A LIMERICK farming couple were crowned as having the best quality milk in the region at the recent Dairygold Milk Quality and Sustainability Awards.
Taoiseach Micheal Martin presented John and Catherine Hannon from Kiltemplan, County Limerick, with the award in Springfort Hall in Mallow.
The pair also claimed the sustainability award on the day.
John and Catherine, and their four children Fiona, Mairéad, Shane and Tadhg, milk 230 grass fed Holstein Friesians on the family farm, which has been in existence since 1966.
Investment in technology and overall farm infrastructure over the past three years has allowed the Hannon’s be as efficient as possible.
John also cited membership of local discussion groups as being vitally important as a way to gather expertise in the field.
Their efforts were also acknowledged by Animal Health Ireland at 2024 CellCheck Awards, and secured an SCC of 73,000 for 2024.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin, guest of honour at the event, commended the role of family farming in Ireland and the importance of supporting it for future success: “The success we see in Irish farming today is a testament to the professionalism and resilience of our farm families. The dairy sector is a cornerstone of our rural economy, and it’s farmers like those honoured today who are securing its future.”
The awards were based on 2024 milk quality data from Dairygold’s 2,500 Milk Suppliers across Cork, Tipperary, Limerick, Clare, Kerry and Waterford.
18 finalists were shortlisted from each of the six Dairygold regions and assessed by a team of expert judges.
