Diageo Baileys Champion Cow competition returns to Cavan

Top prize comes with a cash reward of €3,000 at the Virginia Show in August

Launching the 2026 Diageo Baileys Champion Dairy Cow competition at the Diageo Baileys site in Dublin were Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Martin Heydon T.D., Shane Kelly, Corporate Relations Director, Diageo Ireland, and Carol Power, Senior Sales Manager, Tirlán.

The Diageo Baileys Champion Cow competition will return to the Virginia Show in Co Cavan on August 19.

Diageo Ireland, in partnership with its cream supplier Tirlán, said the event was a showcase of the quality behind Baileys’ signature ingredient, Irish dairy cream.

Attending its launch at the Diageo Baileys site in Dublin, agriculture minister Martin Heydon praised the long-running competition as a living demonstration of the connection between Ireland's world-class dairy farming and one of the country's most iconic brands.

“It’s an honour to officially launch the 2026 Diageo Baileys Champion Cow competition. The return of this annual event is a reminder of the deep-rooted tradition and pride that underpins Ireland’s dairy sector," he said.

"Behind every outstanding entry we see is a farm family whose knowledge has been built over generations and continues to evolve through innovation and best practice. Events like this celebrate the highest standards of animal care, bring communities together, and reinforce the vital role agriculture plays in sustaining rural Ireland.” 

The competition is open to both Irish Holstein Friesian Association (IHFA) and Holstein NI. The closing date for entries is August 12.

The competition’s top prize, Diageo Baileys Champion, comes with a cash reward of €3,000 and the Virginia Milk Products Cup. The breeders of reserve champion and honourable mention will receive €1,500 and €800 respectively.

Additionally, the event will feature many other category prizes, including junior cows in their second lactation, with a total prize fund of €1,550. The popular best-heifer-in-milk category will also offer €1,550, with €750 awarded to the first-place winner.

Breeders are encouraged to submit their entries online via the Virginia Show website or contact Patrick Gaynor at 087-2898707.