Tullamore vet honoured at FBD National Dairy Awards
Tullamore vet Donal Lynch, of Slieve Bloom Veterinary, was among the winners at this year's FBD National Dairy Awards which took place in Portlaoise on Thursday.
Donal, based Killurin, Tullamore, was presented with the 'Dairy Vet of the Year' award at a ceremony attended by the great and good of Ireland’s dairy industry.
A citation outlining the background to his award said: "For more than 20 years, Donal Lynch has worked alongside dairy farmers to improve animal health, welfare and herd performance.
"Through Slieve Bloom Veterinary, Donal has championed a proactive, preventative approach to herd health, building lasting relationships with farmers and making a valuable contribution to Irish dairying."
Slieve Bloom Veterinary is a large-animal practice and a member of XLVets Ireland.
The big winner on the night was Damer Discussion Group, Tipperary, which took both the ‘Cormac Tagging Dairy Discussion Group of the Year Winner 2026’ and the ‘Overall FBD National Dairy Award Winner’.
Established in 1989, the Damer Discussion Group has built more than 35 years of farmer-to-farmer learning, business development, friendship and accountability.
Clear rules, rotating leadership, an annual programme and a culture of honest challenge have allowed the group to evolve while maintaining high standards and gradually bringing younger farmers into an experienced membership.
Commenting on the awards Michael Nolan, Managing Director of Agri Insider said: "The National Dairy Awards, launched in 2023, applaud our dairy champions and act as a social event to bring the entire dairy sector together for a night of celebration and recognition.
"Since their launch, the awards have become one of the pre-eminent agri awards ceremonies in the country. Our goal is to continue to grow and cement our position as ‘the best night in the dairy calendar’.
"To this end, we were delighted to being on board two new partners this year: FBD as naming right sponsor and IFP Media as co-organiser and promoter.
"These strategic partnerships have taken the awards to the next level and guarantee all our winners, finalists and sponsors the recognition and publicity their hard work and dedication deserves."