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The O’Brien family from Doon.
THREE Kerry families are among 13 farms who have reached the finals of the 2022 National Dairy Council (NDC) and Kerrygold Quality Milk Awards.
The O’Brien family from Doon, Tralee, the Egan family from Abbeydorney and the Moynihan family from Knocknagoshel have all been shortlisted for the award, dubbed the ‘Oscars of the Dairy World’.
Representing eight counties and 13 dairy co-ops nationwide, the NDC & Kerrygold Quality Milk Awards recognise and celebrate the highest standards of excellence in dairy farming with a focus on milk quality, animal welfare, and sustainable farming practices.
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Eric and his son, Austin, are based in Doon and have been farming together for the past number of years. Joining the O’Briens on the farm are Eric’s wife Tina, as well as their other children Emer, Hazel and Rachel. Eric, a fifth-generation farmer, took over the farm when he was just 15 years old.
Austin is currently studying Agricultural Science in Tralee and has a keen interest in working on and taking over the family farm in the future.
The farm is steeped in history, with the original house being built over 300 years ago, and Eric’s father and uncle delivering milk around Tralee on a pony.
The Egan family from Abbeydorney.
Eoin Egan lives in Aulane, Abbeydorney, with his wife Siobhán, two small children, Ruairí and Síne, and his parents, Frank and Mary.
Eoin, Frank and Mary work in a three-way registered farm partnership, with the Egans farming the land since the early 1800s. Eoin has been farming with his parents for as far back as he can remember.
He always showed a huge interest in the farm and spent as much time as he could learning the ropes from his father. Frank took over the farm full time at the age of 19, and distinctly remembers taking the bus into school at the age of 14 and longing to join the farmers he passed by each morning.
Frank and Eoin have a keen interest in keeping on top of modern science and technologies and are always looking for ways to continually improve the processes they have in place on farm.
Maurice Moynihan
Maurice Moynihan farms with his father, Timmy, in Knocknagoshel. A third-generation farmer, Maurice began helping his father around the farm at the age of 11, and fell in love with farming life.
His brothers, Teddy, Michael, Kevin and Thomas would help out when needed, especially at silage time. Animal husbandry comes naturally to Maurice, who feels that the health of the herd is key to a smooth-running operation that produces top quality milk.
An open-minded individual, Maurice feels that it’s necessary to move with the times in order to ensure continual improvement across all aspects of farming.
Maurice considers farming a community affair and feels he would not be where he is today without the help and involvement of his neighbours and community.
The prestigious awards, now in their eleventh year, reward farming families working every day to produce high quality dairy through sustainable production methods.
The overall winner of the 2022 NDC & Kerrygold Quality Milk Awards will be announced at a special ceremony in Ballyvolane House, Co. Cork on Wednesday, September 14.
Congratulations all farmers, farming is a good job.