Agronomist Barry Purcell, Grain Manager Donal Moloney and Tirlan Quality Grain Award Winner Bobby Miller captured at the pre-awards video shoot on Bobby’s farm

Showcasing the dedication and innovation of Ireland’s tillage farmers

Planning for the 2025 Tirlán Quality Grain Awards began in December, kicking off months of coordination to deliver one of the most important events in the Tirlán tillage calendar. The first step was selecting the right venue, somewhere that reflected the prestige of the awards and offered a memorable experience for growers and guests. After last year’s successful trip to the Guinness Storehouse, Jameson Midleton Distillery Experience emerged as the perfect choice and Castlemartyr Resort was secured to host the awards ceremony itself.

Once the venues were confirmed, the organisational work intensified. Suppliers, technical requirements, staging and event flow all needed to be carefully aligned to ensure the day ran seamlessly. At the same time, the process of selecting the 2025 winners began. Donal Moloney, John Kealy and the agronomy team undertook the detailed task of reviewing crop performance across all categories. They assessed agronomy standards, crop quality and consistency before narrowing the shortlist and ultimately choosing the overall winner.

This year, to add an extra layer of excitement and storytelling, the team decided to create a dedicated video featuring the overall winner, without revealing to him that he had actually secured the top honour. The final concept followed Bobby Miller’s gluten free oat story from seed to finished product. Filming took place at several key sites, including the Portlaoise Oat Mill and the Harris Grain store, capturing the journey, scale and craftsmanship behind his crop. The video debuted during the ceremony and provided a powerful reveal moment that elevated the atmosphere in the room.

At Castlemartyr, Tirlán’s top grain growers were celebrated as the winners of the Tirlán Quality Grain Awards 2025 were announced. Twelve category winners were recognised for delivering outstanding crops during a demanding harvest year. Bobby Miller, from Rathmore, Stradbally, Co Laois, was crowned Tirlán Grain Grower of the Year 2025. His exceptional attention to detail, strong technical ability and consistent delivery of premium-quality gluten free oats earned him both the overall title and the Food Grade Oats category award.

Guest speaker Paul McGillicuddy, CEO of the Malting Company of Ireland, reinforced the deep connection between tillage farmers and Ireland’s world-renowned brewing and distilling industries, acknowledging the winners’ contribution to the global success of Irish whiskey and craft beer.

The 2025 Tirlán Grain Awards showcased the very best of Irish tillage farming while celebrating the dedication, professionalism and innovation that continue to drive the sector forward.