The 5th Year Agricultural Science and some LCA students enjoyed a fantastic visit to Drinagh Feed Mill on Thursday to kick start Science Week at SCS. The trip brought their classroom learning on animal nutrition and livestock production to life.
The morning began with a warm welcome from Drinagh CEO, Seamus Daly, who outlined the Co-op’s rich history. He traced its origins back to Fr. John Crowley and local farmers in 1923, giving students a strong sense of Drinagh’s enduring role in the West Cork agricultural community.
Drinagh now operates 15 outlets across West Cork, employs over 300 people, and supplies Carbery, whose dairy products are marketed worldwide. The Co-op collects 212 million litres of milk annually from over 520 suppliers and has more than 2,000 shareholders — a testament to its continued success and importance in the region.
Students then heard from Dr. Lorna Twomey, who spoke about milk production in West Cork and the importance of Ireland’s grass-based dairy system. She also discussed the modern challenges facing farmers and the innovative solutions being developed to address them, offering students a valuable insight into the dynamic nature of modern agriculture.
Donal Murphy, Mill and Operations Manager, then led a tour of the feed mill and delivered an informative presentation on animal nutrition. He explained the science and precision behind each feed formula, highlighting Drinagh’s comprehensive range for both ruminant (dairy, beef, sheep) and monogastric (pig and poultry) animals. Seeing the technology and scale of feed production up close was a real highlight for the students.
The visit concluded with tea, coffee, scones, and treats, kindly provided by the Drinagh. Each student received a goodie bag to take home — a thoughtful touch to end an excellent morning of learning.
A sincere thank you to Donal Murphy, Lorna Twomey, Seamus Daly, David Shiels and all at Drinagh for their hospitality and for sharing their expertise. The experience offered our students an enriching and memorable insight into one of West Cork’s leading agricultural co-operatives.
