Farmer Name: Seán O’Malley
Location: County Mayo, Ireland
Farm Type: Small-scale Dairy & Artisanal Cheese Production
Annual Income: Approx. €95,000–€130,000 (from milk, cheese, and farm shop)
Tagline: “When the cows came home, a new legacy was born.”
From Family Struggles to Farming Dreams
Seán O’Malley grew up on a struggling dairy farm that had been in his family for three generations. By 2015, due to low milk prices and rising debt, the family considered selling the land. But Seán, recently returned from a food tech course in Dublin, convinced them to try something new—turn their raw milk into premium farmhouse cheese.
The Cheese That Changed Everything
Seán launched “Mayo Gold”, a semi-soft, washed-rind cheese made from the milk of his own grass-fed cows. He aged the cheese on wooden shelves in a handmade cellar built into a hillside shed.
In 2018, Mayo Gold won a Bronze medal at the World Cheese Awards, and that recognition changed his life.
Smart Business Moves
Built a micro-creamery on the farm with a local grant (€25,000 from the LEADER rural development program).
Created a farm shop and tasting room.
Added weekend cheese-making classes and farm tours, drawing in tourists from Galway and beyond.
Partnered with gourmet stores and pubs across Ireland.
Income Breakdown
Raw milk sales: €30,000
Cheese sales (direct + wholesale): €70,000
Farm tours & classes: €20,000+
Online orders (started in 2021): growing 10% yearly
Key Techniques Used
Grass-based rotational grazing for high-quality milk
Use of heritage Irish cow breeds (like Kerry and Dexter)
Natural rennet and slow aging (6–9 months) for deeper flavor Impact
Today, Seán trains young Irish farmers through weekend workshops and mentors others wanting to move from commodity farming to value-added products. His story has been covered in Irish Farmers Journal and RTÉ One’s Ear to the Ground.
Key Takeaways for Farmers
✅ Adding value to raw products can multiply income
✅ Local traditions + modern marketing = global appeal
✅ One great product can revive an entire farm
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