Tirlán gears up to Mental Health Week from the 7-11^th of October

As we gear up for Mental Health Week at Tirlán, we are excited to highlight our partnership with Aware, a charity dedicated to supporting mental health in Ireland. This collaboration is particularly fitting as we focus on raising awareness and providing support for mental health issues among our colleagues and the wider community.

Stephen Butterly, Head of Fundraising and Business Development at Aware highlights how much the Aware team have “very much enjoyed getting to know the employees of Tirlán as our partnership has developed throughout 2024. This is a hugely valuable partnership for Aware; not only does it contribute significantly to the costs of supporting over 40,000 people each year, it also provides reach into the Tirlán team and the wider farming community connected to Tirlán.

“This reach provides a fantastic opportunity to reduce the stigma that remains around depression, whilst also highlighting the practical steps that we can all take to support positive mental health.”

This year, Tirlán is making significant efforts to raise vital funds for Aware through various initiatives. Our Tour de Tirlán and the upcoming Tirlán Mountain Challenge are just a few examples of how we are coming together to support this important cause. Stephen emphasises that “Aware would like to thank all Tirlán staff that took part in the Tour de Tirlán event as well as those pulling on their hiking boots for the Mountain Challenge event next week. These events bring the partnership to life in a very tangible way for staff, and I am looking forward to meeting more of the team in Galway next week.” These events not only help raise funds, but also foster a sense of community and shared purpose among our employees.

In addition to our fundraising efforts, Tirlán has joined forces with Irish Country Living and Aware to promote mental health awareness in rural Ireland with a four week campaign. This initiative aims to break the cycle of mental health stigma and provide valuable resources and support to those in need. A bikeathon was held in the Irish Farmers Journal stand at the National Ploughing Association/Championships to highlight this campaign. For more information on this click here

Stephen says: “Our recent ‘Break the Cycle’ campaign with Tirlán and the Irish Farmers Journal was a great example of the partnership bringing much needed mental health insight to the farming community.”

Throughout Mental Health Week, we will be hosting various webinars, events and activities designed to provide information, resources and support for mental health. There is something for everyone, so please join in and learn how we can all do more to  protect our own health or that of our friends and families. Keep an eye out for more information over the coming days.

Let’s come together to support Aware and promote mental health awareness during this important week. Together, we can make a difference and create a supportive environment where mental health is prioritised and valued.

Each month, we put the spotlight on a Tirlán employee and for our September newsletter, we’re talking to Olwyn Pentinga, Category Manager for Butterfats and Rennet Casein

Olwyn Pentinga is the Category Manager for Butterfats and Rennet Casein. Originally from Dublin, Olwyn is currently living in the Netherlands with her husband Erik and two children, Arthur and Giulietta. Olwyn has always had a keen interest in food and business and has worked in commercial roles across Dairy and Agribusinesses for the past 12 years. She studied Commerce and Chinese at University College Dublin and completed a Master’s in Business at University College Cork before starting her career with Glanbia Nutritionals in Shanghai.

Olwyn thrives on collaboration and learning from colleagues across the business. “I love that I get to collaborate cross-functionally every day and learn from colleagues all over the business. We have a great emphasis on teamwork and on finding a better way to add value to our portfolio and our customers,” Olwyn shares. This collaborative spirit is a cornerstone of Olwyn’s approach to work, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and innovation.

Global Reach

Tradeshows play a crucial role in the Ingredients business, and Olwyn is a strong advocate for their importance. “Tradeshows are a brilliant way for us to showcase new innovative ingredients and solutions and to connect with existing and prospective customers. I feel face-to-face meetings are really important in building long-term relationships,” Olwyn explains. These events provide a platform for Tirlán to demonstrate its cutting-edge products and strengthen relationships with partners and clients.

Olwyn’s work has a global impact, with products reaching customers around the world. “Butter and rennet casein are sold all over! Butter is sold mostly within Ireland, UK, Europe, and the US, with a growing business in MENA and Asia. Rennet casein is supplied to customers in Europe, China, Japan, USA, Mexico, Australia, and MENA into a wide range of different cheese applications,” Olwyn notes. This extensive reach highlights the importance of Olwyn’s role in expanding Tirlán’s market presence and ensuring the highest quality products are delivered to diverse regions.

Customer Experience

“The customer experience room has transformed how we interact with our customers, allowing us to connect through in-person applications demos in the kitchen, presentations, or videos of the farms and factories,” Olwyn explains. This innovative approach enhances customer engagement and provides a unique opportunity to showcase Tirlán’s commitment to excellence.

Looking ahead

Olwyn’s passion for the job and commitment to excellence are truly inspiring, making a significant impact on Tirlán’s growth and success.

Francis Derwin wins the 2024 GAIN/Alltech National Grand Prix League 

The 2024 GAIN/Alltech National Grand Prix League concluded last weekend at the Irish Breeders Classic in Barnadown Equestrian Centre, Gorey, Co Wexford. The season-long competition, which spanned from April to September, featured 20 individual legs, showcasing the very best of Irish show jumping talent.

Following a fiercely competitive league, Francis Derwin claimed victory, while Team GAIN rider Vincent Byrne secured second place in the overall standings and Katie McEntee earned a well-deserved third place. Their consistent performances throughout the season demonstrated the high level of skill and determination that this league demands.

Each leg offered a minimum prize fund of €4,000, drawing top riders from across the country to compete at the highest level. GAIN Equine Nutrition is proud to support such a prestigious league in the Irish show jumping calendar, which has successfully launched the careers of many of our top national and international riders and horses.

We’re giving back to the community with two great events

At Tirlán, we’re committed to giving back to our communities as part of our Living Proof sustainability strategy. Our partnership with mental health charity, Aware, is Living Proof in action.

This year, we’re excited to remind you all about two great events that will challenge the limits of endurance and raise funds for a great cause – the Tour de Tirlán and the Tirlán Mountain Challenge. If you’re interested in participating in either events, registration is open! Register soon to secure your spot!

Tour de Tirlán
The charity cycle will take place on Friday, September 6th. Tour de Tirlán is a one-day event comprising of four distances – 45km, 95km, 136km, and 201km.

Participants will pedal their way through some of the most scenic routes our region has to offer, all while supporting a number of worthy charities. Whether you’re a seasoned cyclist or a weekend enthusiast, this event promises to be a fun, fulfilling experience for a noble cause. More information here…

Tirlán Mountain Challenge
Our charity hike will take place in Connemara National Park in County Galway over two days on Friday 11th and Saturday 12th of October.

The Tirlán Mountain Challenge invites adventurers to scale new heights. This hiking and climbing event will test your mettle as you explore the mountains of the Connemara National Park. It’s a chance to push your boundaries, enjoy the great outdoors and will raise funds for our charity partner, Aware. More information here…

Find out more:

Both events are not just about physical challenges; they’re about coming together as a community, learning from each other, and making a difference. If you are interested in getting involved in fundraising activities at Tirlán please get in touch at employeecomms@tirlan.ie

Each month, we put the spotlight on a Tirlán employee and for our August newsletter, we’re talking to Lisa O’Rourke, Employee Communication Specialist

As a native of Castlecomer, Co. Kilkenny, I joined Tirlán’s HR team as an Employee Communication Specialist at the start of this year. I have learned a lot since joining the team, not only about Tirlán itself, but also about the significant role employee communications can play in promoting a positive workplace.

Leveraging my degree in Marketing, I enjoy the creative challenges of my role. These include delivering messaging across all of our digital and in-person communication channels. I’m proud of my work which can be viewed across our digital screens, on sites, in employee email bulletins, on our Tirlán Intranet or occasionally through our internal social media platform, Viva Engage.

Each day at Tirlán offers me a new opportunity to develop communications which will resonate with our people, whether that’s to inform, a call to action, or a nudge to engage in a conversation and learn more about a specific topic or initiative. I’d consider myself as someone who thrives in a sociable environment. I value the opportunity to collaborate with others across roles, teams, sites and countries! No two communications projects are the same and I love the opportunity to contribute across a broad range of initiatives, helping to bring them to life for our employees.

It is important to me that our communications are impactful, and whilst all news is not necessarily good news, I still feel our team can make a positive impact by promoting trusted, transparent and authentic communications – all the while promoting a positive outlook.

Following the warm reception I’ve experienced since joining the Tirlán team these past few months, I am filled with gratitude and enthusiasm for the role I can play in connecting people through inclusive communications across our business.

As if starting a new job this year wasn’t enough, I have also been selected to represent Kilkenny in the Rose of Tralee festival and fulfilling the role of Kilkenny Rose for a two-year period.

Since that momentous night when I became the Kilkenny Rose, it’s been a non-stop stream of events, ranging from charity functions and social gatherings to promotional activities for the festival. A particularly proud moment for me was the honour of serving as the Relay for Life Kilkenny ambassador for 2024, supporting the Irish Cancer Society – a cause deeply personal to me and my family.

My decision to participate in the Rose of Tralee comes from the immense pride I have for my home county of Kilkenny, for the values our communities uphold, and for the chance to honour my family’s unwavering support for me in such an impactful way. People have asked me how I feel about the exposure that goes with the role and whether I’m daunted by standing on such a public stage. But, as someone who has participated in musicals and pantos in Kilkenny from a very young age, I’m no stranger to the stage!

Tirlán’s Kilkenny credentials are well known and the encouragement and support I have received from my Tirlán colleagues means the world to me and I will be forever grateful.

A visit to Abbey Quarter gave Apple Foods the chance to experience the expertise and dedication of the Tirlán team

On July 11th, a significant event took place when the GM and CEO of Apple Foods led a delegation of six Key Account (KA) customers to visit Abbey Quarter. Apple Foods are our largest UHT Whipping Cream customer. Tirlán’s UHT cream business with Apple has grown to over 8m litres within five years. Avonmore now ranks Top 3 in the imported UHT cream category in China. The visit was marked by a presentation from Nicola O’Connell and Niamh Parlon, who provided valuable insights into the company’s development and current business situation.

The Apple Foods team, consisting of eight members, were warmly received by Seán Molloy and Jim O’Neill in the Customer Experience room. During this meeting, the customers had the opportunity to offer personalised suggestions for the products and Jim O’Neill expressed his gratitude for Apple Food’s ongoing support.

Special thanks were extended to Niamh Parlon, Joseph Roche and Nicola Miller for their robust support and assistance throughout the customer visit. The visit also included a tour of the Innovation Centre, where Michelle Collins and her team gave an introduction to the centre’s research and development capabilities and direction.

Additionally, the group visited the Ballyragget – Butter & Cheddar Factory, showcasing the strength of Tirlán’s capabilities across various functions such as quality, operations, supply chain and R&D. The visit was a testament to the collaborative efforts and the multifunctional prowess within Tirlán. They also visited the McDonnell Farm in Knockbridge, Co Louth (Gordon Grey, Neville Leary and Anna Tully) and the Lough Egish UHT facility (Sean O’Brien) on July 9th.

The visit was a success, thanks to the concerted efforts of all the team members who supported the event.

This visit not only strengthened the relationship between Apple Foods and its key supply partner, but also highlighted Tirlán’s commitment to innovation, quality and customer-centric approaches. It was an excellent opportunity for key stakeholders to witness first-hand the expertise and dedication that goes into Tirlán’s operations and product development.

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, 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.

The mymilkman.ie team has recently introduced an exciting new campaign, strategically crafted to achieve optimal engagement across social media platforms.

The mymilkman.ie team has recently launched a fantastic new campaign entitled “Morning Rounds”.

This campaign gives us a sneak peek into the lives of Irish milkmen and features some very passionate Dublin and Wicklow based milk agents – Kevin McGlone, Paddy Kelly, James Murray, and Stephen Kelly.

It’s heartwarming to see how passionate these milkmen are about serving their customers and ensuring that everyone wakes up to the freshest milk every morning. Congratulations to Darragh Crowe and Sandra Downey from the mymilkman.ie team for nurturing this idea and bringing it to life.

Darragh Crowe, Digital Marketing Executive explains “We are excited to announce the launch of our latest campaign, “Morning Rounds”. This campaign is a celebration of our dedicated milkmen and women, the heroes who form the backbone of mymilkman.ie. As we continue to expand our product offerings, we believe it’s important to highlight the personal stories and daily dedication of these key members of the mymilkman.ie team.

Developed with the collaboration of James Murray, Stephen Kelly, Kevin McGlone, and Paddy Kelly, the “Morning Rounds” campaign brings a personal touch to our brand. We have created a series of 12 unique short-form videos and 1 long form video, each featuring one of our agents sharing their experiences and the pivotal role they play in delivering our services. These heartfelt stories, jokes and encounters aim to connect with our audience on a deeper level, showcasing the commitment and passion that drives our service.

This campaign is social-first, strategically designed for maximum engagement across multiple platforms. You can find “Morning Rounds” rolling out on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. By leveraging these channels, we aim to reach a broad and diverse audience, increase signups to the service and volume sales.

Since the launch of the campaign, we have already observed a significant increase in our engagement metrics. CTR’s, likes, shares, and comments have all seen substantial growth, demonstrating the positive reception and strong connection our audience feels with these stories. This initial success is a testament to the power of storytelling and the genuine appreciation people have for the hardworking individuals behind our service.

We are proud of the “Morning Rounds” campaign and look forward to its continued success as we roll out new videos from now until mid-next year.”