Cootehill farmer wins top dairy prize

A Cootehill family farm has won the national quality milk award programme described as "The Sam Maguire of Farming". David and Kathleen Cassidy from Coppenagh, Lisnagar are the overall winners of the 2012 NDC & Kerrygold Quality Milk Awards, which highlights and rewards dairy farming excellence. The Cassidy family, who supply milk to Glanbia to make Baileys Irish Cream, were presented with the prestigious perpetual cup and prize of €5,000 in Dublin's RDS on Thursday. Nine times All-Ireland champion and hurling All-Star Henry Shefflin presented the NDC & Kerrygold Quality Milk Awards to nine dairy farmers short-listed as national finalists, including the overall winners. See tomorrow's Celt newspaper for an interview with David Cassidy.