Man from Borris amongst twenty dairy farmers to graduate with new diploma

Seamus O’Shea from Borris, Co Carlow, is amongst the twenty dairy farmers to graduate from the Tirlán and Baileys Sustainable Farming Academy.

These students are the first class to graduate from Sustainable Farming Academy with their Diploma in Environment, Sustainability and Climate from University College Cork. The degree was designed to provide graduates with the most relevant knowledge and skills needed to farm for a sustainable future. The Level 7 Diploma consists of a one-year programme addresses sustainability aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Head of Global Sales at Tirlán, Darren Barcoe, congratulated the graduates, commenting: “The sustainability landscape continues to evolve, on-farm, in our Co-op and in the market place. Our farm family suppliers that are graduating with their Diplomas once again demonstrate the willingness of our suppliers to adopt to the sustainability challenges. We’re proud to support Irish farming communities in addressing environmental, economic and social challenges. Our farm families remain committed to their on-farm sustainability journey, as part of our Co-op wide Living Proof sustainability strategy. 

“Our long-established strategic partnership with Baileys has always centred on working closely together to ensure we deliver a world-class product and service and we’re delighted to see an eager group of new undergraduates enhance their sustainability journey and begin their studies with us.”

Seamus' classmate and fellow graduate Amanda Mooney from County Wicklow described the experience as extraordinary, adding: “It was great to learn not only from the lecturers but from my peers. It’s quite remarkable how you can have twenty different people doing the same thing but all a little bit different, yet all achieving the best they can on their family farms. I’ve learnt a lot from the course and the real serious issues we have. I can do small things to help and if we all do our little bit, it will make a big difference.”