A new economic analysis of farmer owned food and nutrition co-op Tirlán shows it generated €5.5 billion of economic activity last year, and supported over 19,000 direct and indirect jobs.
They analysis, carried out by EY on behalf of Tirlán - formerly Glanbia Ireland and Glanbia Co-op - shows €2 billion was paid to more than 5,000 farm families who last year benefitted from record milk and grain prices.
With operations in 17 counties, Tirlán directly employs 2,230 people at its milk processing facilities, agribranches and farm advisoiry network.
An additional 6,700 are employed in the farmer supplier base and thousands of other indirect jobs are supported in the logistic, retail and machinery sales sector.
In 2022 Tirlán spent €90m upgrading facilities across the business.
Speaking at the Tirlán Annual General Meeting, Tirlán Chairman John Murphy said this Economic Impact Study sets out the scale of Tirlán's economic contribution, employment footprint, and role in both national and rural economies.
"Its importance is demonstrated by the fact that for every €1 Tirlán earns in revenue, €1.80 is generated in the wider economy," Mr Murphy said.
"The EY study demonstrates the huge impact of agricultural activity across the rural economy, it is a tribute to our farmers as excellent business people and technical managers - something that our policy makers should not take for granted," he added.
