From Wexford to the world: Tirlán Open Days showcase best-in-class standards in cheese making

Pictured above outside the Wexford Cheese Plant L-R are; John O’Connor Tirlán Wexford Site Lead, Robbie Barron Tirlán Board Member South Wexford, Wexford TD and Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy and John Murphy, Tirlán Chairperson. 

The two-day event told the story of Wexford Cheese and Whey; from the high-quality milk produced on family farms, through every step of the production process, to the creation of world-class cheese and valuable whey ingredients that are exported world-wide.

Nestled in Rocklands, Wexford, the facility has been in operation since 1961 and now processes over 400 million litres of milk annually, producing 50,000 tonnes of cheddar and generating over 100 million litres of valuable concentrated whey per year. Tirlán has investment significantly since it acquired the facility, including a €35 million upgrade in 2017. 

During this walking tour of the Wexford Cheese plant, visitors were introduced to the cheese-making process, from milk intake to curd formation and whey separation, with an emphasis on the importance of milk quality and traceability. Visitors saw how Tirlán brings the milk produced by farmers locally to global markets through a diverse portfolio of high-quality, innovative ingredient and consumer brands. 

John Murphy, Chairperson of Tirlán, expressed his pride in welcoming suppliers to the event in his home county, acknowledging the excellent participation and engaging environment. “It was a privilege to welcome so many of our suppliers to the Tirlán Wexford facility, giving them the chance to see behind the gates, to trace the journey of milk they supply and produced as high-quality cheese delivered to consumers worldwide. 

“This event was designed to give our suppliers a deeper understanding of the scale of our Wexford Cheese facility and showcase the dedicated teams working on their behalf across the globe every day. A huge thank you to everyone who attended our Open Days, including our farm family suppliers, farm organisations and Wexford TD and Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy.”

Tirlán CEO Seán Molloy commented: “Following the €35 million investment that tripled capacity, our Wexford facility now produces approximately 50,000 tonnes of premium cheddar cheese annually, along with whey and cream. Quality starts on the farm and is upheld at every stage of the process. It’s this commitment to excellence that makes our cheese a trusted choice in 36 countries worldwide, with strong markets across Europe, North Africa, Canada, and the UK.”

Tirlán Site Lead John O’Connor highlighted the beneficial impact of the facility on the Wexford area. 

“The facility employs over 60 people – including many whose family have been working here for generations. There’s a fantastic team here at our facility and they are focused on delivering the best quality cheese for our customers. We produce cheese for different customers and requirements – such as pizza toppings or slices for sandwiches. That’s why we produce over 20 different cheese recipes.

“When it comes to our award-winning Wexford Cheddar tabletop cheese. We hear from our customers that they really love the creamy distinctive taste that is synonymous with Wexford cheddar. It all begins with quality milk and we’d like to thank our farmers for their attention to detail.”

In the interactive exhibition space Members of our Commercial, Marketing, Central Laboratory, Sustainability and Milk Quality teams were on hand to provide expert advice and showcase innovative programmes, including the Milk Solids Growth Programme, the Twenty20 Calf-to-Beef Programme, and FarmGen Solar PV Solutions. 

The Open Days also offered an important forum for dialogue on key topics such as water quality, the nitrates derogation, and Tirlán value-add products and initiatives. The event underscored Tirlán’s commitment to keeping our milk suppliers informed and engaged, ensuring they remain an informed part of the Co-op’s long-term strategy.