The Munster Agricultural Society has a long-standing connection with University College Cork (UCC), rooted in its early role in supporting education and training through the original Munster Dairy School.

Munster Dairy School – Model Farm, Cork (Established circa 1880)

In 1880, Dr Tolborn, a member of the Cork Agricultural Society, proposed the establishment of a dairy school at the Munster Model Farm in Cork. The Board of National Education supported the initiative, leading to the opening of the Munster Dairy School and Agricultural Institute later that year.

This became the first dairy school in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, offering structured training in dairy production, including a two-part six-week course designed to train “dairymaids” in farm butter-making techniques.

Read more about the shared history of UCC and MAS here.

Partnership Today

The partnership between the Munster Agricultural Society and UCC continues to thrive through the Munster Agricultural Society Post-Doctoral Researcher in Farmland Biodiversity programme. UCC is also represented on the MAS General Council through two members from the School of Food and Nutritional Sciences.

In addition, both organisations collaborate on an active on-site programme at the Cork Showgrounds, in partnership with the School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, supporting research, education, and engagement in sustainable agriculture and biodiversity.