A Galway family have been crowned Ireland’s top dairy farmers at a national awards ceremony this week.
The Connolly family from Tuam, supplying the Aurivo Co-Op, were the overall winners at the 2022 NDC & Kerrygold Quality Milk Awards.
Austin and Yvonne Connolly, together with their four daughters Ava, Anna, Jane and Kate, came out on top from among 13 families in the annual competition.
The Connolly family won the overall prize at the event in Cork on Wednesday for excelling in all areas of the judging criteria, including milk quality, animal welfare and sustainable farming practices.
Though the Connolly’s are fifth generation farmers, they are relatively new to the dairy business, having made the switch just four years ago.
Minister for Agriculture, Food & the Marine, Charlie McConalogue said, “Greatness recognises greatness so it is a tremendous honour for all those farm families who have been nominated for the prestigious 2022 NDC & Kerrygold Quality Milk Awards.”
“My sincere congratulations to the Connelly family as well as the rest of the nominees. To be recognised by your own peers and your own co-operative in the first instance is a tremendous honour.”
“The success achieved by winners and nominees comes from a lifetime of dedication to dairy farming excellence and constant improvement.”
“On behalf of the industry, I thank all the nominees and winners for what they have achieved,” Minister McConalogue added.
