Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has opened a €3.75 million feed mill extension for Drinagh Co-op during a visit to West Cork this afternoon.
Mr Varadkar also visited St Mary’s Church of Ireland in Dunmanway and rang the Sam Maguire Community Bells, which were installed there in memory of the man who gave his name to the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Cup.
Sam Maguire was born near Dunmanway in 1877 and is buried in the cemetery which adjoins St Mary’s Church.
Drinagh is a dairy co-op and agri-business which services 550 milk producers.
It has a total annual production of 190 million litres of milk.
The feed mill extension will cater for increased milk output, which resulted from the removal of milk quotas in 2015.
It also comes at a difficult time for farmers, given the current drought conditions, with grass growth seriously impaired.
Mr Varadkar paid tribute to Drinagh Co-op for making the investment.
Drinagh Co-Op Board Chairman, TJ Sullivan, Chairman of the Board said the decision to invest in the feed mill was made in 2016, following the removal of milk quotas in 2015.
He said that by increasing production capacity at the mill, Drinagh will be able to double output to 120,000 tonnes per annum.
Mr Sullivan said the additional capacity would allow Drinagh to meet increasing demand.
It would also allow the co-op to assist other co-ops and millers during high demand.
Drinagh Co-Op is owned by its 2,000 shareholders and employs a staff of 260.
The business operates across hardware, electrical and agricultural inputs, pharmacies and animal feed milling.
Drinagh Co-Op’s milk is processed at Carbery Food Ingredients Ltd., based in Ballineen, Co. Cork.
Drinagh Co-Op owns 35% of Carbery.
