Clonakilty’s Caroline and Darren Buttimer and their family were announced as the overall winners of the 2025 Carbery Milk Quality and Sustainability Awards, held on Wednesday last week.

Mark, Elmarie, and Josie Kelleher, the Bandon Co-op winners at the 2025 Carbery Milk Quality Awards. (Photo: Don MacMonagle)

Based just outside of the town, Darren and Caroline farm with their children, Mathew (16), Rachel (15), Leah (13), and Hannah (12) on well-sheltered land which has been in the family since the 1960s. The farm was one of several bought by Darren’s father, Ernest, and his four brothers from Rossmore, all within a 10-mile radius. Darren joined the partnership in the early 2000s and took over fully around 2008; today, he farms 240 acres alongside a full-time farm manager.

Speaking on receiving the award, Darren said that farming offers ‘a great quality of life. There are two busy seasons, once calving and silage are done, things ease up and you can take time off.’

The Kirby family from Ballinascarthy, who won the Barryroe Co-op award at the Carbery Milk Quality and Sustainability Awards 2025. (Photo: Don MacMonagle)

The Buttimer family were representing Lisavaird Co-op. Other finalists included the O’Donoghue family from Maultahrane near Leap who were the Drinagh Co-op overall winners, the Kirby family from Ballinascarthy (Barryroe Co-op overall winners), and the Kelleher family from Tullyland, near Bandon (the Bandon Co-op overall winners).

Last year, 93% of Carbery’s milk pool came from farmers participating in the Carbery FutureProof sustainability bonus, which the co-operative say is a testament to their leadership in ‘sustainability and quality’. In the same time period, on-farm emissions fell by a 1.56%. Jason Hawkins, Carbery CEO, marked the ‘resilience and motivation’ displayed by their shareholders in the last 21 years of the Milk Quality Awards. ‘The dairy industry continues to face challenges, from creating a more sustainable future to market volatility, yet our farmers consistently rise to meet them. In the Buttimers, and in all of this year’s finalists, we see a steadfast commitment to quality, respect for the land, and a shared ambition to leave the industry stronger for the next generation.’

Donal O'Donoghue and his family; they were the Drinagh Co-op winners at the recent Carbery Milk Quality and Sustainability Awards. (Photo: Don MacMonagle)

Carbery Group chairman, Vincent O’Donovan, said that make these awards stand out ‘is the sense of pride and community they embody. Each year, we see the dedication and care that our farmers bring to their livelihoods, and for more than two decades, these awards have recognised that commitment, the families who uphold the highest standards of quality and stewardship of the land. Their spirit and resilience continue.