From Ballydaly in Tullamore, Co. Offaly Tommy started to farm the family farm aged eleven years old. In the early 1970’s he was selected as an ACOT demonstration farm in recognition of his pioneering farming practices. His farming career was shaped by a passion and a determination to drive forward in terms of quality and efficiency, adopting the best technologies and practises. His outlook was to remain constantly open to new ideas whilst maintaining an independence of thought. With his wife Ber they registered the Tarabella herd prefix and the cows were Graded Up with the Herdbook to Pedigree status. Milk recording and Classification
scoring were adopted as data-based technologies to improve quality and efficiency. Tommy is one of the founding committee members of the Laois Offaly Friesian Breeders club when it was established on March 30th 1987. Over the years he thoroughly enjoyed the club stock judging field evenings and distance was no
object in bringing club team members to the IHFA National Open Days to participate in the Interclub Stock judging Finals. The club remains one of the most vibrant IHFA clubs, continuing to prosper year after year. Tommy’s breeding philosophy could be described as “cows having a balance of strength and longevity with
productivity and yields to pay the bills”. Embryo transfer and flushing was also utilised as a new technology to strengthen and improve herd quality and performance. Lactomont Paula Blackstar ET and Tarabella Edel 3 were among the favourite cows in the herd. Tommy & Ber were blessed with a family of five daughters Martina, Paula, Carmel, Bernadette and Marie and everyone helped out on the farm. The family were actively involved in the Young Members (YMA), supporting
all the club events. Tommy always had a team of halter trained calves to hand year after year, helping to ensure that the Young Members had consistantly strong representation. Tommy and close friend Richard Hamilton provided tremendous helpful assistance to YMA in the early years of the National Finals as the cattle
stewards.
In 1991 Tommy was invited to assist as a committee member of the newly created Tullamore Show organising committee. He served with distinction as Chairman of the Dairy Section until his retirement in 2022 encompassing
thirty-one years of dedicated service. Along with all committee members involved, Tommy had an input in helping the show to attain National Livestock Show title accreditation in 1995. In recognition of the loyal support received from the local Friesian breeder members, it is a credit to Tommy and to the show committee
that the Confined dairy classes are an integral part of the Tullamore National Livestock Show annual programme of events. The popularity of the Young Members Showmanship League qualifier classes at the show is a fitting tribute to Tommy in recognition of his lifetime involvement and support of Young Members.
He was one of the first to lend support to this new YMA competition when it was introduced. In recognition of his lifetime involvement Tommy has been presented with many distinguished awards as tokens of appreciation for his involvement and his contribution in helping to promote and raise the profile for the breed, the community of breeders including Young Members. These awards include;
• Young Members Association Hall of Fame award
• National Dairy Show lifetime recognition Award
• IHFA Golden Jubilee Recognition award
In nominating Tommy Finlay as the National Hall of Fame recipient 2024, the Irish Holstein Friesian Associationexpresses its thanks and appreciation to Tommy for his lifetime involvement and contribution.
