Health is Wealth
Health is Wealth
Prioritise your health with the Tirlán Health Screening Initiative 2024
At Tirlán, we believe that the health of our employees is paramount. That’s why we’re pleased to remind you of our Health Screening Initiative, which is now more accessible than ever with new locations and times added to accommodate our diverse team.
Understanding the busy schedules of our employees, we’ve extended the Health Screening Initiative to include additional locations across our network. This expansion ensures that every team member has the opportunity to participate at a time and place that suits them best.
For a nominal fee, the health screening offers a comprehensive check-up that includes blood pressure, ECG and bone health assessments, among others. It’s a small investment in your health that can lead to a lifetime of benefits.
We encourage all employees to take advantage of this opportunity. The initiative is not just about detecting potential health issues early, but also about giving you peace of mind and the information you need to live a healthier life.
For a full list of locations and details CLICK HERE
New or Returning User
To book your appointment online simply CLICK HERE – enter the invitation code below and then select your desired location/date/time.
INVITATION CODE: TIRLANSCREEN2024
Cancellation Policy: If you wish to cancel your appointment, please do so more than 48 hours prior to your appointment as cancellations (including no shows) made within 48 hours cannot be refunded
Your health is your wealth and at Tirlán, we’re committed to supporting you in maintaining it. Book your health screening today and take that proactive step towards a healthier you.
Governance Academy
Governance Academy
Tirlán’s leap towards excellence in leadership and representation
Tirlán is excited to announce the launch of its new Governance Academy, a cutting-edge educational initiative designed to cultivate a diverse and dynamic farmer representative structure for the future. This tailor-made program is set to elevate governance standards to unprecedented heights within the farmer-owned cooperative.
Tirlán’s Chairperson, John Murphy, emphasised the pivotal role the Governance Academy will play in enriching members’ understanding of the Tirlán organisation for years to come. “We’ve launched the Governance Academy to provide our members with the tools and knowledge they need to excel in their governance roles to represent their fellow farmers. By investing in the Governance Academy, we are strengthening our foundation for sustainable growth and innovation.”
This innovative partnership between Tirlán, University College Cork (UCC) and the Irish Co-operative Organisation Society (ICOS) marks Tirlán’s latest endeavour in promoting a culture of conscientious governance and leadership excellence.
A tradition of excellence
A tradition of excellence
Minister McConalogue launches Diageo Baileys Champion Dairy Cow competition
Tirlán are thrilled to announce the continuation of our partnership with Diageo Ireland for the esteemed Diageo Baileys Champion Dairy Cow competition, set to take place at the Virginia Show on August 21st. The event’s recent launch in Dublin was graced by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue T.D., who praised the enduring supply chain relationship between the two companies, centred around the ‘hero’ raw ingredient of Baileys, Irish dairy cream.
Aoife Murphy, Chief Ingredients Officer at Tirlán, expressed her enthusiasm at the launch: “Our suppliers are committed to delivering only the best cream from herds of cows every day to ensure Baileys is enjoyed throughout the world. We are delighted to be a key partner with Diageo in hosting a competition that celebrates the excellence, commitment and ongoing innovation of Irish family farms.”
This partnership not only highlights the quality of Irish dairy but also the strong community and innovation within our agricultural sector. Join us in celebrating this tradition of excellence and the hardworking individuals who make it possible.
Pictured L-R: Shane Kelly, Corporate Relations Director, Diageo Ireland; Aoife Murphy, Chief Ingredients Officer, Tirlán; and Minister Charlie McConalogue
Awards Glory
Awards Glory
Tirlán’s Cheddar triumphs at International Cheese and Dairy Awards
Our Tirlán Cheddar has once again proven its exceptional quality at the International Cheese and Dairy Awards, bringing home a total of 12 medals, including three Golds. The accolades were awarded across various cheddar categories, reflecting the diverse excellence of our cheese range.
This achievement is a direct reflection of the passion and hard work of our employees, particularly those at the Ballyragget and Wexford plants. Their commitment to excellence ensures that every block of Tirlán Cheddar we produce meets the highest standards of quality, delighting our customers with its superior texture and flavour.
Gerry Warren, our esteemed Cheese Grader, shared the excitement of this victory, acknowledging the intense competition faced from other renowned cheddar producers. The recognition from the judges serves as a testament to the premium milk provided by our dedicated dairy farmers and the meticulous care taken by our management and employees across all levels.
In these challenging times, it’s the collective effort of everyone in our supply chain that enables us to continue delivering products we can all be proud of. This international recognition is not just for our cheddar, but for every individual who contributes to making Tirlán a name synonymous with quality. Let’s celebrate this success together as this story highlight’s our spotlight value ‘Collaborate for Success’.
Making packaging sustainable
Making packaging sustainable
Collaboration is helping Tirlán meet our goal of complying with the Single Use Plastic Directive
In an effort to combat pollution from single-use plastics, Europe’s Single Use Plastic Directive has mandated a significant change in beverage packaging – all containers up to 3 litres must have caps tethered to the main body. This initiative, aimed at reducing environmental dispersal and enhancing recyclability, has significant implications for the dairy industry, particularly for milk and value-added milk products.
Tirlán has proactively embarked on a cross-functional project to comply with this directive by the required deadline of the 3rd of July 2024. The project, initiated in February 2022, has been a journey of innovation and adaptation, with the first production for tethered caps introduced in August 2023 for Tetra top cartons containing Avonmore Protein Milk, Mooju and Avonmore Cream. Subsequent transitions occurred in April and May 2024 for various carton sizes and finally, milk jugs in June 2024.
The transition has not been without its challenges, particularly in managing the complexities of milk jug cap designs which require dedicated neck finishes from multiple suppliers. However, the project has also brought about significant environmental benefits, with an estimated annual reduction of 22.8 tonnes of plastic from caps alone.
The success of this initiative can be attributed to the collaborative efforts of the project team and production sites, who have faced challenges head-on, valuing diverse opinions and quickly adapting to produce solutions.
As Tirlán moves forward, the focus is on consumer education, with messaging on packaging that emphasizes the new caps’ functionality and the rationale behind the change. The messaging strategy is clear: twist, flip to lock, and close to recycle – a simple yet powerful reminder of the individual’s role in supporting a circular economy.
This shift towards tethered caps is a testament to Tirlán’s commitment to sustainability and innovation, supporting reduction of plastic, the capturing of the cap for recycling, all while minimising the cost impact to Tirlán.
The tethered cap project led by Joanne Dooley has been a remarkable display of teamwork and adaptability. The project and production site teams, including Eamon McGuigan, Paddy Cotter and 14 others, have demonstrated exceptional collaboration, quickly adapting and implementing solutions to meet the challenges head-on. Their efforts in trialling and testing contingencies have been instrumental in the project’s success.
Throughout the course of the project the teams have shown respect for diverse opinions, quickly adapted to new situations and actively engaged in trials to devise effective solutions. The combined efforts of the Site Teams in Drogheda and Ballitore have been instrumental in this success. Furthermore, the Core Project team’s contributions have been pivotal in ensuring the project’s completion across all SKUs before the 3rd July Single-Use Plastics (SUP) deadline. This collaborative success story is a testament to the dedication and hard work of all involved.
A special shout out to:
- Site Team in Drogheda – Eamon McGuigan, Frank McDonnell, Seán Murphy, Peter McGuinness, Catherine Kiernan, Helen Kearney, Hugh King, Site Operations and Supply Chain.
- Site Team in Ballitore – Paddy Cotter, Aidan Rowan, Brian Aherne, Bernie Shanahan, Ella Kennedy, Tom Walsh, David Cullen, Site Operations and Supply chain.
- Close stock management via Michael Floyd and Angad Nain.
- Core Project team for their contributions and support to complete project implementation across all SKUs in advance of the 3rd July SUP deadline – Kieran Fitzgerald, Denis Walsh, Pat Redmond, Joanne Dooley, Sarah Purcell, Linda Sheehan, Heather Sheridan, Ger Cadogan/John O’Reilly/Diane Connell.
Agri Aware Open Farm 2024
Agri Aware Open Farm 2024
Tirlán was delighted to support the recent Open Farm event on the dairy farm of our milk suppliers, Stephen and Áine Byrne.
The recent Open Farm event on the dairy farm of our milk suppliers, Stephen and Áine Byrne, was a remarkable success, attracting over 2,550 people. Organised by Agri Aware in conjunction with Tirlán and supported by NDC. The Open Farm event is a key part of their mission to enhance agricultural literacy.
In addition to the public day held on Saturday, June 15th, this year’s event featured a school’s day on Friday, June 14th, where 450 primary school students from Kildare and Dublin had the chance to see first-hand how local Irish food, particularly dairy products, are produced. This initiative aimed to give the next generation an appreciation of where their food comes from.
Pictured above: Primary school students from Kildare and Dublin.
Pictured from left to right: Marypaula Kelly, Communications Manager, Larry Hannon, Board Director and Caroline Brindley, Communications Manager.
On Saturday, attendees of all ages were able to experience a working farm, learning about the environmentally sustainable practices that are integral to modern farming. The event included a self-guided tour of the Byrne family’s dairy farm, a mini-farm village showcasing various Irish agricultural production systems, cooking demonstrations, children’s games, and the opportunity to taste delicious local Irish food and sample some of Avonmore’s Mooju chocolate milk at the Avonmore Milk Bar which supplied over 1,200 samples of Avonmore Mooju and Fresh Milk.
Host farmer Stephen Byrne also shared his pride in the event, highlighting the importance of educating both young and old about the care and sustainability involved in food production. Stephen and Áine said the school’s day was of utmost importance to them, as no textbook will educate the next generation better on where their food comes from than seeing it in person and hearing about its production from industry experts.
At Tirlán, we remain dedicated to supporting initiatives that celebrate sustainable farming practices and engage with the community in meaningful ways. We continue to promote a greater understanding and appreciation of the vital role agriculture plays in our daily lives.
Agri Aware
Agri Aware, the independent farming and agri-food educational body, is a charitable trust whose mission is to improve the image and understanding of agriculture, farming and the food industry among the general public.
To convey the importance of the agri-food industry among the general public and bridge the gap between producer and consumer.
Agri Aware delivers high impact educational and public awareness initiatives and projects for students and the general public.
Watch Here
Farming for the Future: Open Farm Walk & Talk
Farming for the Future: Open Farm Walk & Talk
Over 300 farmers attended the Tirlán and Teagasc ‘Farming for the Future’ water quality event.
Farmers across Ireland gathers for the Tirlán and Teagasc ‘Farming for the Future’ water quality event on the farm of Donal & Fiona Kavanagh, near Baltinglass, Co Wicklow. The event explored farming in derogation while maintaining good water quality. It offered farmers action-focused advice and showed the significant efforts that farmers are undertaking to stabilise and improve water quality in their region.
As part of Tirlán’s collaborative ‘Farming for Water: River Slaney’ project with Teagasc and LawPro, we are working to improve water quality and assist Ireland in putting the best possible case forward for retention of the Nitrates Derogation.
The event heard that a focus on nutrient use efficiency (NUE) on farm can deliver or maintain higher output at a lower cost. Teagasc Director Dr Frank O’Mara highlighted that it is possible to farm in derogation at the current 220kg of organic nitrogen (N) per hectare (N/ha) and deliver good water quality.
Dr Lisa Koep, Chief ESG Officer, said the turnout for the event on Donal Kavanagh’s farm showcases how focused the farmer-owned cooperative’s suppliers are on improving water quality, while also improving the economic sustainability of their farms.
“Farmers are truly committed to making the changes on their farms to address water quality challenges. Events like this are taking place all over the country and are hugely important. It showcases to all of the stakeholders that we are committed as an industry to improving our water quality.”
On water quality Tirlán’s good work continues, with almost 800 farm visits completed in 2023. This good work is paying dividend, with the most recent EPA report showing a marginal improvement of water quality in the South-East.
Speakers at the event included representatives from Tirlán, Teagasc, Department of Agriculture, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA), the ICMSA and Local Authority Waters Programme (LawPro).
Avonmore is the Leading Dairy Brand in Ireland
Avonmore is the leading Dairy Brand in Ireland
Avonmore, the nation’s number one dairy brand ranked as the #2 top brand in Ireland according to Kantar’s 2024 Brand Footprint report
Enjoyed by families nationwide for over 50 years, the Avonmore brand continues to grow in popularity. “Even in a cost-of-living crisis, Irish shoppers are still prioritising the brands they know and love, especially those that are innovating. ” said Emer Healy, Business Development Director at Kantar. The Kantar Data is sourced from 5,000 demographically representative Irish households recording their take home grocery and covers over 200 Fast-Moving Consumer Goods categories which are recorded by Kantar on a continuous basis .
This is a huge testament to the strength of the Avonmore Brand and demonstrates strong consumer loyalty to Avonmore
Avonmore’s expertise in dairy extends across Milk, Cream, Soup and Butter, with key growth products including Avonmore Super Milk, Avonmore Protein Milk and Avonmore Whipped Cream.
Commenting on the win, Seán Molloy, CEO Designate at Tirlán said: “I am incredibly proud of the Avonmore brand for achieving this remarkable accomplishment in such a highly competitive environment. This success is a testament to the dedication, hard work and tireless efforts of every member of the Tirlán team. Congratulations to all involved with this brand, and thank you for your unwavering commitment to excellence.”
Miriam Walker, Director of Consumer Domestic said: “Avonmore’s continued success comes from its commitment to high quality products, a deep understanding of the consumer and their needs, and continuous innovation. Our range of valued added milk and food products, which leverage nutrition, functionality & taste, offers consumers a wealth of nutritional benefits for every life-stage & life-style.
Irish consumers are among the highest consumers of fresh milk in the world. Avonmore milk is a rich source of protein and a 250ml glass of Avonmore Fresh Milk provides you with 37% of your RI of Calcium and 30% of your RI for Vitamin B12.
Other brands that made it into the top five include Brennans, Tayto, Denny & Sons and Cadbury Dairy Milk.
Chewing the cud with Eoin Murphy
Chewing the cud with… Eoin Murphy
Recently-appointed Fulfilment & Warehouse Manager, Eoin Murphy, is gearing up for a busy few weeks ahead as plans for this year’s Tour de Tirlán step up and he and colleagues prepare for the major fundraising event in early September.
The father of two celebrated 25 years with Tirlán last year, starting with the Coop when it was Avonmore Waterford. He’s as active in his downtime as he is in the busy work role and revels in the voluntary work he does within his community as a camogie coach at weekends. He also enjoys the time he spends with his wife, Mary, a primary school teacher, and their two daughters, Sarah and Katy.
“I was with the company 25 years last March. I started off as a seasonal operator and worked my way up through the ranks in various operation management roles in Ballyragget, including a stint at the old Norefreeze facility. I did some cheese grading for a while and then moved to Belview in 2015, 10 years ago now. Prior to commencing this role I was Operational Readiness Planner (ORP) lead on Project Topaz and Change Manager on Project Symphony. In January 2024 I took over from a former mentor of mine, Mark Shortall who retired from this role in May. He’s was so highly regarded not alone in the business but in the wider industry, I’ve big shoes to try to fill.
“Tirlán is a great place to work. I have found it to be a safe and professional place to work where you can share your views and not be afraid to voice them. There’s great camaraderie and whether you work remotely or in the office, there is back-up and support. Everyone is valued and works together.
“In a role like this, you need the entire team working together. In early 2024 there were serious challenges posed by the Red Sea crisis. Ships were being attacked on route through the Red Sea and this caused real danger to the vessels but also added delays and detours to our customers product.
“These delays caused challenges for customers in terms of tariffs, surcharges and timings. It created huge logistical challenges but working together with our internal and external stakeholders, we worked through these. I am privileged to have great people on our team, who are able to handle such crisis’s and challenges.”
This is the 13th year that the charity cycle will run and Eoin has big hopes. “It’s an event that is getting bigger and better every year. Not only does it raise significant funds for worthy charities, it is also a great social occasion for all involved. The work that goes in from people on the Tour de Tirlán committee through to our cycle day volunteers is phenomenal and it’s now an annual event that people look forward to every year.
“Tirlán is a massive organisation with people spread across so many different sites. It’s great to get everyone together for this event and to promote cycling as a leisure and pleasure pastime for people. It’s great to get out on the bike after a busy week and get out in the fresh air. It’s always a great few days and we’d encourage anyone who hasn’t yet registered to do so.”
Showcasing Tirlán’s oat ingredients to a global audience
Showcasing Tirlán’s oat ingredients to a global audience
We take a behind-the-scenes look at Tirlán’s webinar: ‘Expert Advice: Elevating Beverages with Oat Ingredients’
Pictured from left to right: Ruairi Murnane, Senior Technologist for Beverages & Plant NPD, and Emma Tracey, R&D Intern.
Tirlán recently produced a webinar to spotlight our Oat Ingredients Portfolio, hosted by Food Ingredients First, a leading international publisher on food ingredients and product development.
This webinar delved into the exciting realm of oat ingredients, exploring their potential to elevate plant-based and hybrid beverages by meeting the demands of today’s consumers.
Engaging the Beverage Industry
Beverage manufacturers from around the world joined Tirlán to discover the perfect oat solutions tailored to their specific beverage types and production capabilities. They gained valuable insights on setting their oat-based beverage apart by leveraging the distinctive benefits of Tirlán’s Irish oats.
The webinar aimed to:
- Raise awareness of Tirlán as a supplier of plant-based ingredients.
- Establish Tirlán’s reputation as a thought leader in the beverage industry.
- Generate high-quality leads for our oat solutions with a focus on beverage applications.
This webinar was coordinated and directed by Avril Collins, Marketing Manager for Ingredients, and was brought to life through the exemplary cross collaboration between the Ingredients Commercial team, MR&I, and R&D departments.
Diverse Expertise and Insightful Discussions
A range of speakers contributed their expertise:
- Kieran Duggan, Head of Plant, introduced the Tirlán business and team, and moderated the webinar.
- Kevin Honan, Head of Market Insights, discussed the plant-based beverage sector and the opportunities for oats, supported by an external speaker from Innova Market Insights.
- Yvonne Bellanti, Category Manager for Plant, outlined Tirlán’s oat ingredients and advised on selecting the right oat solution for different beverage types and production capabilities.
- Avril Collins, Marketing Manager for Ingredients, shared strategies for differentiating oat-based or hybrid beverages using Tirlán’s Irish oats.
Pictured above: Yvonne Bellanti, Category Manager for Plant speaking on the webinar
The R&D team played a crucial role in the webinar’s success. Mairtin O’Coinceanainn, Head of Plant-Based R&D, contributed his extensive knowledge in the script development. Ruairi Murnane, Senior Technologist for Beverages & Plant NPD, and Emma Tracey, R&D Intern, prepared a range of beverage samples showcased during the webinar. Filming took place in Abbey Quarter collaboration spaces and the Customer Experience Kitchen.
Webinar Outreach
A comprehensive marketing campaign promoted the webinar across the Food Ingredients First and Tirlán platforms, attracting nearly 500 registrants from 65 countries. Participants included major beverage companies such as Oatly, Danone, and Nestlé.
Watch our highlights video here:
View the full webinar on our YouTube channel:
This webinar not only highlighted the versatility and benefits of oat ingredients but also underscored Tirlán’s commitment to innovation and collaboration within the beverage industry.