Celebrating Innovation and Excellence
Celebrating Innovation and Excellence
Projects in our Excellence Showcase highlight Tirlán’s culture of operational excellence
Our fourth annual Excellence Showcase was held in the Abbey Quarter Collaborative Hub, featuring 24 finalist projects across seven award categories. The event, hosted by the Operations and Supply Chain Excellence Team and the Irish Centre of Business Excellence, allowed finalists to present their projects and engage with attendees. Each project represents a commitment to continuous improvement and innovation within Tirlán.
This year’s event was program managed by Ciarán Heffernan from the Business Excellence Team. Ciarán had this to say at the event: “We received close to 90 submissions for this year and a careful scoring process selected the 24 finalists you see here today. It’s never easy – there are always outstanding projects that don’t make the final cut but are equally exceptional. So, I want to say a heartfelt thank you to everyone who submitted a project this year – shortlisted or not. Without your effort and innovation, none of this would be possible.”
Event Highlights
Michael Phelan, Head of Operations & Supply Chain Excellence, captured the spirit of the day. “The vision for the showcase is to help bring to life the expectation that continuous improvement isn’t extra to the day job. It is the day job… My hope is that you are inspired by the people, projects and engagement here today. And just a little more curious. No matter what your role as to how you can play a more active part in the year ahead.”
An additional feature this year was the Customer and Product Showcase which brought to life stories of customer impact and innovation. The culinary offerings went down a treat by all those in attendance.
Members of the Council were also invited this year. On entry, Business Excellence Manager Will O’Carroll welcomed members of the Board and Council, set out the context of the day and highlighted the involvement of the milk and grain quality award winners as well as emphasizing the impact of the projects on the competitiveness of the Co-Op.
Recognition and Awards
The showcase featured a rigorous judging process to select the seven category winners, while attendees participated in real-time voting for the three People’s Choice Awards via QR code.
Category Winners
- Academy & Best Use of Lean Tools: Optimisation of Mixing Process – Nahir Hurtado, Anna Zuziak-Janoszek, Matt Roche, Suraj Aithal Kota and Ciaran Mooney
- COVI: HVO Power Generation – Martin Gorman, Saleem Mustafa, Conor Donohue and Pat Bolger
- Problem Solving: Rennet Casein Moisture Improvement – Pádraig McDonald, Nithin Santosh, Aonghus Barry, Paul Hickey, Richard Boland and Rennet Casein Plant Operators
- Customer Impact: Transforming Science to Value – Mahsa Naghshineh, Aoife Joyce, Keith Cooney, Kate Lennon, Caoimhe O’Mahony, Katriona Walsh, Leanne Dunne, Patrick O’Mara, Grace Harris, Rebecca Barron and Emily Mulhall
- Strategy: Milk Solids Programme – Brian Harte, Philip McCabe, Paddy Dempsey, Paul Duggan & Lisa Dunphy
- Data-Driven: SAC Powered Warehouse Visibility – Alan Costigan, Billy Brennan, Catherine Cuddihy & Pat Murray
- Sustainability: Farming for Water European Innovation Partnership – Thomas Ryan, Michael Hassett, Matthew Moylan, Hugh Harney, Sean Martyn, Eoin Cahill, Sarah O’Sullivan, Conor Kelly & Ciara Doyle
People’s Choice Awards
- Most Impactful: Belview Yogurt Functionality – Seamus Maher, Eamonn Power, Tom Ryan, Liam O’Brien, Mustafa Ghulam, Ciarán Heffernan, Roisin O’Sullivan, Alicia Delahunty, Paul James and Ronan Sills
- Most Collaborative: Lough Egish Direct to Trailor – Eoin Murphy, Connie Murphy, Brendan Carbin, Trevor Jordan, Sean O’Brien, Lisa Stewart, Brendan Quinn & Brian Costigan
- Most Inspiring: Project Unmasked – Aoife Harte, Padraig McDonald, Eoghan Brophy & Catriona Twomey
Leadership Reflections
CEO Seán Molloy expressed pride in the achievements on display and the unique culture at Tirlán. “There is a unique culture here – a unique drive and ambition to be the best co-op in the world. The quality of the people, the energy, the enthusiasm, the drive, the ambition – it’s inspiring. I hope everyone leaves today with a deeper understanding of the complexity of our business and the calibre of our people.”
Chairman John Murphy echoed these sentiments, highlighting the company’s ambition and the importance of sharing its story: “The quality of the people, the quality of the products, the quality of our offering – it’s amazing. We need to get better at selling ourselves and sharing the incredible work happening across the business.”
Looking Ahead
The Excellence Showcase was a display of the innovation and teamwork that are thriving at Tirlán. With fresh ideas, growing capabilities, and a culture of continuous improvement, we’re ready to achieve even more together in the year ahead. Thank you to everyone involved in making the day a massive success.
Let’s Talk Mental Health
Let’s Talk Mental Health
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.
Interested? Email Karen O’Brien to get involved
Thank you to everyone who attended and contributed. Let’s keep the conversation going – if you have questions or ideas, we’d love to hear from you!
Host a Christmas Jumper Day in aid of Aware
Host a Christmas Jumper Day in aid of Aware
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!
Donate & Win
Use the iDonate link below to collect donations – every euro helps support mental health. Support Christmas Giving at Tirlán 2025 on iDonate.ie.
Thank you for your ongoing support for our Charity Partner, Aware. Together, we’ve raised over €70,000 this year. Let’s see if we can reach €75,000 by the end of the month!
The Future is Bright
The Future is Bright
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.
Watch our video here
Investing in Our Future
Investing in Our Future
A €126m Whey Protein Facility is in the works at Ballyragget
We’re excited to announce a major milestone for Tirlán – plans are underway for a €126 million investment in a state-of-the-art whey processing facility at our Ballyragget site in Kilkenny.
This significant commitment marks the next step in our value-add journey, empowering us to expand our whey processing and product innovation capabilities right here at home. The new facility will focus on producing an advanced nutritional whey protein portfolio, including clear whey protein, an increasingly popular choice among lifestyle consumers.
Designed with sustainability in mind, the new Ballyragget facility will be water neutral and carbon efficient, supporting our environmental goals and our reputation as a responsible co-operative. We expect the facility to be operational by mid-2027.
This investment is a testament to our ambition, innovation and dedication to building a brighter future for Tirlán and our communities. Thank you to everyone whose hard work and commitment make progress like this possible.
Get Festive and Win!
Get Festive and Win!
Mooju is giving five lucky winners the chance to win a special Christmas Jumper
Looking to add some festive flair to your wardrobe this season? The Mooju team is bringing holiday spirit to Tirlán by launching an exclusive Christmas jumper, perfect for making everyone jealous at your site’s Christmas Jumper Day or any seasonal gathering!
To help spread the cheer, we’re giving away five Mooju Christmas jumpers to our colleagues across all hubs, sites and branches. It’s a fun way to brighten up your team’s Christmas celebrations, whether you’re gathering in person, catching up virtually or just enjoying a festive coffee break.
Want to win? Simply answer this question via the form below:
Name one of Santa’s reindeers!
Entries close Thursday, 11th December. Winners will be announced on Viva Engage, so keep an eye out and get ready to show off your Mooju style. Let’s make this Christmas extra special together. Good luck, and Happy Christmas from Mooju and the Overherd team!
Gender Pay Gap Progress
Gender Pay Gap Progress
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.