As the festive season approaches, Aidan’s leadership and the dedication of the Ballitore team ensure that every dollop of cream and every carton of milk reaches tables across the country, making Christmas just that little bit sweeter.

Everyone who attended Brent Pope’s inspiring session left with something valuable to reflect on

As part of our ongoing OurWellbeing Programme, we recently welcomed rugby legend and mental health advocate Brent Pope for a special workshop, “Let’s Talk Mental Health.” Held on November 24th and streamed live from the AQ Atrium, the event drew over 650 participants, including employees, council members and farmer shareholders both in person and online.

A Commitment to Wellbeing

Michael O’Leary, Chief People D&I & Org Development Officer, kicked off the session by reaffirming Tirlán’s dedication to supporting mental wellbeing for everyone in our community. He highlighted key initiatives from the past year, such as the launch of our Wellbeing Programme, the relaunch of the Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) and the introduction of new Mental Health and Hybrid Working Policies. Michael also celebrated the fundraising efforts for our charity partner, Aware,

Brent Pope’s Powerful Message

Brent Pope captivated the audience with personal stories from his rugby career and his journey with anxiety. He challenged us to treat mental health with the same importance as physical health, asking, “Have you done anything specific for your mental health?” Brent’s honest reflections touched on topics like suicide, loneliness, psychological safety, and the importance of vulnerability. His message – mental health affects one in three of us each year and it’s vital to start the conversation early – especially with young people. He encouraged everyone to build a personal mental wellbeing toolbox and dedicate time to it daily, just as we do for physical health.

Looking Ahead

Karen O’Brien, Head of People Experience, wrapped up the session with a lively Q&A. Feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with many saying they could have listened to Brent for hours. Everyone left with something valuable to reflect on. Our commitment to mental wellbeing continues into 2026. We’re launching Mental Health First Aid in the new year and are seeking a representative from each site to join.

Get festive and give back by hosting a Christmas Jumper day for Aware

This December, we’re inviting every Tirlán hub, site and branch (where possible) to join the fun and host a Christmas Jumper Day in aid of Aware! Pick a day that suits your team, wear your brightest festive jumpers and consider adding a cake sale or lunchtime gathering to spread the cheer.

Snap some photos of your celebrations and share them on Viva Engage with #ChristmasAtTirlan. The best Christmas festivities photo posted before December 19th will win a €50 One4All voucher, so get creative!

A host of graduates successfully marked the end of their studies with Tirlán recently

Twenty-one Tirlán members proudly graduated as the inaugural class from the Tirlán Governance Academy, having completed the Certificate in Co-op Governance & Professional Development in University College Cork (UCC). This milestone marks a significant step in building a vibrant, knowledgeable and diverse farmer representative structure for the future of the Co-op.

Twenty more Tirlán farmers proudly graduated as the third group of family farm suppliers from the Tirlán and Baileys Sustainable Farming Academy.

The 2025 graduates completed their Diploma in Environment, Sustainability and Climate from University College Cork (UCC), following a year-long programme to equip them with essential skills and knowledge to further enhance sustainable farming practices. Congratulations to all involved.

Another year of meaningful progress toward pay equity

We’re proud to share the results of our 2025 Gender Pay Gap Report, reflecting another year of meaningful progress toward pay equity at Tirlán.

Key Highlights:

• Mean Gender Pay Gap: 4.5% – a reduction of 4 percentage points since 2024
• Median Gender Pay Gap: -0.4% – a 6.7 percentage point improvement on last year

These results position us close to the national benchmark and among the top performers in our sector. While Ireland’s average gap is now 3.5%, many private-sector organisations still report figures exceeding 30%. Against this backdrop, our progress is significant, but we know there’s more to do.

Building an Inclusive Future

We continue to evolve as a diverse and inclusive organisation. Our ambition is to be at the forefront of sustainable dairy and grains and to foster a workplace where everyone can thrive.

Our systematic approach – gender-neutral job descriptions, mixed-gender interview panels and slates and transparent hybrid working policies – has driven consistent improvement since reporting began in 2022. In 2025, we reaffirmed our commitment to DE&I and hybrid working by introducing new policies and increasing female hires across all pay quartiles (with a focus on further action in the lower middle quartile).

We’re shaping a culture that celebrates difference, through how we attract and retain talent, our education and training programs, psychological safety, coaching and mentorship initiatives and visible role models. Female representation at executive level is tracked monthly, with targeted actions and sponsorship to drive progress.

Sustained Momentum

We are heartened to see positive progress year on year. Our commitment remains strong – to embed inclusion and equity into every aspect of our business and to keep moving forward as a future-focused co-operative. Thank you for your continued commitment to building a truly inclusive workplace.