The National Dairy Council (NDC) is preparing for a busy end to September, with the National Quality Milk Awards, World School Milk Day, and a new sustainable yoghurt campaign all coming into focus.

The Quality Milk Awards take place on 30 September in Kilkenny, celebrating Ireland’s top dairy farmers and the standards they uphold 365 days a year.

There is strong Waterford interest this year, with Shane and Kate Fitzgerald from Portlaw (pictured above) representing Tirlán and serving as long-standing NDC ambassadors.

Also on September 30th, the NDC will mark World School Milk Day with a live 30‑minute webinar for primary schools nationwide.

Hosted by TV presenter John Sharpson, the event will feature Olympic rowing champion Paul O’Donovan, NDC nutritionist Eva Byrnes, and pupils discussing the role of milk in children’s diets and its importance for bone health and growth.

The NDC delivers the EU School Milk Scheme in partnership with the Department of Agriculture, ensuring chilled, fresh milk reaches classrooms across Ireland.

Alongside this, the NDC is promoting sustainable yoghurt through its EU Yoghurt Programme.

A new campaign pairs Tipperary dairy farmer Katie Gleeson with Olympic sprinter Sophie Becker, highlighting the journey “from farm to finish line” and the role of dairy in performance nutrition and recovery.

The NDC is also set to unveil a new communications platform, “Irish Dairy: A True Irish Legend,” which will roll out across TV, radio, outdoor and digital in the coming weeks.