Waterford farmers among those graduating from Tirlán's Sustainable Farming Academy

Three Waterford farmers were among the 20 Tirlán graduates that have become the third group of family farm suppliers to complete the Tirlán and Baileys Sustainable Farming Academy.

Colette Quigley from Rathgormack, James Power from Tramore, and Brigid Coffey from Dungarvan were the ones representing the Déise.

The 2025 graduates completed their Diploma in Environment, Sustainability, and Climate from University College Cork (UCC), following a year-long programme to equip them with essential skills and knowledge to further enhance sustainable farming practices.

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The Academy, now in its third year, continues to help farm families implement positive environmental actions while addressing the ongoing challenges around sustainability.

"Sustainability is integral to our operations, both on our farms and throughout our Co-op. The graduates have demonstrated exceptional dedication to understanding and embedding sustainability on their farms," Carol Power, Senior Sales Manager at Tirlán, said.

Delivered by UCC, the diploma is accredited and fully funded, enabling farmers to balance their studies with full-time farm responsibilities.

The programme covers a range of important topics, including Earth Science, Climate Change and Sustainable Development, Ecology, Applied Geographical Information Systems, Environmental Protection, and Practical Environmental Management.

With this third graduating class, the Tirlán and Baileys Sustainable Farming Academy continues to build a solid foundation for future generations of farm suppliers, further reinforcing Ireland's leadership in sustainable agricultural practices.