23rd October 2025
Ornua and the National Dairy Council are delighted to announce the Ryan farm from Moyne, Thurles, Co. Tipperary supplying Centenary Thurles as the overall winners of the 2025 NDC & Kerrygold Quality Milk Awards.
The prestigious annual awards programme, now in its 16th year, saw 12 farming families from seven counties and 12 dairy co-operatives, celebrated for excellence in milk production and sustainable dairying at a special ceremony hosted at Lyrath Estate Hotel, Co. Kilkenny.
Following their nomination by Centenary Thurles co-op, Tom, Mary, and Michael Ryan were announced as this year’s overall winner of the Quality Milk Awards, having excelled through a comprehensive judging process spanning the areas of environmental sustainability, animal health and welfare, farm infrastructure, hygiene standards, soil and grassland management, farm advocacy and technical performance.
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon TD, commented: “I would like to offer my warmest congratulations to this year’s overall winner of the NDC & Kerrygold Quality Milk Awards, the Ryan family from County Tipperary, whose dedication to everyday excellence, from paddock to parlour, has deservedly earned them recognition as the standard-bearers for milk quality.
“Ireland’s global reputation as a sustainable producer of quality dairy is built upon the hard work and commitment of Irish farming families like the Ryans and all those we celebrate today. Not only have they each earned the recognition of their own co-operatives, they have represented their families, local communities, and the national dairy sector with pride, showcasing what it takes to produce a top quality product while upholding the highest standards in animal care and environmental stewardship.
“I would like to commend all of this year’s finalists, the category winners and the overall winner, for their hard work and achievements. They each play a central role in safeguarding Ireland’s respected dairy tradition and I wish them all continued success.”
Conor Galvin, Chief Executive, Ornua said: “On behalf of Ornua, I am delighted to congratulate Tom, Mary and Michael Ryan and Centenary Thurles on being named the overall winners of the 2025 NDC and Kerrygold Quality Milk Awards. The Ryans’ exceptional performance across every aspect of milk production is underpinned by their dedication to craft, time-honoured expertise, and a genuine passion for what they do.
Each finalist brings their own unique perspective and heritage story to this year’s awards, but they all share the same deep commitment to quality that earns grass-fed Irish dairy, and Kerrygold, a place in the hearts and homes of consumers all over the world. It all begins at the farm level, and I’d like to thank all of our finalists, their teams, their respective co-operatives and milk advisors for protecting and promoting our reputation as a world leader in sustainable dairy production. It is foundational to the work we do in Ornua in confidently bringing world-class, sustainably-produced grass-fed dairy to the world and capturing value for those that produce it.”
Emma Walls, CEO, National Dairy Council said: “Congratulations to the Ryan family farm on this outstanding achievement. Each of our finalists are a winner in their own right, demonstrating that excellence in dairy production is achievable every day. Ireland’s global reputation is built on the commitment and sustainability practices of Irish dairy famers setting the benchmark for nutritious, grass-based milk production. The dedication shown by our finalists, category winners and overall winners reaffirms Ireland’s pride in its dairy farming families, processors and advisors.”
In addition to the overall prize, six category awards were presented for excellence in the individual areas of milk hygiene and facilities, environmental stewardship, grassland management, lowest carbon footprint, low somatic cell count (SCC), and animal health and welfare.
2025 NDC & Kerrygold Quality Milk Awards Finalists and Award Winners
- Aurivo Co-op – Trench / Ronayne Farm, Claremorris, Co. Mayo (Lowest Carbon Footprint Award winner)
- Bandon Co-op – O’Donoghue Farm, Bandon, Co. Cork
- Barryroe Co-op – O’Donovan Farm, Kinsale, Co. Cork
- Centenary Thurles – Ryan Farm, Thurles, Co. Tipperary (Overall winner & Environmental Stewardship Award winner)
- Dairygold Co-op – Sheehan / O’Leary Farm, Whitechurch, Co. Cork (Grassland Management Award winner)
- Drinagh Co-op – Duggan Farm, Dunmanway, Co. Cork
- Kerry Dairy Ireland – Killeen Farm, Doonbeg, Co. Clare (Milking Hygiene and Facilities Award winner)
- Lakeland Dairies – McElroy Farm, Carrickmacross, Co. Monaghan
- Lisavaird Co-op – O’Neill Farm, Clonakilty, Co. Cork (Animal Health and Welfare Award winner)
- North Cork Creameries – Stack Farm, Listowel, Co .Kerry
- Tirlán – Byrne Farm, Dungarvan, Co. Waterford (Lowest SCC Award winner)
ENDS
For National Dairy Council, please contact: Niamh Gunn, National Dairy Council | nmgunn@ndc.ie | +353 87 673 5319
For Ornua / Kerrygold, please contact: Seán O’Brien, Communications Manager, Ornua | sean.p.obrien@ornua.com | +353 87 910 7740
About the NDC & Kerrygold Quality Milk Awards
Recognised as Ireland’s leading dairy farming awards initiative, the annual NDC & Kerrygold Quality Milk Awards honours Ireland’s leading dairy producers who work tirelessly to enhance standards of excellence in dairy farming and milk production.
Following nomination by their respective co-operative, each finalist participated in a rigorous judging process carried out by an independent judging panel that examined a broad range of criteria including milk quality, animal care, farm infrastructure and hygiene, soil and grassland management and technical performance, among other core environmental indicators.
The judging panel includes: Prof. Karina Pierce, Professor of Dairy Production, UCD School of Agriculture & Food Science; Prof. Patrick Wall, Professor of Public Health, UCD; and Dr. David Gleeson, Research Officer – Milk Quality, Teagasc Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre.
About Ornua
Ornua is an Irish dairy co-operative that markets and sells dairy products on behalf of its Members, Ireland’s dairy processors and, in turn, Irish dairy farmers. Ornua is Ireland’s largest exporter of Irish dairy products and has annualised sales of over €3.4 billion. Headquartered in Dublin, Ornua has a global team of 2,800 employees, operating from 10 business units worldwide, including 12 production facilities.
Ornua’s core mission is to build profitable routes to market for Irish dairy products. It achieves this through: the marketing and sales of consumer brands, including Ireland’s most successful food export Kerrygold, as well as Kerrygold Dubliner, Pilgrims Choice, Forto and BEO milk powders; and the procurement of Irish and non-Irish dairy products, and sale of dairy ingredients to food manufacturing and foodservice customers across the world.
About the National Dairy Council
The National Dairy Council (NDC) champions the role of sustainable, quality, pasture-based dairy production and its nutrition benefits in supporting healthier and more active living.
We are a farmer-funded representative body that works to promote and protect Ireland’s internationally renowned dairy reputation for excellent products, sustainably produced. We believe in a future in which Irish dairy is recognised and trusted as a vital part of people’s diet, indispensable to Ireland’s social and economic wellbeing. All of our actions are built on a comprehensive understanding of dairy’s role across the life-stages, supporting and using research to answer important questions about dairy products, how they are produced and their role as part of a balanced diet. The NDC plays a vital role in shaping Irish public opinion on dairy production & products. We have a proven track record in promoting dairy products but now we need to actively promote farmers and dairy farming’s social license to operate in Ireland.