Second group of family farm suppliers celebrates graduation from the Tirlán & Baileys Sustainable Farming Academy

Delivered by Adult Continuing Education (ACE) at UCC, the diploma is accredited and fully funded, enabling farmers to balance their studies with full-time farm responsibilities. The third cohort of students began their studies in September 2024, continuing the Academy’s goal of supporting farmers in their sustainability journey.

Darren Barcoe, Head of Global Sales at Tirlán, congratulated this year’s graduates:
"Sustainability is at the core of what we do, both on our farms and within our Co-op. These graduates have shown outstanding commitment to learning and applying sustainability principles. As part of Tirlán’s Living Proof strategy, we are proud to continue empowering our farm family suppliers to meet the sustainability challenges of today and tomorrow.”

He added, “Our partnership with Baileys remains central to delivering a world-class product, and it’s exciting to see the growing impact of the Sustainable Farming Academy as more farmers adopt sustainable practices.”

Robert Murphy, Global Supply Director for Baileys Irish Cream Liqueur, said:
"We are incredibly proud to be part of this initiative. At Baileys, sustainability is deeply rooted in how we operate, and supporting farmers through this programme is a key part of that. The dedication of these graduates highlights the progress being made to create a more sustainable future in farming."

Belinda Gascoigne, ACE Centre Manager and Programme Director for UCC, "We are proud to partner with Tirlán and Baileys to support the Irish farming community and empower them on their sustainability journey. A unique aspect of this programme was that the ACE at UCC team undertook an RPL (Recognition of Prior Learning) process to ensure that the students' existing knowledge and experience was recognised and valued. As a result of this exercise, Tirlán Co-op members that participated in the Diploma were granted exemptions from three modules amounting to 30 credits in total or 50% of the entire programme. This allowed them to graduate with a Diploma in a way that best matched their needs and interests, and enabled them to continue to meet their full-time, on-farm responsibilities."

One of the 23/24 graduates, Anne Jennings, shared her experience:
"The diploma programme has really opened my eyes to what’s possible when it comes to sustainable farming. I’ve learned how to implement real changes on my farm, and I’m excited to continue this journey into the future.”

With this second graduating class, the Tirlán and Baileys Sustainable Farming Academy continues to build a solid foundation for future generations of farm suppliers, further reinforcing Ireland's leadership in sustainable agricultural practices.

To learn more about the Sustainable Farming Academy click here. 

To enquire with the ACE at UCC team about a bespoke programme delivery for your team, please contact ACE Deputy Director, Dr Lyndsey El Amoud: l.elamoud@ucc.ie or contact Belinda Gascoigne about the Programme in Environment, Sustainability & Climate: belinda.gascoigne@ucc.ie