Tirlán colleagues participated in this year’s Food Safety Day in a number of creative ways

Did you know that foodborne diseases affect one in 10 people worldwide each year?

The WHO’s World Food Safety Day was celebrated on June 7th every year aims to draw attention to the relationship between food safety and food security, where one cannot exist without the other.  Only safe food can meet nutritional needs.

Tirlán recognised this annual event by celebrating Food and Feed Safety Week (June 4th to 7th). There was fantastic engagement from Tirlán colleagues online and across several sites.  Presentations were made by external professionals from the Food Safety Authority of Ireland, ISS Pest Control and Southeastern Technological University.  Tirlán colleagues also shared their knowledge and experience in key elements of hygienic design, regulatory compliance, supply chain risk assessment and food safety culture development.

On World Food Safety Day, Dr. Joseph Hannon of Food Safety Authority of Ireland presented to our teams on Persistent Organic Pollutants in Food.  This overview gave great insight into what chemicals are of concern in food products – now and into the future.

In addition to the insights provided by food safety experts, Operation Site teams engaged in many creative ways, including interactive demonstrations, food safety quizzes, foreign body memory games, best practice for plant cleaning, personal hygiene, and reiterating the importance of maintaining foreign body and pest control safeguards.

Billy Carr, Food and Feed Safety Risk Manager, reflected on the success of the initiative. “Tirlán colleagues have demonstrated a keen interest to both listen and share their experiences in topics of food and feed safety concern during the week.  Being alert to food and feed safety hazards allows us to prepare for the unexpected – and respond quickly to threats and incidents before they become Food Safety emergencies.  This is the third year of Tirlán’s celebrations, and it is heartening to see the ongoing commitment of our teams to protect our consumers, products and brand reputation from preventable Food Safety issues.”

The Champion Collection Series culminated on June 30th at the Curragh, with a spectacular win by ‘Henry Matisse’

The final leg of the Champion Collection Series, GAIN Railway Stakes (Group 2) took place on Sunday, 30^th June at the Curragh, on Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Day. The series which kicked off on May 6th with the GAIN First Flier Stakes, setting the stage for an exhilarating competition was followed by the Group 3 GAIN Marble Hill Stakes, which went to post on Guineas Weekend.

The series reached its climax on Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Day, with the Group 2 GAIN Railway Stakes race, a historic race dating back to 1851.

The GAIN Equine Nutrition team would like to extend its congratulations to the connections of ‘Henri Matisse’ trained by Aidan O’Brien and ridden by jockey Wayne Lordan, who claimed the prestigious victory by half a length. This will earn the horse and connections an automatic entry into the esteemed Group 1 Keeneland Phoenix Stakes, which goes to post on August 10^th at the Curragh Racecourse.

Tirlán celebrates Dr Norah Patten’s journey into orbit.

As you may have seen in recent news, Dr. Norah Patten is set to become the first Irish person in space as part of a research mission aboard Virgin Galactic’s new spacecraft.

Last year, Tirlán hosted Dr. Norah Patten in Abbey Quarter to speak with employees about her journey to become an astronaut candidate, which began at the age of 11 with a family trip to NASA.

She is now part of a team being sent by the International Institute for Astronautical Sciences (IIAS) to advance scientific knowledge on supporting life in space. When Patten undertakes the mission in 2026, she will become the first person from Ireland to go to space

During her time at Tirlán, Norah shared her highly engaging story, inspiring us with her hard work, persistence, and her “reach for the stars” attitude.

We extend our congratulations to Norah on this amazing achievement and feel privileged to have been a tiny, tiny part of her journey.

“Going for the White Belt accreditation pushed me out of my comfort zone – I’m delighted to have achieved it”

Empower and Go is about empowering people in Tirlán to perform at their best, creating an environment where we all have a voice, where we feel safe to contribute and are inspired to make a positive impact, whether that be for colleagues, customers, our suppliers or in our everyday lives.

David Leigh embodies all that is great about Empower and Go in action at Tirlán. The Baltinglass native and avid Liverpool supporter has been awarded the Lean Sigma Quality White Belt through Atlantic Technological University Sligo, which is ranked third in the world for content and presentation. He said the productivity-boosting programme was challenging and very tough in places. But with the support of his work colleagues in the Tirlán plant in Ballitore, he never gave up. He excelled!

“I had to push myself out of my comfort zone to achieve this. Even going for the White Belt accreditation was a bit of a challenge. There was so much to do. But I’m delighted to have achieved it,” David said.

“There were loads of slides and presentations to go through. As part of my presentation, I had to talk about the Academy in Tirlán. It was a challenge. But with support from my mentor, Richie, I got through it and I got the accreditation. There was also great support from IT Sligo in terms of explanations, videos and more. I’m delighted.”

Greater confidence

“It has given me greater confidence and I’m now ready for my next challenge and plan to progress to a Yellow Belt next year. I think it’s important to try new things, learn new things. All these new learnings help me in my work which involves everything from managing PPE for the teams to stock control and sorting wage slips to ensuring we have adequate office supplies on the site. It’s also helped me in my life outside of work. I enjoy bowling and horse riding and am even heading to Rome in October for my niece’s wedding.”

David is believed to be the first person in Ireland with Down’s Syndrome to achieve the White Belt and says he has blossomed and has had tremendous support on the job for over two decades.

Bumps in the Road

“I’m here 24 years now. There’s been lots of change over that time. The buildings have changed. The layout has changed. Lots of people have come and gone. There were some bumps in the road. Some of my old friends here have retired and I really miss those people. They were a huge part of my life. That has been tough. But there are always new characters coming in.

“I absolutely love working here. I love my work. I have very good friends here and when I need help, there are plenty of people willing to help me, support me. There are some things I can’t do. But with the support of other people, there’s lots I can do.

“The banter is very good, particularly when Liverpool are playing well. The craic between different supporters is great. The food in the canteen here is very good and the ladies there really look after me, they know what I like and what I don’t like. It’s great to be somewhere you love, with great people around you to support and encourage you – and to be getting paid for it.”

David’s passion, determination and generosity have rubbed off on his colleagues around him. As well as being heavily involved in the plant’s social events which include race days, the Christmas party and more, David recently raised over €2,000 for Daffodil Day with the support of his colleagues in Ballitore, who were only too happy to rally round and dig deep.

Yellow Belt Accreditation

David’s Yellow Belt programme will see him complete five modules, supported by the Business Excellence team within Tirlán. Site Manager, Paddy Cotter, has helped David choose his project for his next accreditation. It will focus on inventory management and stock rotation. This accreditation will support David even further in his role, as well as life outside of Tirlán.

“You couldn’t find a better crew than we have here. I wouldn’t have got the White Belt without them.  Some of the questions on the programme were tough. We had to do a bit of research and digging, look at footnotes and videos to work out exactly what they wanted from me.

“They’ve been equally helpful guiding me for my Yellow Belt. My advice to anyone taking on a new challenge like this accreditation is to accept first off that it will be difficult but to understand that with support from people around you, you will get through it.”

Tirlán – living by its values

“I’m delighted I did the accreditation and it was great to be recognised by Mick O’Leary when the ELT roadshow came to town recently. It was a great occasion. That recognition and what I experience here every day when I come in to work shows that Tirlán is really living by its values here in Ballitore when it comes to ‘Empower and Go.’”

Tirlán CountryLife decided to sponsor the Postcard Gardens at the Bloom Garden Festival over six months ago, and that was the beginning of a truly exciting journey for the brand

By sponsoring the Postcard Gardens, we aimed to highlight the passion and creativity of amateur gardeners, sharing their stories and inspiring communities to embrace gardening. This initiative perfectly aligns with Tirlán CountryLife’s commitment to nurturing gardens, from backyards to garden festivals, and promoting green spaces in local communities.

Our primary goal was to boost brand awareness and engage with our community, and we achieved this through a series of thoughtfully curated activities.

• Tirlán CountryLife Giant Garden Chair: Rest spot and photo opportunity
• Spin to Win activity: Engaged attendees with exciting prizes
• Flower wall planting: Children’s involvement, rehomed to Laura Lynn Children’s Hospice
• Spin to Win activity at the festival and at Heuston Station: engaged attendees with exciting prizes, bringing instant joy
• Hosting Community Gardens Panel Discussion: Featured expert horticulturist Alma Hayden from Tirlán CountryLife, Athboy
• Nationwide competition: Chance to win a €2000 community garden, inspiring garden projects.

Fiona Byrne, CountryLife Brand Manager, highlights her gratitude for being able to bring a campaign like this to life. “It couldn’t have happened without our amazing team”. A huge shout out to our phenomenal Tirlán CountryLife and wider Tirlán team for their dedication and support over the past six months.

Special thanks to Jess Kelly and Ava Whelan, who went above and beyond to bring this campaign to its full potential. To our digital team, including Mark Dillon, Jane Maher and Melanie Mynhardt, and to our retail team and horticulturists who supported the entire initiative. Lastly, to Senan Foley, Rob O’Keeffe and Grace O’Dwyer for your continuous support throughout.

For more information on the Postcard Garden entrants see: Postcard Gardens – Bloom | Ireland’s Largest Garden Festival | June Bank Holiday (bordbiabloom.com)

Each month, we put the spotlight on a Tirlán employee and for our May newsletter, we’re talking to Matthew Moylan, Sustainability Advisor

Matthew Moylan, Sustainability Advisor, celebrates six years with Tirlán in June and is revelling in his busy role as part of the new Farm Support Service, working hand in hand with suppliers in the Slaney catchment.

He’s one of a dedicated team working with Tirlán suppliers across Wicklow, Carlow and Wexford to help reduce nitrogen losses in what the Environmental Protection Agency’s water testing programme has identified as “a catchment of concern”.

The Agricultural Science graduate at Waterford Institute of Technology started out in the powder plant in Belview and transferred over to the sustainability team two and a half years ago.

“I absolutely love it. We’ve a lot of work to do on the ‘Farming for Water: River Slaney Project’. But the engagement from suppliers has been great and there is real momentum behind the programme. I worked with Teagasc and for Farm Relief Services when I graduated and then took six months out and travelled to Australia and New Zealand.

“I worked in Belview for three and a half years and when a role came up in sustainability, I jumped at the opportunity. There’s no typical day in this role. Now that the weather is finally improving, we’re hoping to get out more onto farm and work with our suppliers and help them to farm in a more sustainable manner.

“We were delayed a bit getting onto farm because of the bad weather. But we’re out more now and the level of engagement is fantastic. Our suppliers have always been engaged and are very open to taking advice. We’ve a very high engagement rate of 98% on the ASSAP programme.

“Our focus for the next two years will very much be on the Slaney and improving water quality there. It’s crucial if we’re going to retain the Nitrates Derogation. We’ll be looking at their farm infrastructure, their nutrient management plan, improving their milk solids and help them become more economically and environmentally sustainable. They can go hand in hand.”

Matthew lives on the family farm in Dunamaggin so even after a long day, he’s ready, willing and able to help with milking or any other jobs around the farm. And to relax, he’s a keen follower of Leinster rugby and also Kilkenny hurling.

“I don’t play sports anymore unfortunately. I played a bit of hurling and football in my day. It’s important to keep up to date with all of the changing legislation and regulation in this job, so I’ve also signed up to the Sustainable Farming Academy and am studying at UCC.

“Every day is a learning day and there’s always something new you can learn. Lots has changed since I studied at WIT. It’s great to pick up new pointers, learn new things and I can do the assignments at quieter times of the year on the job.

“It’s also great to be mixing with suppliers on the course. You hear things from the other undergraduates and it makes you better at your job. It’s fun as well as learning and I’m delighted I signed up.”

Matthew says he loves the variety in his role and the genuine engagement from farmers. “We’ve a lot to achieve in the next 18 months in the Slaney. There is serious work to be done. But when you arrive on farm and you are greeted by a supplier who is hungry for knowledge, ready and willing to engage, it’s refreshing and rewarding. I’d be very hopeful that we will achieve our goals there.”

Tirlán and Baileys are celebrating 50 years in partnership.

Tirlán and its dairy ingredients customer Baileys Irish Cream Liqueur are celebrating 50 years in partnership by opening applications for their third successive Sustainable Farming Academy.

Now in its third year, the course offers 20 fully-funded places on the Level 7 Diploma in Sustainability, Environment & Climate delivered by UCC.

The programme is an educational initiative delivered through University College Cork to support Irish farming communities in addressing environmental challenges by giving them the knowledge, skills and know-how to farm more sustainably.

Please let our farm family suppliers know that applications are open until Friday, 28th June. Any supplier interested in applying will need to submit an expression of interest via the UCC portal before this date.

Each month, we put the spotlight on a Tirlán employee and for our April newsletter, we’re talking to Caoimhe Murphy, Ruminant Business Manager

The prolonged wet weather means Caoimhe Murphy’s skills and expertise are in high demand at the moment.

The Ruminant Business Manager serves customers across Carlow and Wexford and the fact that cattle in large swathes of her sales area are still housed and not out in the fields means there are extra calls from under pressure farmers trying to manage fodder need, the nutritional needs of their herd and optimise dairy output.

“I’m a direct contact for farmers and manage feed sales to them, give them advice on managing the dietary needs of cows and help solve lingering problems about how to optimise production on farm as the wet weather lingers on.

“The mood among farmers is low, it’s absolutely not ideal that cattle are still in most of the time. They’re definitely under pressure. The fact that we can do absolutely nothing about the weather can be frustrating. Grass is definitely the best feed for cows and when they do get out to grass, the mood will lift. But it is a tough time.

“In lots of instances, farmers are running low on fodder and silage. I work with them to find the best nutritional plan for the herd in such circumstances and get their energy requirements right. It’s brilliant when you work with a farmer and find a solution. It’s incredibly rewarding,” the UCD Animal and Crop Production graduate said.

Caoimhe grew up on and still lives on a dairy and beef farm in Kilmanagh, just outside Kilkenny city, so she lives and breathes farming 24/7.  “We’re milking about 180 cows at home at the moment, so I know exactly what it’s like for farmers in the current climate. Farming really is a labour of love and it’s 24/7. I’m our farmers’ direct contact so I could get a call after evening milking looking for something to be ordered.

“Orders are always coming in. You could get a text late in the evening, some early in the morning, at weekends even. To try to balance things out, I make direct calls to farmers at the start of the week after I go through my list, see who might be running low by the end of the week. It helps me to try to keep one step ahead.

“I started out with Tirlán when I graduated during Covid in 2020. I got a place on the Graduate Programme and worked first on the Ruminant East team, based out of the Bunclody branch. It also involved some telesales work. A year later, I got my own list of customers in Carlow and Wexford, based out of the Graiguecullen and Bunclody branches. I absolutely love my role in sales.

“I love being in direct contact with farmers, helping find solutions to any problems they may have. Farming is rapidly changing and they’re facing greater sustainability challenges now more than ever. It’s very rewarding to work with them. They’re very passionate about what they do, but there’s a lot of new legislation coming at them so they do need support.

“I’m happiest in sales and have found that there are definite career paths in Tirlán for those who want to progress within the company. The opportunities are absolutely endless and there’s a great spirit of cooperation and support.”

Caoimhe likes to keep active and as well as playing golf, she enjoys playing camogie with the local club in Kilmanagh and getting in hikes at the weekends.

“I’m very lucky to have a role in Tirlán that I love, that is close to friends and family. Farming is in a bit of a flux at the moment with so much change happening. But we have solutions and farmers are more than willing to adapt, so there’s always plenty to do. I wouldn’t have it any other way.”