Celebrating 45 years in business, KCDFRS (Kilkenny/Carlow & District Farm Relief Services) is a leading farmer-owned cooperative supplying milking relief, general labourers and a number of specialist services to farmers in Kilkenny and Carlow.
Founded in 1979 as Noreside Farm Relief Services Co-Op, KCDFRS is headquartered at Cillín Hill beside Kilkenny Mart. Here, it has an office and farm shop, while it has a second office and farm supplies store on the same site as Carlow Mart. KCDFRS is one of five district divisions of the FRS Network which provides a wide range of services to over 20,000 farmers nationwide, including relief milking, scanning, hoof care, fencing, general work, freeze branding and even sludge disposal.
These services are provided to support farmers in the efficient running of their farming enterprise.
The farm shop and yard in Kilkenny is one of the biggest and busiest across the entire network. Open from 8am to 5pm Monday to Friday, and from 9am to 12.30pm on Saturdays, the shop stocks hardware and equipment, gates and accessories, farm safety equipment, fencing supplies, fencers, animal care supplies and much more. KCDFRS also stocks the full range of Condon Engineering products including cubicles, feed barriers, gates, handling, matting, drinkers, meal bins and feeders.
“We’ve been operating from Cillín Hill since 2009. It’s a great location beside Kilkenny Mart,” shop and yard manager Brian Farrell says.
“We stock everything a farmer needs, especially in the line of fencing, livestock handling equipment and animal remedies. The shop grew out of fencing supplies and service. We’re also well-known for being one of the largest Condon Engineering agents in the country. Condon is a successful Co. Louth company whose products are very popular with our customers and are a big part of our business. Their products are strong, robust and long-lasting.
“We’re also agents for Stokbord which is an alternative to plywood and is a very versatile product that can be used in a variety of applications. In addition, we represent brands such as Easyfix and Kriaburg rubber matting for cattle and horses.”
The Kilkenny branch employs fifteen people, including six in the shop and yard. Key personnel include general manager Dan Kiely, fencing manager Liam Kennedy and farm relief coordinator Debbie Cody.
KCDFRS has 110 farm relief contractors in Kilkenny and 40 in Carlow.
“There is always a strong demand for our farm relief services, especially in the springtime when calves are being born and fed, and the milking is back in full swing. We have a huge number of dairy farmers on our books who don’t want to be tied to milking seven days a week. We’re always looking for skilled farm relief workers and are even sourcing them from abroad,” Brian explains.
KCDFRS covers all areas of Co. Kilkenny and surrounds, including Ballyragget, Castlecomer, Clogh, Bilbao, Crettyard, The Swan, Ballickmoyler, Luggacurran, Ballinakill, Ballyoushill, Attanagh, Rathmoyle, Mooncoin, Callan, Ballyhale, New Ross, Tullogher-Rosbercon, Kilmacow, Windgap, Muckalee, Johnswell, Lisdowney, Gathabawn, Ballylinan, Newtown, Tolerton, Athy, Castledermot, Freshford, Glenmore, Goresbridge, Gowran, Graiguenamanagh, Inistioge, Jenkinstown, Kells, Kilkenny City, Kilmanagh, Knocktopher, Mullinavat, Piltown, Slieverue, Thomastown, Tullaroan and Urlingford.
It’s a similar story in Carlow where Aghade, Ardattin, Bagenalstown, Ballinkillen, Ballon, Ballymurphy, Borris, Carlow Town, Clonegal, Clonmore, Coolkeeno, Fenagh, Hacketstown, Kildavin, Leighlinbridge, Myshall, Nurney, Old Leighlin and St Mullins are all catered for.
KCDFRS has built a reputation for excellence in fencing contracts in the region. Their quality workmanship is sought by farmers, local authorities, government bodies, utility companies, equestrian centres and residential properties. KCDFRS are contractors for industrial, security, residential and sports fencing, and have three full-time fencing teams serving the south-east and midlands.
As part of the FRS Network, much of their buying is done centrally to ensure they can deliver the best products at the best prices. The products used in KCDFRS fencing solutions are also available to purchase from the Kilkenny store where a wide range of fencing types, accessories and tools are always in stock.
Milking relief was one of the first services provided by FRS following its inception in 1980. Dairy farming is a full-time commitment and FRS are here to support farmers on a full-time basis or as and when the need arises. All of their operators are fully trained and have the skills to work with the latest technology in your milking parlour. The operators are all handpicked and are fully trained and insured, providing you with peace of mind.
KCDFRS can also help with general relief work such as slurry spreading, fertiliser spreading, topping, yard scraping, dosing, injecting and silage feeding. Specialist services like hoof care (both ailment and preventative care including trimming), freeze branding and calf dehorning are also provided.
As KCDFRS continues to go from strength to strength, it would like to take this opportunity to thank its customers and suppliers for their unwavering support as well as its expert team for their hard work and dedication.
Here’s to the next 45 years!
Kilkenny/Carlow & District Farm Relief Services Society Ltd.
Kilkenny Office Carlow Office
Cillín Hill Killeshin Road
Kilkenny Carlow
R95 C8YT R93 V0R1
Telephone: 056 7761671 Telephone: 059 9152444
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.kcdfrs.com
First published in Irish Tractor & Agri magazine Vol 12 No 2, July/August 2024
Kilkenny/Carlow & District Farm Relief Services Society
