300 Farmers Attend Open Evening on Our 2026 Dairy & Sustainability Award-Winning Farm

More than 300 of our farmers recently attended an open farm evening hosted by Shane and Kate Fitzgerald, winners of our 2026 Dairy & Sustainability Award and Farming Ambassadors of the Year.

The event gave attendees the opportunity to see first-hand the practices, innovation and commitment that have helped the Fitzgerald family earn recognition for excellence in dairy farming, sustainability and farm management.

Visitors were welcomed to the Fitzgerald family farm, where Shane and Kate shared insights into the highly efficient spring-calving, grass-based system they operate alongside Shane’s father, John. Together, they milk approximately 200 Holstein Friesian cows and continue to focus on improving animal performance, grassland management, sustainability and work-life balance.

Guests also toured the family’s recently developed calf-rearing facility, designed with a strong focus on hygiene, calf health and animal welfare. Shane and Kate spoke about their future plans, including the development of a new milking parlour that will further improve efficiency and support the long-term sustainability of their farm.

Speaking at the event, our Chairperson, Ger O’Brien, highlighted the value of sharing knowledge and learning from one another across our farming community:
“The turnout of 300 farmers highlights the strong interest among our members in learning from one another and seeing best practice in action. Shane and Kate Fitzgerald have demonstrated a clear commitment to continuous improvement and are excellent ambassadors for Irish dairy farming. We are grateful to the Fitzgerald family for opening their farm and sharing their experiences and insights with fellow farmers.”

Following the farm tour and technical presentations, attendees enjoyed a BBQ and artisan ice cream from local company Freezin’ Friesians, providing a great opportunity to connect, share experiences and continue the conversation.

Events like these showcase the strength of our farming community and the willingness of our members to learn from one another as we continue to build a sustainable future together.

Thank you to all our employees who played a role in organising and supporting the event. Your commitment and teamwork helped make it a great success for our members and farming family community.

Tour de Tirlán 2026 – just 5 weeks to go!

The countdown is officially on! With many of us returning from a well-earned summer break, there’s no better time to refocus, reconnect with colleagues and look forward to a great day out together at Tour de Tirlán 2026 on Friday, 11th September.

Whether you’re looking to challenge yourself on two wheels, enjoy a scenic walk with colleagues, or simply support a great cause, Tour de Tirlán offers something for everyone.

This year, we’re aiming to raise an ambitious €100,000 for our three charity partners:

• Aware
• Aiséirí Centre, Ballyragget
• Fr. McGrath Centre, Kilkenny

Every registration, donation and fundraising effort brings us one step closer to our goal and helps these incredible organisations continue the vital work they do in supporting individuals, families and communities across Ireland.

Something for Everyone
This year’s event includes:
🚴 45km Cycle
🚴 100km Cycle
🚴 140km Cycle
🚴 190km Cycle
🚶 NEW! 10km Fun Walk

Our brand-new 10km Fun Walk through Kilkenny City and along the beautiful River Nore is shaping up to be a fantastic addition to the event, providing a fun and social option for those who want to get involved without taking on one of the cycling routes.

Why not gather a team from your site, department or location and make a day of it together? Tour de Tirlán is more than a fundraising event. It’s an opportunity to connect with colleagues, meet people from across the business, enjoy the outdoors and make a real difference while doing it.

Thank You

A huge thank you to everyone who has already signed up, donated, shared fundraising pages, volunteered or encouraged colleagues to take part. Your support and generosity are what make Tour de Tirlán such a special event year after year.

Let’s make these final five weeks count. Together, we can reach our €100,000 fundraising goal, support three amazing charities, and make Tour de Tirlán 2026 our biggest and most impactful event yet.

This month we’re chatting with Malachy Stone, Commercial Associate in the European Sales team

When you speak to Malachy Stone, it’s clear he enjoys being part of a fast-paced environment where no two days are the same. As a Commercial Associate in Tirlán’s European Sales team, Malachy works across Ireland, the UK and wider Europe, supporting customers, building relationships and identifying new opportunities for our products.

Working closely with his manager, Tom Alyward, Malachy manages a portfolio of customer accounts supplied with proteins, oats, cheese and butter, while also focusing on business development throughout Europe. It’s a role that combines commercial thinking, relationship building and collaboration across the business, something that attracted him to Tirlán from the beginning.

Having studied Food & Agribusiness and later Food Business Strategy, Malachy knew he wanted a career in the food industry. Joining Ireland’s largest dairy co-op and one of the country’s leading food businesses felt like the perfect fit. “The Commercial Associate role appealed to me because there was an opportunity to work cross-functionally and deal with people both inside and outside the business,” he says. “I thought that would be beneficial and that no two days would be the same.”

One of the aspects of the role he enjoys most is working with sports nutrition customers, an area that naturally aligns with his own interests. With growing global demand for protein products and Tirlán’s investment in expanding its Whey Plant, Malachy is excited to be part of a business that continues to evolve and grow.

What stands out most to him about life at Tirlán is the people. “The commercial team is very helpful and there’s a huge amount of knowledge across the business,” he says. “Working cross-functionally allows you to see different perspectives, and I also find Tirlán is very supportive of a good work-life balance.”

Alongside his day-to-day role, Malachy has continued to invest in his own development, recently completing his Lean Six Sigma White Belt qualification and progressing through the graduate development programme, achievements he is particularly proud of.

Away from work, many colleagues may already recognise Malachy’s name from the sporting headlines of recent months. A proud Wicklow native, he was part of the Wicklow football team that secured a memorable Tailteann Cup victory at Croke Park.

“It was great to win a national trophy in front of a large Wicklow crowd in Croke Park,” he says. “After a long season that started in November, it was a great way to finish it off. The manner of the victory, coming from behind, made it even more satisfying.”

Balancing inter-county football with a busy commercial role might sound challenging, but Malachy credits the support and flexibility he receives at Tirlán for helping him manage both commitments. “I’m very lucky that my manager, Tom, used to hurl for Kilkenny, so he understands the commitment that’s required and is very accommodating. The hybrid nature of my role also helps, as I’m able to save time commuting and strike a balance between work and sport.”

The lessons learned through sport have also shaped his approach to work. Teamwork, communication, time management and goal setting are all skills he regularly brings from the football field into the workplace.

When he’s not working or training, Malachy enjoys making the most of the outdoors. Hiking and swimming are among his favourite ways to unwind and stay active, particularly when the Wicklow weather cooperates.

Whether he’s developing new customer relationships across Europe, building his expertise through professional development, or representing Wicklow on the biggest stage, Malachy brings the same qualities to everything he does: commitment, teamwork and a drive to keep improving.

Helping shape the future of dairy farming with FarmElevate

We are proud to launch FarmElevate, a new five-year programme developed in partnership with Teagasc, and to announce the eight dairy farm families selected as our inaugural Lighthouse Farms. The programme is designed to support farm families in improving productivity, profitability and sustainability through practical, farmer-led learning and knowledge sharing.

Launched at the Murphy family farm in Bennettsbridge, Co. Kilkenny, FarmElevate brings together some of the most progressive dairy farms across our catchment area. The selected farms were chosen for their strong farm management, innovation and commitment to sharing their experiences with fellow farmers.

Together, they showcase best practice in areas including grassland management, breeding, labour efficiency, nutrient management, renewable energy, technology adoption and business resilience.

Meet Our FarmElevate Lighthouse Farms

• Brian and John Buckley, Glenville, Co. Cork
• Linda O’Neill, Old Parish, Co. Waterford
• Patrick Fortune, Adamstown, Co. Wexford
• Michael and Joe Murphy, Bennettsbridge, Co. Kilkenny
• John Dwyer, Cashel, Co. Tipperary
• Harry and Joe Lalor, Ballacolla, Co. Laois
• Declan and Tina Bollard, Baltinglass, Co. Wicklow
• Alan Meade, Slane, Co. Meath

FarmElevate is built on the belief that some of the most valuable learning happens when farmers can see practical solutions working on farms like their own. By opening their farms and sharing their experiences, these families will help fellow suppliers adopt proven practices, strengthen their businesses and build resilience for the future.

Over the next five years, the Lighthouse Farm network will create opportunities for farmers to learn from one another, helping accelerate the adoption of technologies and management practices that deliver both economic and environmental benefits. Alongside the wider FarmElevate programme, it will support a stronger, more profitable and sustainable future for dairy farming across our catchment.

The first FarmElevate farm walk will take place on Patrick Fortune’s Lighthouse Farm in Adamstown, Co. Wexford, where farmers will come together to explore topics including nutrient management, feeding strategies and milk recording.

Showcasing Avonmore Professional’s continued growth in Vietnam

Vietnam is one of Southeast Asia’s fastest-growing dairy markets, fuelled by a young population, rising disposable incomes, rapid urbanisation and an expanding foodservice industry. While dairy consumption remains below that of more developed markets across Southest Asia, this presents significant opportunities for imported premium dairy brands. Today, Avonmore Professional holds an estimated 15% share of Vietnam’s whipping cream market within five years of growth, establishing itself as one of the leading imported whipping cream brands within the professional foodservice sector in Vietnam, exclusively distributed by Goodfood Vietnam.

To strengthen our presence and support our valued distributor partner, the Avonmore Professional Southeast Asia team participated in the Goodfood Culinary Show in Hanoi on the 3rd of July 2026. The event serves as a key platform for Goodfood to showcase its diverse portfolio, with dairy products representing one of the company’s largest business categories. At the Avonmore Professional booth, visitors were introduced to our full product range, led by our Stabilized UHT Whipping Cream 35.5% fat, which accounts for approximately 90% of Avonmore Professional sales in Vietnam, alongside our butter and cheddar cheese offerings.

The Hanoi event forms part of a broader programme of culinary showcases conducted across Northern, Central and Southern Vietnam. These activities have delivered strong commercial results, achieving conversion rates of more than 20% and contributing to the sale of approximately one million litres of cream during the first half of 2026 alone.

Bringing the Hanoi showcase to life required an exceptional collaborative effort. With only three weeks available for preparation, the team coordinated recipe development, event theming, brochure translation, design production and booth preparation. Our Philippines-based chef Ernesto worked closely with Chef Ludovic, SEA’s Technical Sales Manager, through virtual collaboration to tailor recipes and demonstrations specifically to local market preferences, ensuring a highly relevant and engaging customer experience.

The event also highlighted the strength of collaboration across the wider Avonmore Professional network. The Southeast Asia team, comprising colleagues based in both Vietnam, Philippines and the unwavering support of colleagues in Ireland, who provided marketing materials and creative designs, worked seamlessly together to deliver a successful showcase.

The results were outstanding. The event welcomed 1,182 attendees in a single day, generating strong engagement across the foodservice community. From these interactions, 533 accounts were converted, including both new customers and existing customers purchasing additional Avonmore Professional products. Following the show, an after-party activation attracted a further 86 customer accounts to purchase Avonmore products, extending the impact of the event beyond the exhibition floor.

One of the most talked-about highlights was our chefs’ creative fruit-shaped dessert presentations, which captivated visitors and became a focal point for social media engagement. Attendees enthusiastically shared photos and videos of the demonstrations and interacted with Avonmore product displays and mock-ups, helping to amplify brand visibility throughout the event.

The success of the Hanoi Culinary Show is a testament to what can be achieved through collaboration, passion and a shared commitment to delivering premium dairy solutions to customers across the region.

Showcasing Truly Grass Fed on the US Stage

A few weeks ago, the Truly Grass Fed team came together for another successful trade show with one of North America’s largest grocery wholesalers, United Natural Foods. Serving thousands of retail locations, UNFI has been a strategic partner for companies seeking national exposure and broad retail distribution.

They offer several opportunities each year to exhibit our portfolio. This particularly well attended Holiday & Winter Show attracts over 1,400 retail buyers and vendors who travel to Connecticut to interact with over 700 companies.

The two-day event allows our sales team to meet with new and existing retailers, as well as strengthen relationships with both the UNFI category teams and our broker partners, all of which help drive new business, increase customer engagement and open new distribution opportunities for the brand.

Each morning, before the show kicked off, the Truly Grass Fed team stopped by a local bakery to purchase fresh, crusty baguette used as the perfect vehicle for a rich layer of our salted butter. We also displayed cheese platters that showcased the exceptional products produced at our Wexford facility. Attendees are always interested in the story behind where our products are made and those conversations almost always lead to stories of trips they have taken to Ireland or plan to take in the future.

Beyond networking, we use these events to identify emerging trends and gather market insights. Some of the reported takeaways include a renewed drive toward premium private label expansion, products that offer affordable indulgence during a time when consumers are feeling the pinch of grocery expenses and lastly a push toward data-driven assortment planning in order to improve margins, build more relevant product assortments and ultimately a better shopping experience.

From coordinating product samples and displays to meeting with customers throughout the event, success is the result of a true team effort across sales, marketing and the farmer-owned cooperatives in Ireland that supply our premium milk. Attending these shows requires extensive planning and coordination, but the opportunity to strengthen customer relationships, showcase our products and telling the Tirlán story makes the investment well worth it. And as a bonus, experiencing a local New England favourite like a butter-drenched lobster roll doesn’t hurt either!

Fresh Dairy Delivered to Your Door + €20 Off

As we head into the busy back-to-school period, we’d like to offer you an exclusive Tirlán employee discount.

Back-to-school season often means early starts and busy mornings, between organising uniforms, packing lunchboxes, managing school runs and keeping up with after-school activities. There’s already enough on your plate this time of year. The last thing you want to worry about is keeping the fridge stocked with everyday essentials.

That’s where MyMilkman.ie can help. It’s a reliable, hassle-free service that helps keep your household stocked and your mornings running smoothly.

Use the code TIRLAN20 when you sign up online and receive €20 off your first three orders:

• €5 off your 1st order
• €5 off your 2nd order
• €10 off your 3rd order

New password and MFA requirements are coming in August

Keeping Tirlán’s people, systems and information secure is a shared responsibility. To help strengthen our cyber security and align with modern security standards, we’ll be introducing some updates to our password and Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) requirements from August.

The good news? While your password will need to be stronger, you’ll actually have to change it less often.

What’s Changing?

These changes will apply to all employees who use Tirlán IT systems, with the daily MFA update affecting employees who access systems remotely.

Why are we making these changes?

Our current password standards were introduced many years ago and no longer reflect the way we work today. With increased remote working, cloud-based systems and a rapidly changing cyber threat landscape, it’s important that we continue to strengthen how we protect Tirlán’s information and services.

What Do I Need to Do?

No action is required right now.

If you work remotely, you’ll automatically be prompted to verify your identity using MFA each day from the rollout date.

The new 12-character password requirement will apply the next time you change your password.

Password complexity requirements remain unchanged.

Thank you for helping us keep Tirlán secure. Further information and FAQs will be shared as we approach the rollout date.

Make the healthier choice the easy choice with simple snack swaps for sustained energy and focus

The afternoon slump happens to all of us. After listening to feedback from colleagues, we have gathered simple snack ideas to help you stay fuelled, focused and feeling well through your afternoon.

Why Your Afternoon Snack Matters

We have all been there – one minute you are working through your to-do list and the next, you’re reaching for a quick energy boost, such as a biscuit or energy drink. These can give a temporary boost, but they are often followed by an energy dip that can leave you feeling tired and distracted.

Snacks that combine different nutrients, particularly protein, fibre and healthy fats, can help support steadier energy and also help you feel fuller for longer. Healthy snacking does not need to be complicated; a few simple swaps can make better choices easier to reach for.

Easy Snack Ideas for Work

The key is to make the healthier option the easy option. Fresh fruit is one of the simplest options. Apples, bananas, oranges and grapes provide fibre, vitamins and natural sweetness. For a more filling snack, pair fruit with seeds, yoghurt or a spoonful of nut butter where your site policy allows.

If you prefer savoury snacks, try carrot and cucumber sticks with hummus, wholegrain crackers or oatcakes topped with hummus, avocado or cream cheese. These options provide crunch, flavour and more staying power than many quick fixes.

On busy days, it helps to keep a few options in your desk drawer or laptop bag. Oatcakes, wholegrain crackers, seed mixes, roasted chickpeas and whole fruit are easy to keep nearby and can offer a more satisfying alternative to crisps or sweets.

If you have access to a fridge, you can add more variety. Yoghurt with fruit, hummus with vegetable sticks, cream cheese with oatcakes or edamame beans can all be useful options when you want something a little more substantial.

Snacks for Different Dietary Needs

Healthy snacking should feel accessible, even if you have allergies, intolerances or dietary preferences. If you avoid nuts, seed mixes made from pumpkin, sunflower or chia seeds can be a useful alternative.

If you are lactose intolerant, avoid dairy or follow a plant-based diet, try hummus with vegetables, roasted chickpeas, edamame beans, oatcakes with avocado or fortified plant-based yoghurts paired with fruit. Check the label for calcium and Vitamin D fortification and choose an option that works best for you.

Snack Smarter, Feel Better

You do not need a complete diet overhaul to feel better in the afternoon. A few simple swaps, chosen around your taste, routine, dietary needs and workplace policy, can help you feel more energised and ready for the rest of your day.

We would love to keep these articles relevant to you, so if there is a nutrition or wellbeing topic you would like us to cover next, please get in touch and share your ideas.

Before you pack nuts, check your site policy – some Tirlán sites have a No-Nuts Policy to help prevent product contamination and support food safety. Before bringing nuts, nut butters, cereal bars or products that may contain nuts to work, please check and follow your site’s guidelines.

Lookback: Showcasing how we turn our data into standards in order to create Safe Food for everyone

What a brilliant few weeks it has been across Tirlán as our teams came together to mark World Food Safety Day 2026. This year’s message, “Turning our data into standards – Safe Food for everyone,” from the World Food Safety theme “From Burden to Solutions”, really landed across the business, because it speaks to what we do every day. Food safety is not something that sits in one department or on one audit checklist. It is in the records we complete, the checks we challenge, the standards we follow and the moments where someone stops and says, “Hang on, let’s make sure this is right.”

A real highlight of the celebrations was the live-streamed session with Dr Cormac McElhinney from the Food Safety Authority of Ireland, who joined colleagues and ELT representation in AQ and across our national and global teams. Cormac gave a very timely reminder that food safety and food security are completely connected – because without safe food, there is no secure food supply. He also brought the bigger picture into focus, showing how global challenges such as climate change, conflict and supply chain disruption can have very real impacts on food safety.

One of the strongest messages from the session was the importance of data, early-warning intelligence and collaboration. The more we share information, spot trends and use our data well, the better placed we are to identify risks before they escalate. Cormac also showcased some innovative tools and strategies, including advanced risk intelligence systems and digital collaboration platforms, showing how data and technology can help organisations anticipate and prevent issues rather than simply react to them.

Across our sites, that same theme came to life in a very practical way. Drogheda focused on how daily site data and risk analysis drive standards and policies, while also sharing household safe food information packs with employees. Lough Egish got everyone involved through an interactive “Our Data → Our Standards” visual wall, asking colleagues to connect the data they collect with the standards it supports. Ballitore and the Oat Mill team held a cross-collaboration session, sharing site activities and key food safety initiatives. Wexford held a food safety week with an impressive escape room quiz and Virginia showed their initiative by sharing their “burdens” and the “solutions”. BRG showcased their “SAFER” initiative to show how that “Real Testing” and “Real Results” create “Real food safety”. These are the kinds of activities that really build culture – not because they are big or complicated, but because they help people see how their everyday work supports the bigger food safety system.

There was fantastic energy right across the business, with brilliant participation from all sites. The photos captured it beautifully – smiling teams, creative displays, strong site engagement and plenty of pride in the work we do. A special congratulations to Belview, our Site Photo winner, for capturing the spirit of the day so well. Their photo stood out because it showed exactly what we want to see – teamwork, ownership and food safety being brought to life at site level.

And of course, no Tirlán event is complete without a bit of healthy competition. A big well done to Craig Hannaon, (Belview) winner of the online Food Safety Quiz. The quiz was a great reminder that sometimes the best learning comes from a bit of fun, a few tricky questions and the quiet determination not to be beaten by someone from another site!

Thank you to everyone who took part, shared photos, joined the sessions, supported the activities and helped bring World Food Safety Day to life. Days like this matter because they remind us that safe food is not an end-of-line check. It is a shared responsibility, built into every role, every site and every decision we make. Together, we are not just compliant – we are exceptional.