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Carbery celebrates women driving farming, food and innovation

More than 160 people came together at the Celtic Ross Hotel on Friday, 18 September for Leading the Way: Women Driving Innovation, Farming & Food, an event hosted by Carbery to mark the UN International Year of the Woman Farmer 2026.

REPRO-FREE: Rosscarbery, West Cork, Ireland. 18th Sept, 2026. Carbery Group held a UN International Year of the Woman Farmer ‘Celebrating Women in Agriculture’ event at the Celtic Ross Hotel in Rosscarbery today. The event centred on a panel discussing innovation, farming and food with speakers Eilis Mahon, Bandon Co-Op; Nicole Keohane, Dairy Farmer; Aoife Dullea, Dairy Farmer and Aine Hallihan, Carbery. MC for the event was Sarah McIntosh of the Farmers Journal. Eilis Mahon of Bandon Co-Op addresses the event during the panel discussion. Picture: Andy Gibson.

The event brought together people from across farming, food, research and the wider agri sector to recognise the important contribution women make to agriculture and to discuss some of the opportunities and challenges facing women in the sector today.

Sharing experiences from across the sector

At the heart of the event was a panel discussion moderated by agricultural journalist Sarah McIntosh. The panel featured Eilís Mahon, CEO of Bandon Co-op and Carbery Board Member; Nicole Keohane, dairy farmer and European Technical Support Lead with Datamars Livestock; Aoife Dullea, dairy farmer and Quality Manager with Clonakilty Food Co; and Áine Hallihan, Director of Innovation at Carbery Group.

REPRO-FREE: Rosscarbery, West Cork, Ireland. 18th Sept, 2026. Carbery Group held a UN International Year of the Woman Farmer ‘Celebrating Women in Agriculture’ event at the Celtic Ross Hotel in Rosscarbery today. The event centred on a panel discussing innovation, farming and food with speakers Eilis Mahon, Bandon Co-Op; Nicole Keohane, Dairy Farmer; Aoife Dullea, Dairy Farmer and Aine Hallihan, Carbery. MC for the event was Sarah McIntosh of the Farmers Journal. Pictured are Jason Hawkins, CEO, Carbery Group; event speakers, Aine Hallahan; Nicole Keohane; Eilis Mahon; Aoife Dullea; event MC Sarah McIntosh and John Hurley, Vice Chair, Drinagh Co-Op. Picture: Andy Gibson.

The panellists shared their own experiences from across farming, food and agriculture, with the conversation covering leadership, succession, work-life balance, technology and innovation, as well as the importance of having the confidence to take on new opportunities.

Carbery Group Vice-Chair John Hurley also spoke about the pivotal role women have always played in agriculture and the importance of recognising and celebrating that contribution.

Creating connections

Macra, Dairy Women Ireland, HSE and ICOS joined us on the day, giving attendees an opportunity to learn more about the supports and networks available and to continue the conversation over lunch.

REPRO-FREE: Rosscarbery, West Cork, Ireland. 18th Sept, 2026. Carbery Group held a UN International Year of the Woman Farmer ‘Celebrating Women in Agriculture’ event at the Celtic Ross Hotel in Rosscarbery today. The event centred on a panel discussing innovation, farming and food with speakers Eilis Mahon, Bandon Co-Op; Nicole Keohane, Dairy Farmer; Aoife Dullea, Dairy Farmer and Aine Hallihan, Carbery. MC for the event was Sarah McIntosh of the Farmers Journal. At the event were Caroline O’Neill, Lisavaird Co-Op; Ellen Hurley, Carbery Group; Caroline O’Donovan, Barryroe Co-Op; Marguerite Crowley, Drinagh Co-Op; Vanessa Kiely O’Connor, Bandon Co-Op and Nicole Whelan, Carbery Group. Picture: Andy Gibson.

The idea for the event came from Caroline O’Donovan, Marguerite Crowley, Caroline O’Neill and Vanessa Kiley O’Connor, whose ideas and enthusiasm helped shape the day and the conversations we wanted to create.

Thank you to everyone who joined us, our panellists for sharing their experiences so openly, Sarah McIntosh for leading the discussion, and everyone who helped make the event possible.

Watch the full panel discussion below.

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