A unique family farm set-up was the setting for this year’s IGA Dairy Summer Tour on the 21st of July.
The IGA Dairy Summer Tour, sponsored by AIB in association with our media partner, the Irish Farmers Journal, headed to the picturesque Nire Valley in West Waterford on 21st July, where attendees visited the farms of Michael and Noreen O’Gorman and Ollie and Anna O’Gorman. Attendees had the chance to hear the unique story of how a family farm was developed into two very successful farm businesses. Michael and Ollie are first cousins, and their fathers, John and Paddy, farmed together in partnership after taking over the farm from their father, Patsy, in the mid-sixties. They continued farming in partnership until 2008. In 2009, the partnership was dissolved and Michael and Ollie started their own farming careers, with 150 acres of owned land and 96 cows each.
Since then, Michael and Ollie have farmed independently while maintaining a very close working relationship, and both have developed their businesses significantly. Michael milked 200 cows in 2025, while Ollie, in conjunction with his two brothers, David and Pa, milked just under 1,000 cows across five units. These are two excellent farmers, and there was something for everyone on the day, from managing grass and cows to achieve high output, to succession planning, business development and managing multiple units.
Take a look at some of the photos from this years event below!
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