All the way back in the sixties, on the 17th May 1961 to be precise, An Bord Bainne (Irish for The Irish Dairy Board) was established to “promote, facilitate, encourage, assist, co-ordinate and develop the exportation of milk and milk products.”

A good idea deserves a great name. With a grand total of sixty suggestions, six were shortlisted: Buttercup, Shannon Gold, Leprechaun, Tub-o-gold, Golden Farm and Kerrygold, of course. The names were presented to the Board of An Bord Bainne and once the decision was made, Kerrygold was launched, not in Ireland, but across the pond in the UK in 1962.

After 4 years spent developing the export market for milk and milk products in Ireland, An Bord Bainne is now exporting product to up to twenty countries.

Grattan House, Lower Mount Street, becomes the new headquarters of An Bord Bainne. That same year An Bord Bainne acquired Adams Butter in Leek, England.

An Bord Bainne transforms from a semi-state company to a co-operative.

1973 was a big year for Ireland. We became a member of the EEC, opening up new trade opportunities for our little island. Kerrygold was exported to member states including Germany. It was the start of a special relationship.

11 years after launching in the UK and voyaging to exotic lands around the globe, Kerrygold went on sale in Ireland.

1980 saw the establishment of the Irish Dairy Board in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (SIDCO).

An Bord Bainne celebrates 21 years.

Tom Cleary, the Irish Dairy Board’s longest serving Chairman, is elected.

The EU milk quota system to control milk production, stabilise both milk prices and the agricultural income of milk producers, is introduced.

An Bord Bainne invests in Yoko Fresh food, a distribution company in Belgium opening up a new route to market for Irish dairy products.

1989 was the first year that Kerrygold sponsored the Dublin Horse Show, that same year turnover in An Bord Bainne hit £1 billion.

Kerrygold cheese launches in the US with marketing activity targeting the Irish diaspora. Kerrygold Butter didn’t make its way to US shores for another eight years.

In 1994, the iconic Kerrygold TV ad ‘Who’s taking the horse to France?’ airs on Irish television. That same year, An Bord Bainne became the Irish Dairy Board.

In 1995, it was time to jet off again, this time to South Africa to launch Kerrygold milk powder.

The Irish Dairy Board adds Pilgrims Choice to its brand portfolio, with the acquisition of North Downs Dairy.

In 1998, Kerrygold Dubliner cheese was launched in the United States and it was an overnight success.

In 2005, we got our very own German street, renamed Kerrygoldstrasse, in honour of our much-loved butter and cheese brand.

Kerrygold’s retail brand value reaches €500 million.

On the eve of the removal of EU milk quotas, the Irish Dairy Board rebrands as Ornua. It’s a new dawn for the Irish dairy industry.

Ornua opens Kerrygold Park, a €38 million state-of-the-art Kerrygold butter production and packing facility in Mitchelstown, Co. Cork.

Kerrygold launches its first Irish advertising campaign since 2010.

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