Our history

Humble Beginnings

McAuliffe Farms began in the townland of West Mein, Knocknagoshel, Co. Kerry, where Mick and Hannie McAuliffe instilled in their children the values of hard work, faith, and enterprise. Their son Jack, born with an entrepreneurial spirit, quickly recognised that the family’s 56 acres of poor land and small dairy herd could not provide a sustainable living. In the early 1950s, Jack travelled to England each winter for the beet campaign, working long hours to save enough to invest in his farm. By the late 1950s, a chance setback in pig dealing led him to fatten pigs himself—realising a profit and sparking his lifelong commitment to pig production.

Expansion and Innovation

From modest beginnings—housing a handful of pigs in any available shed—Jack and his wife Betty grew the business steadily. Through the 1960s and ’70s, new housing for hundreds of pigs was constructed, pioneering large-scale pig production in Ireland.

A pivotal moment came in 1973 when Jack built one of the country’s first 100-sow units, expanding further in subsequent years. McAuliffe Farms also became a Master Farm under the Farm Apprenticeship Board, training future pig managers who would work worldwide.

The 1980s saw expansion to five integrated pig farms, complemented by the growth of McAuliffe Trucking—transporting not only their own produce but also whey from Kerry Ingredients to pig farmers nationwide.

A Legacy Continued

After Jack’s passing in 1992, his son Mike and later his grandson Shane carried the torch. Mike built modern, high-health facilities including demolishing the original home farm in 2007 and building a new multi-million euro farm on a greenfield site. The Fahaduff site became Ireland’s first high welfare free lactation farm, and sustainability emerged as a guiding principle—Pigs, Planet, Profit, People. Under the current leadership, the company has earned national awards and international recognition.
As poet Cáit Curtin wrote in A Tribute to Jack McAuliffe:

“This noble giant of enterprise, sadly he’s passed away
He’s left a splendid legacy that’s with us every day
It’s about the gift of faith and love, courage and hard work
Jack! You were an inspiration, God rest your gentle soul.”

Today, McAuliffe Farms stands as a testament to generations of vision, innovation, and dedication to farming excellence.

Animal Welfare

High-health standards led by expert oversight.

Sustainability

Nutrient management, biodiversity initiatives, and emissions reduction.

Transparency

Open communication with community and research partners.