Galway farming couple takes top prize at Dairy Farmer of Year awards

GALWAY farmers Noel and Bernadette O’Toole have won the overall prize at the inaugural Irish Dairy Board (IDB) Dairy Farmer of the Year awards.

Based in Killimor, between Portumna and Loughrea, Noel and Bernadette have built up their dairy herd over the past five years from 75 to the current 125 cows (spring calving), consisting of Friesian and Jersey cross-breeds.

In total, the family farms 61 hectares of land. The farm has a quota of close on 530,000 litres with a herd average EBI of €105. Noel is a member of the Killimor, East Clare, and Grass Roots dairy discussion group.

IDB chief executive Kevin Lane said: “The skillset and animal husbandry of Irish dairy farmers is vital in developing efficient dairy farms. The quality, purity and integrity of Irish milk are crucial, when it comes to marketing and developing routes to market for Irish dairy products.”

The six categories in the awards recognise the inherent attributes of dairy farmers supplying quality milk to the dairy industry.

The winners were revealed at an awards ceremony in the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Dublin, this week. The IDB shortlisted 10 finalists, listed below.

* IDB Dairy Farmer of the Year category winners and finalists: (West and overall winner) Noel and Bernadette O’Toole (Co Galway); (South) Pat and Olive Weeks (Co Limerick); (East) Padraig and Miriam Hyland (Co Laois); (Development Categories) Danny and Yvonne Bermingham (Co Clare); Michael and Eilish Walsh (Co Cork); (Finalists) Tom and Alice O’Sullivan (Co Cork); Sean and Ann Bugler (Co Clare); John, Bryan and Philip Daniels (Co Kilkenny); James and Carmel Croke (Co Tipperary); David and Triona Jennings (Co Cork).