Farmer Ambassador Programme

The National Dairy Council Farmer Ambassador Programme brings together a team of people involved in the production of Irish dairy, who act as advocates and spokespeople for Ireland’s family-farm-based, grass-fed dairy production system.

They are champions for the many initiatives being employed to make Irish dairy ever more sustainable and environmentally-friendly – and they are all keen to speak about what they are doing and what needs to be done.

Connelly Family

Austin and Yvonne Connelly farm with their four daughters, Ava, Anna, Jane and Kate, in Tuam, Co. Galway. Fifth-generation farmers, they are relatively new to dairy farming having made the transition just five years ago, after previously operating a suckler beef and sheep enterprise.

Enda Walsh

Dairy Farmer Enda Walsh studied Dairy Business at University College Dublin, and now farms alongside his father Henry and mother Patricia.

Christopher Tuffy

NDC Farmer Ambassador Christopher Tuffy from Co. Sligo was crowned FBD Young Farmer of the Year in 2022.

Paddy O’Kelly

Paddy went to agricultural college in Pallaskenry, then spent 3 years with the farm apprenticeship board working in farms in Kerry and Cork. He is the 7th generation on this family farm, his dad is 89 and is still very involved.

James Flaherty

James Flaherty’s family have farmed here since 1850, and James is the next generation to carry on the farming tradition.

Gearoid Maher

Gearoid Maher farms in partnership with his wife Sarah and his two daughters, and they milk 110 pedigree British Friesian cows on 200 acres

Caroline Hanrahan

Caroline Hanrahan and her husband Ger own and operate one of the 17,500 family-run farms in Ireland, producing milk and other milk products with their 350 strong dairy cows.

Brendan Walsh

Brendan Walsh is the eighth generation of farmers to tend to his family’s 102-hectare farm.

Shane Fitzgerald

Shane’s a young farmer who believes, rightly, that young people are going to be most affected by the sustainability decisions that are made today. Therefore, he says, young farmers should have a say in policy, as it affects dairying, and have some influence in how the industry goes about achieving its goals.

Eamon Sheehan

Eamon Sheehan is a dairy farmer in Cuffesgrange, Co. Kilkenny, farming 180 acres alongside his wife and their 3 children

Miriam Gunn

Miriam, farmer and mum of four, believes that Women in Dairy is about recognition – her grandmother worked on the farm but would never have considered herself a farmer. “It’s about women standing up and saying, hold on, we’re doing this too, and being acknowledged for it.” She’s also keen to see country kids being encouraged to participate in dairying and to be proud to be part of it.

Olivia Gunn

When she’s not in school, Olivia works hard with her mum Miriam on the family farm in Co Roscommon. She tells us about her relationship with the cows and how Haribos and mini-marshmallows play an important part.

Nicole Keohane

Nicole caught the farming bug a little later than most. She explains, “It wasn’t until I was around sixteen that I even milked my first cow. But once I had, I was hooked.”

Tom Power

“We look after the cows better than we look after ourselves” – Tom tells us about the care that Irish farmers take with their cows, he talks about Irish dairy being the best in the world and he says that culling the national herd would be a disaster. He also lets us know that, rather than being a farmer, his daughter would like to be a unicorn or a fairy.

Louise Crowley

Louise is a real advocate for farmers and farming – she’s heavily involved in the more political side of farming and is a strong champion for women in farming, for young farmers and for social media as the best way to connect. She loves cutting silage and she hates fencing.

Niall Moore

“The cow is in charge of everything she does – she has to come to the robot, it’s a simple as that.” Niall talks about his move to the robotic milking system, better for him, better for his family who work with him but, above all, better for the cow. The robotic system monitors cow health and milk quality, and enables Niall to manage his pastures to ensure the best grass for his animals.

Angela Brickley

Angela talks about the importance of breeding, producing a cow that lives longer, produces greater quantities of better-quality milk and has beef characteristics – a valuable animal that enables Irish farmers to do more with the same, reducing the carbon hoofprint of each litre of milk delivered.

Ireland’s dairy farmers work tirelessly to care for their farms, their animals and the land that they steward. Irish dairy is synonymous with quality and is recognised globally for being produced to the highest standards.

NDC Farmer Ambassadors are spokespeople for Irish dairy and the farming practices that deliver what many people believe to be the best dairy in the world.

Irish milk has a low production carbon footprint of 0.97kg CO2 eq per litre of fat and protein corrected milk (FPCM).

They are passionate advocates for:

Dairy sustainability
(including initiatives to reduce environmental impact)
Grass-fed dairy production
Cow and herd well-being
Family farming
The future of dairy farming in Ireland
Dairy products

NDC Farmer Ambassadors are available for interview and for comment. Please contact

Cathy Curran, Communications Manager, NDC – Mobile: +353 86 877 7664 or Telephone: +353 1 290 2451

Jeremy Probert, 4TC – Mobile: +353 89 700 0792

Occasions

Chef

Dairy Ingredients

MILK – The story of Ireland’s culinary
treasure, explored through recipes,
history and culture.

Irish Cheddar Cheese Toastie with Homemade Tomato Soup

Mussel & Potato Salad

Healthy Eating

Dairy - A Matrix of Nutrients

Bone & Muscle Health