Laois farmers celebrated at prestigious national awards
FBD National Dairy Awards took place in the Midlands Park Hotel, Portlaoise
Laois farmers were well represented among the winners at the prestigious FBD National Dairy Awards, which took place recently in Portlaoise.
Durrow’s Maria Phelan of Laois Organic took home the title of Biodiversity Dairy Farmer of the Year Winner 2026, while Cathal Fleming from Slatt Lower, The Swan, won the Tech Innovator Dairy Farmer of the Year award.
Bruce Thompson of Camcloon Dairy received an Honourable Mention in the Biodiversity Dairy Farmer category.
The organisers say the Biodiversity Category celebrates dairy farmers who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to biodiversity conservation and environmental stewardship, implementing innovative practices to enhance the natural capital on their farms. Maria runs a dairy, beef and tillage farm focused on self-sufficiency.
“Biodiversity is deeply rooted in how the farm is managed. The farm’s health and resilience is upkept through Maria’s traditional knowledge and practices, alongside rotational grazing, varied cropping, careful soil management and maintaining of natural habitats,” said the organisers of her achievement.
Meanwhile, Cathal Fleming, Tech Innovator Dairy Farmer of the Year 2026 for his Moyadd Holstein enterprise.
“Moyadd Holsteins uses integrated data, artificial intelligence and farm-built applications to develop the “Moyadd cow”: a 600–625 kg mature cow capable of producing 620–660 kg of milk solids from grass and homegrown forage while remaining fertile, healthy and efficient in a robotic system,” said the organisers.
Bruce Thompson’s farm in Ballyfin was described as placing an emphasis on farming outdoors and enhancing biodiversity.
“He has implemented four wildlife ponds, planted hedgerows and trees, incorporated multispecies swards, installed bird boxes, as well as leaving three acres of land to re-wild. He has also hosted school tours, where he educated the children on where their food comes from,” said the organisers.
The overall winner on November 5 was Damer Discussion Group in Tipperary, which took both the ‘Cormac Tagging Dairy Discussion Group of the Year Winner 2026’ and the ‘Overall FBD National Dairy Award Winner’.
Other big winners announced at the Midlands Park Hotel included:
- Mullinahone Co-op Young Dairy Farmer of the Year Winner 2026: Conor Wynne, Kildare
- Dairy Vet of the Year Winner 2026: Donal Lynch, Slieve Bloom Veterinary
- Local Power Best Dairy Sustainability Driver Winner 2026: Tara McCarthy, Alltech
- Green Acre Marketing Dairy Social Media Ambassador of the Year Winner 2026: Louise Crowley, Limerick
- IFP Media Dairy Leader of the Year Winner 2026: Professor Karina Pierce, Dean of Agriculture at UCD
- PTSB Best Dairy Producer / Co-op of the Year: Dairygold
The full list of winners on the night included:
- Biodiversity Dairy Farmer of the Year Winner 2026: Maria Phelan, Laois Organic
- Animal Health Dairy Farmer of the Year Winner 2026: Joe Brennan, Roscommon
- Agri Insider Best Artisan Dairy Cheese Winner 2026: Stracciatella, Sabanero Dairy
- Best Artisan Non-Cheese Product Winner 2026: Wild Churn Gelato
- Germinal Sustainable Dairy Grassland Farmer of the Year Winner 2026: Michael Carroll, Limerick
- Dairy Marketing Campaign of the Year Winner 2026: World Without Cows, Alltech
- Irish Farmers Monthly Dairy Advisor of the Year Winner 2026: Bryan Harte, Tirlán MORE BELOW PHOTO:
- Cormac Tagging Dairy Discussion Group of the Year Winner 2026: Damer Discussion Group, Tipperary
- Best Dairy Research Programme / Project Winner 2026: Dairygold Pathways Farm Succession Programme
- Carbery Co-op Dairy Innovation Recognition Award Winner 2026: GyPSy Pro Max
- FBD Dairy Farm Manager of the Year Winner 2026: Alan Daly, Deerpark Farm, Waterford
- Dairy Vet of the Year Winner 2026: Donal Lynch, Slieve Bloom Veterinary, Offaly
- Calor Dairy Sustainability Initiative of the Year: Biomethane for Carbon and Community Project, Technological University of the Shannon
- Local Power Best Dairy Sustainability Driver Winner 2026: Tara McCarthy, Alltech
- Green Acre Marketing Dairy Social Media Ambassador of the Year Winner 2026: Louise Crowley, Limerick
- Mullinahone Co-op Young Dairy Farmer of the Year Winner 2026: Conor Wynne, Kildare
- Herdwatch Best Dairy Product Innovation Winner 2026: Vital Plus Fat Filled Milk Powder, Lakeland Dairies, Cavan
- IFP Media Dairy Leader of the Year Winner 2026: Professor Karina Pierce, Dean of Agriculture at UCD
- Tech Innovator Dairy Farmer of the Year Winner 2026: Cathal Fleming, Laois
- PTSB Best Dairy Producer / Co-op of the Year: Dairygold
- Overall National Dairy Awards Winner 2026: Damer Discussion Group
Commenting on the awards, Michael Nolan, Managing Director of Agri Insider said: “The National Dairy Awards, launched in 2023, applaud our dairy champions and act as a social event to bring the entire dairy sector together for a night of celebration and recognition. Since their launch, the awards have become one of the pre-eminent agri awards ceremonies in the country. Our goal is to continue to grow and cement our position as ‘the best night in the dairy calendar’.
“Congratulations to our finalists and our winners, who all represent the best of the best of our thriving dairy industry. Thank you also to our partners and sponsors, and to our esteemed judging panel, who really committed to the process of finding worthy winners from some very high-quality submissions,” she said.
Michael Berkery, Chairman of the FBD Trust, commented.
“At FBD, we are proud of our long-standing relationship with Irish farmers and the agricultural sector. Founded by farmers, for farmers, FBD continues to maintain a close connection with rural Ireland and its communities. The FBD Trust was established to advance the interests of farm families and the farming sector through support for research, education and knowledge transfer. Over many years, the Trust has invested in initiatives that strengthen Irish agriculture, improve competitiveness and support the long-term sustainability of our farming and food industries.
“The future success of Irish dairy farming will depend on the continued development of skilled, progressive and forward-thinking individuals who are prepared to embrace change while maintaining the highest standards of production, sustainability and animal care. The people recognised here tonight represent the very best of that ambition and commitment. They are helping to ensure that Irish dairy farming remains competitive, resilient and world-leading for generations to come,” he said.
The National Dairy Awards were founded in 2023 by Agri Insider to celebrate the primary producers, the artisan producers, sector services and the dairy processors as an industry collective. This year the awards were co-organised with IFP Media/Irish Farmers Monthly and were sponsored by FBD.