The inaugural FBD Better Farming Awards were recently held in the magnificent setting of the Heritage Hotel in Killenard, with significant Laois success on the night.
Ballykilcavan Brewery won the award for Small Sustainable Food Producer of the Year, while co-founder David Walsh-Kemmis won Environmental Farmer of the Year.
Brendan Guinan from Fiorbhia Farm in Portlaoise won an Honourable Mention in the Diversification Farmer of the Year category.
“This was the first time these awards have been run, but the standard of farmers and businesses was really high, so it’s fantastic to come home with the two wins,” Mr Walsh-Kemmis said.
“We do a lot of work on the farm to improve its sustainability and biodiversity and to try and keep to the very high standards that my parents set when they were here, so it’s lovely to see that being recognised.
“Niall Clancy on the farm, and Joe, Dave and Kate in the
brewery are all fully supportive of everything we do, which makes it so much easier to implement these sustainability measures.”
It was a busy day for David, who only just made it to the awards in time after being up in Dublin to receive the brewery’s Origin Green Gold status award for 2023.
Origin Green is Bord Bia’s national sustainability programme, and
Gold status is the highest award possible. Ballykilcavan is one of only two breweries of any size in the country to have achieved it in 2023.
Brendan Guinan of Fiorbhia Farm was also pleased with his award, saying:
“We’ve always believed that what we’re doing, turning 26 acres of neglected forest into a regenerative agroforestry farm, is a good idea, but it’s still great to get some external validation.
“These awards are only going to grow in the future, so it’s lovely to be here at the start.”
Other Laois finalists on the night were Maria Phelan in the Biodiversity Farmer of the Year award and Trevor Cobbe, who was
shortlisted for Sustainable Pasture Farmer of the Year.
SEE ALSO – Director of Portlaoise Montessori School named Business All-Star Laois Entrepreneur of the Year
