A CO Cork woman has won a major European farming award, which has been presented to her by the EU agriculture commissioner Dacian Ciolos in Brussels.
Ann Moore, a dairy farmer and Irish Farmer’s Association member, from Ballyspillane, Co Cork, was presented with the European innovation prize for women farmers. The award is given by Copa, the Committee of Professional Agricultural Organisations, which is is made up of 60 farmer organisations from the EU.
In 1998 Ms Moore and her husband David were milking 28 cows and building up a dairy herd, when Mr Moore was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. The business could have come to a standstill but she persevered and today she milks 200 cows, an astonishing achievement in just 11 years.
At the ceremony in Brussels yesterday, IFA president John Bryan warmly congratulated Ms Moore.
“She is a great ambassador for Irish women’s substantial contribution to farming and farm business,” Mr Bryan said. “I am thrilled that the IFA farm family committee chaired by Margaret Healy was able to facilitate Ann’s entrance into Copa’s competition.”
Ms Moore, who had won the Irish award in the competition run by the Farmers Journal, said she was extremely happy the award had gone to Ireland this year.
“I am absolutely honoured and delighted to have been presented with this award from commissioner Ciolos and feel it is a great recognition for all the hard work women have contributed to agriculture through the ages,” she said.
Maireád Lavery, editor of Irish Country Livingmagazine, which organised the Irish selection process, said she was absolutely delighted with Ms Moore's win.