The 12 shortlisted finalists for the 2026 NDC & Kerrygold Quality Milk Awards have been announced by Ornua and the National Dairy Council, with half of the finalists coming from Cork.
Recognised as Ireland’s leading national dairy farming awards programme, the Quality Milk Awards honours the country’s leading producers and farm families at the forefront of advancing standards of excellence in grass-based dairy farming and milk production.
Collectively, the finalists represent a blueprint for the future of Irish dairying – each producing high-quality milk from healthy cows, operating profitable businesses, embracing innovation, while reducing environmental impact and engaging positively with and on behalf of their communities.
FINALISTS
Now in its 17th year, the programme, which is a collaboration between Ornua – the Kerrygold owner – and the National Dairy Council, recognises the ‘best of the best’ from Ireland’s dairy farming community.
The 6 Cork finalists to make the shortlist, are the Kelleher farm, Tullyland, Co. Cork (Bandon Co-op); the Kirby farm, Ballinascarty, Co. Cork (Barryroe Co-op); the O’Donoghue Farm, Maulatrahane, Co. Cork (Drinagh Co-op); the Troy Farm, Newtownshandrum, Co. Cork (Kinisla); the Buttimer farm, Lyre, Co. Cork (Lisavaird Co-op) and the Dennehy farm, Kilbrin, Co. Cork (North Cork Creameries).
Two representatives from Tipperary are on the shortlist, Breen Farm, Gorteen, Co. Tipperary (Arratipp Co-op) and the Campion farm, Graigue, Co. Tipperary (Centenary Thurles Co-op).
The Carroll farm at Coolrus, Co Limerick (Dairygold Co-op) and the Fitzgerald farm, Portlaw, Co. Waterford (Tirlán) are also finalists, along wit the Kelly Farm, Ballyarrell, Co. Donegal (Aurivo Co-op) and the Loughrey farm, Multyfarnham, Co. Westmeath (Lakeland Dairies).
Collectively, the finalists represent a blueprint for the future of Irish dairying – each producing high-quality milk from healthy cows, operating profitable businesses, embracing innovation, while reducing environmental impact and engaging positively with and on behalf of their communities.
Each shortlisted finalist emerged from a rigorous internal selection process within their own co-operative and has been chosen as the farm that best represents their co-op’s milk suppliers. The shortlisted finalists have each progressed to the most demanding phase of the programme as judging nears its conclusion.
The overall winner of the 2026 NDC & Kerrygold Quality Milk Awards will be announced at an awards ceremony in Kilkenny in September.
