Celebrating the journey of Tirlán’s first ‘Unearth Your Future’ graduates

At the end of August, we marked a very special milestone at Tirlán – the graduation of our first cohort of Unearth Your Future participants, who officially completed their two-year programme. Since joining us in September 2023, this talented group has embraced every opportunity to grow, learn and contribute, supported by colleagues from all corners of the organisation.

The final celebration was a chance to pause and reflect on everything they’ve achieved. It was a fun day, filled with stories, laughter and a few emotional moments too.

One of the most memorable parts of the day was when each graduate privately read a letter they had written to themselves on their very first day. They reflected on how they felt starting out, what they’ve learned and what they’re looking forward to next.

The group also had the chance to sit down with Seán Molloy for an open and relaxed conversation about their experiences in Tirlán. Later, Sean was joined by Chairman John Murphy and Board Member Brendan Hayes, who helped present each graduate with their certificate. We also celebrated some specific achievements:

• The “Sustaining Our World Through Living Proof” graduate project team received an award for their work.
• Leah Brennan was honoured with the Tirlán Challenge Award for her impressive Green Belt project, in what was a tight vote, such was the high level of the projects.

To the graduates – thank you for your professionalism, your enthusiasm and the fun you brought to every interaction. You’ve made a lasting impression, and we can’t wait to see what you do next.

This month, we sit down with Edward Elder, Strategic Programmes Manager at Tirlán, whose career journey is a testament to the power of curiosity, adaptability and the opportunities that come with embracing change

Ed’s story begins in Ballyadams, Co. Laois, and winds through Kilkenny, Dublin and back again – both geographically and professionally. With over a decade at Tirlán, Ed has worn many hats – from Maintenance and Engineering Manager to Plant Manager, Head of Health and Safety and now Strategic Programmes Manager. His path has been anything but linear and that’s exactly what makes it so compelling.

“I always say, in fairness to Tirlán, if you’re open to doing it and show a bit of willingness, someone will give you a go,” Ed shares. His journey reflects our value Adapt to Grow – It’s our nature to evolve.

Throughout his career, Ed has been supported by a network of mentors and colleagues who helped guide and champion him. “I have been really lucky to work with some great leaders, with different styles and approaches, but with one common trait – full trust and support for what I am doing.” This advice and leadership helped shape Ed’s approach to strategy and communication.

In his current role, Ed helps shape and implement strategic projects that span the breadth of Tirlán. From rolling out our new name across every corner of the business to managing key initiatives that touch every function, Ed’s work is both dynamic and deeply collaborative.

He emphasises the importance of stakeholder engagement: “You have to earn trust and demonstrate that you can follow through. That’s what keeps projects moving.” Whether it’s balancing direction with people-focused collaboration or navigating competing priorities, Ed’s approach is grounded in empathy and clarity.

For Ed, the most enjoyable part of the job is the people he meets and works with along the way, understanding what motivates them, building trust and creating shared success through collaboration.

Outside the boardroom, Ed is a proud member of the Tour de Tirlán committee, representing the 45km cycle route, a favourite among enthusiastic amateur cyclists. “It’s such a mixed group and the energy in the car park before we set off is electric,” he says. His involvement reflects his commitment to inclusion and community spirit.

When he’s not steering strategic programmes or cycling with colleagues, Ed enjoys off-road biking, toying with his vintage Land Rover, gardening with his fiancée Kelly and spending some much-loved family time with their young son Charlie.

Ed’s story encourages all of us at Tirlán to stay open, stay curious and embrace the opportunities that come our way.

Project submissions are now open for Excellence Showcase 2025

The annual Excellence Showcase returns for its fourth year and will take place in Abbey Quarter on Thursday, 27th of November. We’re now inviting individuals, sites and functions across Tirlán to submit their projects for consideration. Whether large or small, every piece of work has the potential to be showcased.

How to Apply

Listed in the submission template are the nominated Business Excellence Specialists supporting your area – reach out to them if assistance is required when completing entries. Submit completed entries to your Excellence contact by Tuesday, 30th September.

This year’s Showcase introduces several exciting changes:

New Category Structure
We’ve refined the judging process by consolidating last year’s eight categories into five clearer, more strategic themes:

1. COVA
2. Problem Solving
3. Academy Projects & Best Use of Lean Tools
4. Strategy & Customer Impact
5. Data-Driven & Sustainability

Judging Process Improvements

Finalists will be selected by a shortlisting panel using a structured rubric and category winners will be determined based on the overall scoring of projects within each category. This enhanced process ensures consistency and clarity in how projects are evaluated and in how winners are determined. If you’d like to see how each category will be scored, you can view the rubric here.

Expanded People’s Choice Awards:

Attendees will now vote for three People’s Choice winners: 

• Most Inspiring
• Most Impactful
• Most Collaborative

Awards & Recognition 

• Category Winners: €500 voucher per winning team
• People’s Choice Winners: €500 donation from Tirlán to a club or charity of the team’s choice.

Contact: businessexcellence@tirlan.ie

Tirlán has been shortlisted for the Age Friendly Business Innovation Award

We are proud to announce that we have been shortlisted for the Age Friendly Business Innovation Award by Age Friendly Ireland.

Sixteen of Tirlán CountryLife and Tirlán FarmLife stores have been recognised as Age Friendly Certified and are on-track to have all 52 branches Age Friendly Certified by year end.

Each shortlisted organisation will receive a certificate of recognition at the Age Friendly Business Awards ceremony on 23rd October.

The Age Friendly Certification programme highlights Tirlán’s dedication to valuing our older customers. With 40 Age Friendly champions and 26 Age Friendly Trainee Champions across the branch network, Tirlán is making significant strides in creating an inclusive environment.

Olivia Treacy, Tirlán Supplier and Customer Experience Manager, said: “This recognition reflects our ongoing commitment to creating a welcoming, inclusive environment for people of all ages.”

In-store Age Friendly initiatives include the provision of reading glasses, armchairs, designated car parking, new trolleys and ramp walkways. These efforts have heightened awareness of the needs of older individuals within our communities.

“Our Age Friendly programme has been a tremendous success,” said Tommie Campbell, Tirlán CountryLife Branch Manager in Fethard, Co. Wexford. “The seating has been particularly popular, with many older people taking a well-earned break. They may not even be waiting to be served but seem to enjoy the time out, having banter and chat with staff or customers for those few moments.”

This certification is part of our ongoing commitment to customer-centric initiatives, focusing on the inclusion and needs of older customers to ensure a positive shopping experience.

This month we caught up with Orla Dwyer, Talent Development Manager at Tirlán, to hear about her journey, her role and what’s ahead for people and leadership development

Orla is originally from Clonmel, Co Tipperary, “home of the All-Ireland Hurling champions,” she proudly notes. Orla joined Tirlán nearly two years ago after almost two decades in the pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical industry. “It was a big change,” she says, “but I’m really glad I made the move. It’s opened up a whole new world of experiences and people.”

Since joining, Orla has seen her team evolve from Talent Management to the broader People Experience team, now encompassing Talent and Leadership Development, Performance, Wellness, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DE&I), Engagement and Communication and more. She’s especially passionate about DE&I and values the cross-functional collaboration that’s now part of her day-to-day. Her role spans to develop skills, teams and careers and she leads our graduate programme, Unearth Your Future. onboarding and final graduations. She’s co-designed and launched our New Leader Programme along with her People Experience and HR colleagues and also leads our Coaching Leader Programme and culture. She also manages our suite of Thrive courses.

Looking ahead, Orla is excited about a refreshed and re-energised approach to our coaching culture. “We’re planning to deliver all coaching refreshers in a focused week,” she explains. “But more importantly, we want to re-energise coaching across the organisation, reminding everyone of the power it holds to elevate development, inclusion, wellbeing, performance and leadership.”

August will see the first-ever Graduate Capstone event, celebrating the achievements of the inaugural cohort. “They’ve done so much – from leadership and DE&I modules to two full rotations,” Orla says. “It’s been amazing to see the support they’ve received across the business. Anytime I ask someone to mentor or speak, the answer is always yes.”

The graduate programme recently earned a Silver Award at the GradIreland Graduate Awards, an impressive feat for a first-time entrant. “It’s a testament to the hard work of so many people,” Orla says. “We’re already looking ahead to welcoming 18 new grads this September.”

When asked what she loves most about working at Tirlán, Orla doesn’t hesitate: “It’s the people. The support I’ve received has been incredible. Everyone’s been so generous with their time and knowledge, it’s made the last two years fly.”

Outside of work, Orla is a proud Munster Rugby season ticket holder, a yoga enthusiast and a keen traveller. She truly embodies our value of “Empower and Go” – she makes things happen, coaches others for growth and champions a culture where people feel supported, trusted and inspired to thrive.