22/09/2025
Rest in peace Ned
A Tribute to Our Founder â Ned Harty RIP
It is with deep sadness that we share the passing of our founder and Managing Director, Ned Harty.
Ned established Dairymaster in 1968 by himself, laying the foundations of a company that has since grown from strength to strength, reaching farmers across the world with award-winning innovations. He was a true innovator, creator, and visionary whose ideas transformed dairy farming and whose legacy will continue to shape the future.
A natural born engineer, Ned had an extraordinary gift for innovation. What seemed like common sense to him was nothing short of remarkable to others, who marvelled at his creativity. He encouraged and inspired engineers and designers to push boundaries, often reminding them that âthe person that never made a mistake, never made anything.â His philosophy nurtured a culture of creativity, courage, and continuous improvement that continues to define Dairymaster today.
Ned took immense pride not only in the products we built but also in the people who built them. He gave many people their start, opening doors and creating opportunities they could never have imagined. With his guidance, countless individuals grew to become some of the best engineers in the world. He valued every member of staff, encouraging them to âuse their own judgementâ and fostering a culture of trust, responsibility, and growth.
He led by example, always the first to arrive at the factory and the last to leave, often working into the night to get the job done. A dedicated, hands-on leader, Ned knew every part of the business and was deeply engaged with every department. He walked the factory floor each day, smiling, acknowledging, and greeting everyone he met.
Ned valued his customers deeply and always took the time to listen and learn from them. For him, every conversation was an opportunity to improve, to create, and to serve better. He took pride in the service he provided and used that to build his loyal customer base. His passion for farming, engineering, and people was evident in everything he did.
What he built in the factory was extraordinary. If Ned couldnât find a machine to do the work he needed, he would simply make it himself. Many of the machines still in the factory today were designed and built by Nedâs own hands. His work and products went on to compete with, and often surpass, those of the largest companies in the world. A man from Kerry took on global giants in the dairy industry and won.
As employees, we will always remember how approachable he was. He made it easy to talk to him, often breaking the ice with a smile and a simple question like âAnything strange?â or âHow did ye get on?â These moments captured his humanity and his genuine interest in people. Truly, the likes of him will never be seen again.
Above all, Ned was a man of great integrity and determination. His lifeâs work has left an enduring mark not only on Dairymaster, but also on the global dairy industry and on the many lives he touched along the way.
Ned will be greatly missed, but his spirit, vision, and legacy will live on in Dairymaster and in all of us who had the privilege to work alongside him.
We wish to offer our sincere sympathy to his family, his wife Maureen, his daughter Anne, his sons Edmond & John, his daughter in laws Leslie & Sile, his son in law John, his eight grandchildren, Emma, Sean, Eamonn, Niamh, Sophia, Aoibheann, SiĂșn, Tiarnach, his brothers Michael & Richard and sisters Nora, Mary & Ena, brothers in law Jeremiah & Vincent and sisters in law Mary & Lily, nephews, nieces, relatives and a large circle of friends
- Dairymaster Staff
https://rip.ie/death-notice/edmond-ned-harty-kerry-causeway-605836
