Ireland South MEP, Cynthia Ní Mhurchú has congratulated Wexford dairy farmer, Dr. Cheryl Poole, who was honoured in Brussels with the Innovation Award for Women Farmers, a prestigious EU accolade recognising outstanding contributions to rural development, forestry and farming.
Now in its seventh edition, the award highlights the creative, practical and sustainable solutions women are bringing to challenges facing rural communities across Europe.
Cheryl Poole farms with her family on a 103-acre holding near Gorey, County Wexford. The farm, in the Poole family since the early 1700s, supports a 72-cow high-EBI dairy herd with a strong emphasis on milk quality, herd health and environmental care. A graduate of NUI Galway with a PhD in Chemistry, Poole applies scientific rigour and evidence-based methods developed during her research career to improve both farm performance and environmental outcomes. Under her stewardship, the farm has become a model of water protection, biodiversity and sustainable dairy production.
Ireland South MEP Cynthia Ní Mhurchú was on hand to congratulate the Wexford woman for representing the best of Irish agriculture at an EU level.
“Cheryl Poole is dedicated to protecting wildlife, rainwater harvesting, reducing waste and protecting our waterways and is the perfect example of how farmers are living in harmony with their environment. She is a champion for biodiversity, lower fertiliser uses and reduced energy costs. The Poole farm has also become an important community hub, earning national and international recognition for its environmental leadership,” she said.
MEP Cynthia Ní Mhurchú congratulated Dr. Poole on her achievement, praising her “exceptional commitment to sustainable, science-driven farming and to safeguarding the natural environment for future generations.”
“Cheryl Poole is showing exactly what the Innovation Award for Women Farmers is designed to celebrate—practical ingenuity, environmental responsibility and a deep commitment to rural communities,” Ní Mhurchú said. “Her work is an inspiration not only to Irish farmers, but to rural innovators across Europe.”
Jason Redmond
From Gorey, Jason is the owner of Wexford Weekly. He is also a post-primary English and History teacher.
Read also:
Remember to submit your news to Wexford Weekly! To advertise on our socials or website, email our team at info@wexfordweekly.com