Tipperary dairy and sheep farmers recognised at New Entrant to Farming Awards

Michael Tobin, a dairy farmer from Cashel, has been announced as the overall winner of the New Entrant to Farming Award, at a special event held at the Hotel Minella in Clonmel earlier this week.

Mr Tobin was awarded a €5,000 prize, and the runner-up, Tom Morrissey, a sheep farmer from Lisnatubrid, Clonmel, received €2,000. Both prizes were sponsored by Clonmel Credit Union.

Michael comes from a multi-generational farming family, and is in a partnership with his parents Julie and Michael Snr. Together, they run a grass-based dairy enterprise across 100ha, milking 180 cows plus replacements, with some beef finished as well.

“I'm passionate about dairy because that is what my family has built over multiple generations” said Michael, “and I want to keep growing it for whoever comes after me. Farming is a very rewarding career; it's hard work, but you get a lot back out of it.”

“It’s a great honour to be here tonight as a winner, and to be supported by Clonmel Credit Union as a farmer, and it’s great to be recognised for doing a good job in farming and in the sector.”

Runner-up Tom Morrissey is a 24-year-old sheep farmer from Clonmel, lambing around 150 ewes, a mix of mountain breeds and lowland sheep, supplemented with 750 store lambs. Morrissey already runs a successful agricultural contracting business in the area and said the prize fund would be reinvested into the farming business.

Clonmel Credit Union, in association with the South Tipperary and West Waterford Irish Farmers Association (IFA), announced the winners of the inaugural New Entrant to Farming Awards at Hotel Minella on Wednesday 28th October, during an IFA-hosted event exploring succession planning.

The competition was launched in July to strengthen a vital sector in the region, spanning livestock, tillage, breeding, horticulture, and agri-tourism.

Speaking at the awards ceremony, Pat Carroll, South Tipperary IFA Farm Business Chairman, said, “The volume of applications and quality was outstanding. What impressed me most was their passion, drive and desire to succeed in their farming career.

“Recognising new entrants to farming is vital because they are an important part of the social fabric of every rural parish in Ireland. To maintain schools, churches, sports clubs and many other amenities in rural Ireland, without these people there are no communities.”

Clonmel Credit Union has supported a large Agri business membership in South Tipperary and West Waterford for over 60 years.

“We know how integral farming is in South Tipperary and West Waterford. Farming employs over 15,000 people either directly or indirectly in the area and we want to be able to support the next generation of farmers too,” says Michael O’Grady, Head of Lending at Clonmel Credit Union, said.

“That’s why the New Entrant to Farming Award is so important to Clonmel Credit Union. We know one of the biggest challenges for people seeking finance, whether you're a new entrant or an existing farmer, is delays in processing applications.

“At the credit union, we have three core philosophies: speed, simplicity and convenience. We have an experienced team in place that won’t pass you off elsewhere for a decision. We'll make the decision locally, based on the person in front of us, not just numbers and data on an application. As we see it, any investment in a local agri-business is a direct support to the local community.”