Pictured at the launch of “Kerry Co-op, The Heart of Who we Are” in The Ballygarry Hotel is author Con Dennehy from Currow.
The success and growth of Kerry Co-op is one of the most phenomenal business stories Ireland has witnessed over the past five decades. From humble beginnings in a mud splattered field in Listowel, it has become, through Kerry plc, a world food ingredients brand name stretching to thirty-eight different countries across the globe. A new book, Kerry Co-op, The Heart of Who we Are, was launched in Tralee on Saturday night by former Kerry Co-op founder and former CEO Denis Brosnan as part of Kerry Co-op’s 50th anniversary celebrations. The book, written by Currow native and published author Con Dennehy, looks deep into the heart and soul of many current and former Kerry Co-op directors, farmers, employees and management. At the Tralee launch, Denis Brosnan described the book as “A wonderful history of Kerry Co-op”.
“In this book, I am inviting the reader to savour a front seat view of the Kerry Co-op journey from the early 1970s to the present day as I paint a fabric that becomes the tapestry of Kerry Co-op. Their journey is one that was demanding, physical, emotional and in many ways spiritual as they overcame obstacles and challenges in their quest to make the life of farm families more enriched, economically viable and a future that was bright and sustainable,” said Con Dennehy.
“I am privileged that Kerry Co-op have given me this wonderful opportunity to draft their story, “The Heart of Who we Are”. It gave me the opportunity to study this wonderful business, paint a portrait of the people who contributed to its success and highlight the timelines throughout the decades through Annual Reports from 1975 to 2024, newspaper and media reports and a synopsis of each year dating back to the early 1970s.”
The new publication captures the spirit of the people who pioneered its success. Running to almost 500 pages and featuring 259 photographs the book features 45 interviews of various founders, directors, Board personell, farmers and employees of Kerry Co-op in Kerry, Limerick, Clare, South Galway and North Cork. The first section of the book is dedicated to the original founders of Kerry Co-op giving the readers a wonderful insight into the pioneering spirit and vision of these charismatic leaders.
