Kerrygold and the National Dairy Council (NDC) have announced the 14 Irish farming families, representing seven counties and 14 dairy cooperatives nationwide, who have been shortlisted as finalists for the 2023 NDC and Kerrygold Quality Milk Awards.
The awards, now in their 12th year, celebrate the highest standards of dairy production in Ireland with a focus on milk quality, animal welfare and sustainable farming practices.
Recognised across the dairy sector as Ireland’s leading dairy farming awards initiative, the NDC and Kerrygold Quality Milk Awards honour dairy farming families from across the country who work tirelessly to produce the milk that earns Ireland its international reputation for quality and sustainably produced dairy.
The awards take place next Tuesday 7th November in Co Cork.
Here we are focusing on three families from Co. Cork and Co. Mayo.
Dullea Farm
Micheal Dullea’s family farm is in Keelnameela, Enniskeane, Co. Cork. He lives there with his wife Martina and their four children Ciaran, Alison, Michelle and Annmarie.
Martina and Michael, both from farming backgrounds, inherited the responsibility of 40 cows in 2018 and they have been continually improving the land bestowed upon them ever since.
Martina’s role alongside Michael is a testament to the power of partnership. Their combined efforts have yielded remarkable outcomes.
Their youngest son, Ciaran, recently graduated from Darrara Agricultural College in Clonakilty and is passionate about bringing the modern way of doing things to the table.
The Dullea team are keen to ensure their farm is as sustainable as possible and they carefully maintain the local flora and fauna on their land, that overlooks the Bandon Valley.
Gordon Farm
Michael Gordon’s family farm is in Crossmolina, Co. Mayo. Michael’s wife Ita, daughters Emily, Ciara, Aoife, and son, Kevin, also reside at the family farm.
Their farming journey began in 1998, and in 2018, the Gordons transitioned from beef to dairy, and today, they milk a herd of 75 cows.
The Gordon family know the importance of allowing biodiversity to co-exist within their productive farming system, nurturing habitats through beekeeping, birdfeeders and hedgerows.
Notably, Kevin stands out as a passionate advocate for technology and statistics in farm management and the father and son duo employ a meticulous approach to herd management continuously and closely monitoring their cows.
They lean on data driven insights to ensure the utmost health and welfare of their cows, which allows them to produce top quality milk.
Kingston Farm
Ian Kingston’s family farm is in Dunmanway, Co. Cork. Ian resides there with his wife, Marie, his son Dylan, and daughter Emma.
The farm has been in the Kingston family since 1911. Ian’s love for farming and animals was cultivated from an early age, and he took full ownership of the land.
The farm operates as a close-knit family enterprise, with Ian’s parents still involved in its day-to-day activities.
Having completed a diploma in environmental science with University College Cork (UCC) during the Covid-19 pandemic, Ian is dedicated to lifelong learning and making improvements on his farm.
A true advocate of education, Ian hosts students from the UCC Dairy Business degree programme on the farm. Ian enjoys mentoring young farmers and is quick to offer advice to help them improve their herds.
For further information and to view more information on this year’s finalists please click here.
