Prime Highlights
- Tirlán is investing €126 million in a new state-of-the-art whey processing facility in Kilkenny.
- The project aims to boost innovation and strengthen the company’s position in the global nutrition market.
Key Facts
- The new facility will be water-neutral and carbon-efficient, and is planned to be operational by mid-2027.
- In 2022, Tirlán generated €5.5 billion in economic activity and supported over 19,000 jobs.
Background:
Tirlán has announced a major €126 million investment to develop a new, cutting-edge whey processing facility at its Ballyragget site in Kilkenny. The project is an important step in Tirlán’s plan to grow its range of high-value products and strengthen its place in the global nutrition industry.
The new plant will make advanced whey nutrition products, including clear whey protein, which is becoming increasingly popular with health-focused and active consumers. Once operational, the facility will increase Tirlán’s flexibility and capacity to develop innovative value-added dairy products tailored for sectors such as sports nutrition, infant formula, medical nutrition and the growing active-lifestyle segment.
The announcement was made during a special event in Ballyragget, attended by Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon. He welcomed the project and described it as a strong signal of confidence in the Irish dairy sector. According to the Minister, continued global growth in whey ingredient demand presents a major opportunity for Irish agribusiness, and investments like this help secure the industry’s international footprint.
Tirlán chairperson John Murphy said the development marks the company’s largest value-add investment to date and reinforces its commitment to moving further up the value chain. He added that the project is not only about increasing production capacity but also about building a platform for long-term growth, innovation and global leadership in nutritional solutions.
The Ballyragget site is already one of Europe’s largest dairy processing centres, and this new expansion will make it even more competitive in global markets. The facility will be built with sustainability in mind, using water-neutral and carbon-efficient systems when it opens in mid-2027.
Tirlán’s farmer-owned network has had a major impact on the Irish rural economy. In 2022, the co-op generated €5.5 billion, supported over 19,000 jobs, and paid more than €2 billion to 5,000 farming families.
