North Cork Creameries Faces Calls to Convene AGM
The Irish Farmers’ Association and the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers’ Association are urging North Cork Creameries to announce an immediate date for its annual general meeting. The organisations say the meeting should address the cooperative’s governance and financial position, after delays in publishing audited annual accounts.
Conor O’Leary, the Munster regional chair of the IFA, said shareholder suppliers lacked information about the cooperative’s financial trajectory. North Cork Creameries was established in 1928 and is headquartered in Kanturk, County Cork. Its supplier-members have sought clearer information about the cooperative’s operations and finances, including matters relevant to farm cash-flow planning and banking arrangements.
The call for a meeting follows changes at board level. Gerald Burns left the chairmanship after a board executive session on October 20, having been confirmed in the role the previous week. His appointment followed the resignation of Thomas O’Donoghue, who had earlier indicated that he intended to leave in the spring but temporarily remained in the position.
Supplier representatives said farmer-members had been unable to obtain clear information from regional board delegates. The IFA and ICMSA have called for direct communication between the board and suppliers while the cooperative’s governance arrangements are addressed.
North Cork Creameries also experienced a disruption at its Kanturk wastewater treatment facility during 2026. The Environmental Protection Agency suspended the site’s discharge licence earlier in the year, restricting processing operations until the suspension was lifted in July after regulatory compliance was restored.
In April, the cooperative reached a commercial milk-supply agreement with West Cork processor Carbery. The financial terms were not disclosed. The arrangement provided an outlet for supplier milk solids while North Cork Creameries’ local processing facilities underwent environmental and operational work.
The delayed accounts and leadership changes have left suppliers seeking information about milk pricing, cooperative equity and the value of member interests. A date for the AGM has not been stated in the supplied report.
