County Down farmer recognised at Lakeland Dairies Supreme Milk Quality Awards
Martin McConville from Rathfriland has won the Northern Ireland Best New Entrant Category in the Lakeland Dairies Supreme MilkQuality Awards.
The Milk Quality Awards are a recognition of the achievements of Lakeland Dairies’ milk suppliers who are committed to quality in all aspects of their milk production. Winning a milk quality award is a truly excellent achievement.
Martin McConville from Rathfriland won the Northern Ireland Best New Entrant Category.
The winners emerged from among 3,200 farm families across 17 counties who produce milk for 2bn litres of high-quality milk.
The awards were presented by Lakeland Dairies’ Chairman Niall Matthews and Group Chief Executive Colin Kelly at a special event Virginia Park Lodge Hotel, Co Cavan, together with guest of honour Professor Patrick Wall.
Lakeland Dairies also announced winners in several categories of the Milk Quality Awards, including Supreme Champion.
Lakeland Dairies Supreme Milk Quality Champions:
The Supreme Champions of the Lakeland Dairies Milk Quality Awards are David and Irene from Irvinstown, Co. Fermanagh. The partnership took home the top prize for the exceptionally high quality of milk produced on their farm throughout the past year.
The Kerrigans also took home the <1m litre producer category award in Northern Ireland.
Lakeland Dairies also announced winners in several categories of the Milk Quality Awards.
Northern Ireland
>1m Litre Category Winners
James and Richard Barr from Ballymoney, Co. Antrim won the >1m litre milk producer category in Northern Ireland.
Paula L Neill of Neill Farms, Portadown, Co. Armagh were the highly commended runners-up in the >1m litre producer category of the awards in Northern Ireland.
<1m Litre Category Winners.
David and Irene Kerrigan from Irvinstown, Co. Fermanagh won the <1m litre producer category in Northern Ireland. The Kerrigans also took home the overall Supreme Champions.
James and Tom McClelland from Limavady, Co. Derry / Londonderry was the highly commended runner-up in the <1m litre producer category in Northern Ireland.
Lakeland Dairies Group CEO Colin Kelly said: “On behalf of everyone at Lakeland Dairies, we commend today’s winners. Lakeland Dairies is delivering an ambitious added-value strategy that focuses on returning a sustainable milk price to our farm families.
“This strategy is being delivered by being an export-focused business producing the highest-quality products while having a ruthless focus on operation efficiencies across all our sites. The foundation stone of this strategy is the milk produced by our 3,200 farm families.xa0xa0
“Thanks to our world-class farmers and their quality milk, Lakeland Dairies is well positioned to meet the demand for dairy products with some of the largest and most innovative global food companies.
“We are currently exporting 240 different dairy products and food ingredients to customers in 100 countries worldwide and we want to continue to grow and develop this network of customers in partnership with our farm families.”
Northern Ireland New Entrant winner, Martin McConville, accepting the award from Prof. Patrick Wall. Also included Colin Kelly, left, Lakeland Dairies Chief Executive and Keith Agnew, right, Vice-Chairperson of Lakeland Dairies.Photography by Rory Geary.
