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Richard and Nora Fitzgerald, Mitchelstown and their kids Clare and Liam receiving a commemorative presentation as national finalists at the NDC & Kerrygold Quality Milk Awards with GAA star Bernard Brogan, Minister Tom Hayes, and Frank O’Flynn (Dairygold). Photo: Dylan Vaughan

Edward and Olivia Fitzgerald from Tobernea, Effin in Co Limerick has won the 'best dairy farm' award at the NDC & Kerrygold Quality Milk Awards.

The Fitzgeralds, who supply the milk from their farm to Kerry Agribusiness, were presented with the National Dairy Council & Kerrygold Quality Milk Awards perpetual cup and €5,000 at an awards ceremony in the RDS by GAA star Bernard Brogan and Tom Hayes T.D., Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

Edward is the 5th generation of his family to farm at Tobernea. He took over the running of the family farm in 2008, the same year he married Olivia. His parents, Michael and Catherine, were at the RDS to celebrate the announcement of the national results.

Fourteen farms from eight counties were commemorated at the awards ceremony, including five national category prize winners and three farms which were highly commended by the judges for specific achievements.

Mitchelstown couple, Richard and Nora Fitzgerald, Gortnahown, Mitchelstown (suppliers to Dairygold Co-op) also received high praise from the judges.

A member of the adjudicating panel, Dr David Gleeson of Teagasc, said good results don’t happen by accident and 'in some cases farmers were achieving top class milk for the last 10 years'.

"The standard is set by the participants not by the judges. For example 9 of the 14 farms shortlisted had TBC less 10,000 and 8 had a SCC less than 120,000cells/ml, in fact two had an average SCC under 70,000- serious results. Six of the group had an average protein percentage over 3.5 - very impressive, especially for spring producers,” Mr Gleeson said.

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