Galway farmer awarded at Tullamore Show
AN ATHENRY farmer has been recognised as one of Ireland’s leading farmer suppliers.
Patrick Noel Higgins won the ABP Suckler Bull Benchmark Award at the inaugural 2026 ABP Farmer Recognition Awards held at the Tullamore Show last Sunday.
The awards acknowledge farmer suppliers who have demonstrated excellence across beef, dairy beef, dairy steer, organic and lamb supply categories, reflecting the quality, consistency and commitment of suppliers to ABP Ireland and Irish Country Meats.
Winners were selected across ten award categories, with ABP Ireland awards recognising best in class beef, lamb and organic production. The recipients received their awards during a ceremony held at the Tullamore Show.
“These awards are an important opportunity to recognise the quality, professionalism and commitment of our farmer suppliers,” commented Jerome Aherne, Managing Director, ABP Ireland.
“The standard represented by this year’s winners is exceptional and reflects the care, expertise and consistency that underpin Irish beef production. We are proud to work with farmers who continue to set high standards across animal performance, sustainability and supply chain excellence.”
For the past five years, the Farmer Recognition Awards have been awarded to farmers. This year, a unique event at the Tullamore Show brought farmers and their families together to celebrate their contribution to excellence for farming efficiently and sustainably.
Among the awards handed out were for Beef Programme Farmer of the Year, the Good Herdsmen Organic Supplier of the Year and the Meats Supplier of the Year.
“The Farmer Recognition Awards are a strong reflection of the progress being made by supplier farmers across efficiency, animal performance, and sustainability,” said Stephen Connolly, Agri Sustainability Manager, ABP Ireland.
“The farmers involved in the awards are fantastic ambassadors for beef and lamb production, each of them demonstrating excellence in producing quality beef and lamb, leading by example in the adoption of sustainable farming practices.”