Tirlán plans new €126m whey processing facility

The new facility is expected to be operational by mid-2027.

At the whey processing facility at its Ballyragget site in Kilkenny were agriculture, food, and marine minister Martin Heydon, with Tirlán's Aoife Murphy, John Murphy, chief executive Sean Molloy, and Jim O'Neill. Photo: Dylan Vaughan

Dairy processor Tirlán has announced plans for a €126m investment in a whey processing facility at its Ballyragget site in Kilkenny.

Once operational, the facility will significantly increase Tirlán’s capacity to create high-value whey-based products. The new facility, which will be water neutral and carbon efficient, is expected to be operational by mid-2027.

“Ballyragget is already one of Europe’s largest integrated dairy processing sites, and this development will position Tirlán at the forefront of global nutritional protein innovation," said Tirlán chair John Murphy.

“Today’s €126m investment is a real vote of confidence in the Irish dairy sector and in the world-class team here in Ballyragget. This is our largest value-add investment ever – a bold step forward in our journey to move further up the value chain."

The announcement was made on Friday at an event attended by Agriculture, Food, and Marine minister Martin Heydon. "This multi-million-euro investment in whey protein processing capability represents not just a commitment to Tirlán’s future, but to the Irish dairy industry as a whole. Whey has transformed from what was once considered just a by-product of cheese making into one of the most valuable and versatile nutritional ingredients in the world," said Mr Heydon.

Tirlán and its 100% farmer-owned co-operative network generated €5.5bn in economic activity in 2022, supporting over 19,200 direct and indirect jobs across Ireland.