Hayes Farm, a proud family dairy business enjoying huge success

Thomas Hayes is proud that Tipperary Cheese company, his family’s dairy food business, has a history of over 400 years in farming. He talks to Rita de Brún

Thomas Hayes of Tipperary Cheese Company, says: “In a family business you are always the face of your company. No matter where you go, you are always representing your brand.”

The Hayes family has been farming in Two-Mile-Borris, Thurles, Co Tipperary, for over 400 years. Thomas, his father, Donal, and his uncle Liam have a 240-dairy cow herd, consisting of Friesian-cross-Norwegian Reds and some Jersey-cross-Norwegian Reds.

Describing how their business —  the Tipperary Cheese Company — began, Thomas says: “My dad set up a milk round in the 1970s. Later, when the introduction of milk quotas came in, we sold our milk round to Avonmore. Because we then had a lot of liquid milk to use, we decided to make cream cheese. This was in the late 80s.