*Caragh, James, Mary ‘Baby’, Andrew, Cathal and Áine Killeen.
A DAIRY farming family from Doonbeg have been lauded for their high standards to scoop a national award.
At the 2025 NDC & Kerrygold Quality Milk Awards, the Killeen family took the prize for Milking Hygiene and Facilities Award.
Now in its sixteenth year, the prestigious annual awards programme saw twelve farming families from seven counties and twelve dairy co-operatives celebrated for excellence in milk production and sustainable dairying at a special ceremony hosted at Lyrath Estate Hotel, Co. Kilkenny. The awards are recognised as the leading dairy farming awards in the country.
Flying the flag for Clare following their nomination by Kerry Dairy Ireland Co-Op were the Killeen family. After they were shortlisted for honours, the Killeen family took part in a comprehensive judging process that evaluated a range of the most important aspects of modern dairy farming. These included environmental sustainability, animal health and welfare, farm infrastructure, hygiene standards, soil and grassland management, farm advocacy and technical performance.
Photo: Johnny Bambury-Fennell Photography
Viewed as a testament to resilience and tradition, the Killeen’s farm has spanned five generations. Andrew and Bernadette along with their son James milk 110 cows and supply Kerry Dairy Ireland. Greenland White-fronted gees and Whooper swans graze on the farm each winter.
After a full herd depopulation due to BSE in 2004, the family rebuilt, and today their herd boasts an EBI of 250, with replacements at 284. It took until 2012 to rebuild the herd they wanted.
Breeding is forward-looking: sexed semen on the best cows and heifers, AI beef selected for easy calving and dairy beef value, and a strong health sub-index. Their calving runs February to April, with calves reared on farm and automatic feeders ensuring consistency. Cell counts are closely watched, CMT testing is used on suspect quarters, and the farm has embraced selective dry cow therapy, aggressively reducing antibiotic use while protecting animal health.
With 40% of the platform designated SAC, the Killeens farm sensitively. They are part of the Farming for Water EIP programme, installing bunded drains, sediment traps and reed beds. Clover in grazing platform and red clover silage are incorporated to reduce nitrogen demand and boost protein in the diet, while GPS slurry spreading, LESS technology, and protected urea have helped cut the carbon footprint to 0.91. Two ponds, new hedges, and a hare’s corner enrich the biodiversity of the farm, which also supports owls, kestrels, foxes, pheasants, and of course the overwintering swans and geese.
Deeply engaged in community life, the Killeens are active in local boards, arts, and GAA. Andrew is Chair of the West Clare Drama Festival and treasurer of Doonbeg GAA. Bernadette is Chairperson of the Parish Council. Twenty four year old James is a central pillar of the Doonbeg senior football team, lining out at full-back, he is a Dairy Business graduate from UCD and has brought new skills in grassland management, herd health and breeding to the farm. His siblings, Cathal and Caragh lend a hand at weekends on the farm.
At the age of twenty, Andrew who is the youngest of seven children took over the family farm. A love of animals has spanned the generations and is still evident with his mother Mary who is ninety seven years young. His late father who died in 2006, was remembered as a man ahead of his time, the first in the parish with a car, quick to make silage, and a breeder of sports horses. That equine tradition still runs in the family, with Andrew’s brother keeping the practice alive.
From humble beginnings milking just 24 cows in 1994, Andrew has steadily grown the herd to over 100, combining land purchase with careful leasing. In 2001 he was crowned Young Farmer of the Year, when the farm carried both dairy and beef enterprises. Bernadette has always combined hard work on the farm with a spirit of entrepreneurship, having run both a B&B and a taxi service.
Overall winners at the awards were the Ryan family from Thurles. In addition to the overall prize, six category awards were presented for excellence in the individual areas of milk hygiene and facilities, environmental stewardship, grassland management, lowest carbon footprint, low somatic cell count (SCC), and animal health and welfare.
Members of the judging panel included Prof. Karina Pierce, Professor of Dairy Production, UCD School of Agriculture & Food Science; Prof. Patrick Wall, Professor of Public Health, UCD; and Dr. David Gleeson, Research Officer – Milk Quality, Teagasc Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre.
