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Kerrygold

The makers of Kerrygold have opened a huge €39 million butter factory in Cork

Ireland’s dairy herd is currently undergoing a rapid expansion following the end of EU milk quotas, but has been criticised due to the effect on Co2 emissions.

A HUGE €38 million butter factory opened today in Cork. The production facility, called Kerrygold Park, will have a capacity of up to 50,000 tonnes of butter a year, and will initially employ 65 people.

Two senior ministers attended the opening of the centre, in Mitchelstown, north Cork  - Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed and Minister for Jobs Mary Mitchell O’Connor.

Ornua, the company behind Kerrygold, is Ireland’s largest exporter of Irish dairy products, exporting to over 110 countries worldwide. Sales of Kerrygold top €750 million, a year it said, with targets to grow that figure to €1 billion.

In a lavish video accompanying the release today, Kerrygold a voiceover gushes: ”No better place to be a cow, they say, and no better place to make butter.”

Most dairy cows are slaughtered once they no longer produce milk.

“The lush, green grass of a land worked by generations,” the video continues.

Farming woven into the very fabric of who we are, and here our farmers share a commitment to producing something truly special – a taste made of Ireland itself.

Kerrygold Park will also house a key destination for international customer visits to Ireland. 

CMK14092016 Kerrygold Park0001 Ken Maguire, Kerrygold Park manager, speaking with Evan Purtill, production team supervisor. Kerrygold Kerrygold

Co2 emissions

Minister Creed’s predecessor Simon Coveney announced an expansion to Ireland’s dairy herd, following the end of EU milk quotas.

The rapidly expanding numbers of cows in the country drew criticism due to the adverse impact on Ireland’s commitment to reduce Co2 emissions.

Kevin Lane, the chief executive of Ornua, said it was a special day for Ireland’s dairy industry.

The quality of Irish milk is exceptional. From the fields to the processors, the success of Kerrygold is based on the outstanding quality of the milk and cream that goes into it.

The increasing popularity of the western diet is creating hitherto unwitnessed problems such as heart disease and obesity in developing countries.

Yet it’s good news for Ireland’s dairy industry, according to Minister Michael Creed, who referred to a different set of targets – those of Ireland’s own food industry.

“Increasing global population, urbanisation and the westernisation of diet in developing countries offers Ireland’s dairy industry significant opportunity for expansion,” Creed said.

Ireland’s targets for the development of the sector under Food Wise 2025, and beyond, require that we identify valuable routes to market and mechanisms to add value to Irish dairy products.

“By opening new markets and developing new products, Ornua is playing a key role in delivering the demand for Irish product to meet increased supply resulting from the abolition of milk quotas.”

CMK14092016 Kerrygold Park0009 Claire Keogh Claire Keogh

Factories in Africa

Minister Mary Mitchell O’Connor called the 65 new jobs being excellent news for the people of Mitchelstown and North Cork.

“This announcement is hugely significant for Ireland’s dairy sector. Kerrygold is already an iconic butter brand and this expansion is important to our continued growth in export trade.

Ornua’s strategy to develop Kerrygold as a global dairy brand will contribute to increasing trade and employment in rural communities throughout Ireland.

The opening was attended by international customers and representatives from the dairy and business communities.

Ornua bought 286,000mt of dairy products from Ireland’s dairy processors in 2015, up 16% on the previous year. They said they had recently built or expanded factories in Africa, China, Germany, Spain, the US and the UK.

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32 Comments
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    Mute Dave Purnell
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    May 12th 2017, 6:24 PM

    Be nice to see some social housing in that area.

    541
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    Mute brains mc
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    May 12th 2017, 6:26 PM

    @Dave Purnell: 10000000%

    248
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    Mute Dub_Right
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    May 12th 2017, 6:36 PM

    @Dave Purnell: More chance of the Ringsend incinerator being moved to that site than that happening!
    No lower classes allowed in D4!

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    Mute fockoffski
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    May 12th 2017, 6:44 PM

    @Dave Purnell: eh Beechgodknowswhere hill? Where that garda car got entrapped and all the planning regs for housing estates got changed to have a second escape

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    Mute Phil Sheppard
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    May 12th 2017, 6:54 PM

    @Dub_Right: Ringsend is in D4.

    71
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    Mute Ricardo Shillyshally
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    May 12th 2017, 7:05 PM

    @Dave Purnell: stop! Your’e killing me! Funniest line ever!

    13
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    Mute Davids Levin
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    May 12th 2017, 7:47 PM

    @Dub_Right: except the ones in Ringsend.

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    Mute Dub_Right
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    May 12th 2017, 7:51 PM

    @Phil Sheppard: That was a separate comment about the incinerator and then the lower classes…(not being allowed in D4)

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    Mute cortisola
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    May 12th 2017, 8:00 PM

    @Dub_Right: “No lower classes allowed in D4!” – que? This apartments will be 600-800k if not more. Wouldn’t call it “lower class”.

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    Mute Dub_Right
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    May 12th 2017, 8:10 PM

    @cortisola: Check response to poster Dave Purnell re: social housing

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    Mute Virtual Architect
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    May 12th 2017, 11:29 PM

    @Dave Purnell: Why would you want to build social housing in D4? Just to annoy the well off? Those in social housing will also be annoyed to have to live beside wealthier neighbors.

    13
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    Mute Jack Cassady
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    May 12th 2017, 6:27 PM

    Bad sign for the housing situation when Denis O’Brien thinks the property market is the way to go.

    183
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    Mute Dave O'Hanlon
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    May 12th 2017, 6:22 PM

    Jesus even the D4′s are sick of Denis

    303
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    Mute Todd Hebert
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    May 12th 2017, 7:35 PM

    We don’t need more “luxury apartments” with multiple-thousands per month rents!
    We need AFFORDABLE housing.
    If developers aren’t going to develop the housing the market needs, they should be denied planning permission, full stop!

    Part of “planning” is PLANNING what sorts of housing is needed where. I wish city and county councils, and an Bórd Pleanála would do their jobs in this regard. :(

    113
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    Mute Rachel Didleu
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    May 12th 2017, 6:57 PM

    There is something fishy about his dealings with UCD, he reportedly paid the College 4 times the market value for the site they bought from the Little Sisters of the Poor…..anybody want to enlighten us…

    125
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    Mute Rachel Didleu
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    May 12th 2017, 7:47 PM

    @Rachel Didleu: l asked for enlightenment not 24 thumbs up…..details please l won’t tell anybody

    41
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    Mute Steve Austin
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    May 13th 2017, 5:06 AM

    @Rachel Didleu: Fishy and DOB you seem surprised! !

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    Mute Rachel Didleu
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    May 14th 2017, 7:32 AM

    @Steve Austin: any particular fish associated with him

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    Mute @mdmak33
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    May 12th 2017, 7:14 PM

    Fg set the market up nicely for DOB.

    82
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    Mute Tony Skillington
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    May 12th 2017, 6:21 PM

    Hope they have deep pockets.

    86
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    Mute Dub_Right
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    May 12th 2017, 6:37 PM

    @Tony Skillington: Of course they do!

    59
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    Mute Tony Skillington
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    May 12th 2017, 6:41 PM

    @Dub_Right: deeper than Dinny’s?

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    Mute Dub_Right
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    May 12th 2017, 8:11 PM

    @Tony Skillington: D4 residents association? Probably!

    13
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    Mute John O'shea
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    May 12th 2017, 6:41 PM

    If this doesn’t go ahead he could always upgrade the old Malta tax bolt hole.

    79
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    Mute Ricardo Shillyshally
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    May 12th 2017, 7:11 PM

    Dont you lot get it? People with money chose to live in that particular small area so that they dont gave to mix with/tolerate/put up with, “social housing”!! Crikey! The whole purpose of having money is you can choose not to share your “space” with proles. Grow up!!

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    Mute Johnny Maloney
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    May 13th 2017, 5:25 AM

    @Ricardo Shillyshally: So true.. These Liberal idiots want social housing next to people ho have sacrificed much, got educated and bettered themselves and social standing – no doubt pay plenty of tax on earnings.. Why should they have to live next to spongers??? WHERE is the incentive to work and better oneself in that society???

    23
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    Mute Martin Flood
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    May 12th 2017, 7:25 PM

    And comments closing in 3… 2… 1…

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    Mute Alan
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    May 12th 2017, 7:07 PM

    Disgraceful. Let the man build.

    33
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    Mute Todd Hebert
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    May 12th 2017, 7:38 PM

    @Alan: only if he builds what the market needs, which isn’t what he’s planning. :/

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    Mute cortisola
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    May 12th 2017, 8:11 PM

    @Alan: Anyone can build like that. Give me permission to build 50 story apartment block there and I’ll do – I can even manage money for that.

    12
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    Mute Stephen Maher
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    May 12th 2017, 8:22 PM

    He has abput 70 million in it all ready.
    They wont be cheap.

    18
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    Mute cc87e
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    May 12th 2017, 11:00 PM

    Beech hill is social housing

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    Mute Johnny Maloney
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    May 13th 2017, 5:27 AM

    Liberal idiots want social housing next to people who have sacrificed much, got educated and bettered themselves and social standing – and no doubt pay plenty of tax on earnings.. Why should they have to live next to spongers??? WHERE is the incentive to work and better oneself in that society???

    13
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    Mute iMoan Brutal
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    May 12th 2017, 10:13 PM

    Is DOB really Wilson Fisk..?

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    Mute Rachel Didleu
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    May 13th 2017, 12:55 PM

    O k let’s take this down to a basic level…..why do F G / F F / The Gardiners /Bill Clinton / Lowry et all oblige Dinnie s’againne….what are they getting out of it…..none of the above are known for being overly altruistic (sorry about spelling) so why did Lowry make sure Dinnie s’againne got the phone gig….
    And please do not insult our collective I telligencies by saying he got a conservatory built out of his house.
    ……when we know why we will most likely how.!!!!!!.

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