Tipperary all-star hurler Noel McGrath last month launched a new historical book From Landlords to Genetics at the headquarters of Dovea Genetics, based outside Thurles, Co Tipperary.

The book, commissioned by Dovea Genetics, tells the fascinating story of the Trant Estate in Dovea, Thurles, and the fortunes of its owners, the Trant family who built Dovea House, which is today headquarters for the successful Dovea Genetics business.

Dovea Genetics was founded in 1952 by a number of local co-operatives as one of Ireland’s AI stations. Today, Dovea Genetics remains a truly independent AI station with a thriving domestic and export business.

It operates from the former estate of the Trant family who were extensive landlords in the Thurles area in the mid-1700s. Conscious of the heritage they inherited, the board and management embarked on a major project of estate restoration and associated heritage research, culminating in the publication of an all-embracing history of Dovea.

According to Dovea Genetics chair John P Nugent: “In many ways, this book is an acknowledgement to the Trant family for their decision in the 1940s to offer the estate for the betterment of agriculture in the area.

“With the establishment of the successful Dovea Genetics business, which has had a significant positive impact on farmers across the region, their objective has certainly been met.”

Speaking about the project, Dovea Genetics general manager Ger Ryan said: “Dovea House and demesne is a unique work environment. Our visiting customers are constantly surprised when greeted by a 17th century period home which plays host to a modern-day, thriving business.”

The book is the combined effort of a voluntary group of Tipperary scholars led by local historian George Cunningham, who noted: “Our group worked assiduously for over two years gathering relevant material to follow the fortunes of the family from before and during their tenure in Dovea, with a detailed record of the establishment and growth of the current Dovea Genetics business.”

From Landlords to Genetics tells the story of the estate from its establishment in the post Cromwellian period through the different social and political changes in Irish society, right up to the Trant family departure and the story of the current occupants Dovea Genetics.

New initiative

The Dovea Genetics stud now has over 100 bulls producing semen for both Ireland and export markets.

This year, they launched the Dovea Straws For Action, which saw Dovea Genetics donate €1 from each semen straw sold off their high-EBI bull Beechnut Dovea (FR4673) and the Limousin bull Ewdenvale Ivor (LM2014) from 1 January to mid-September 2019.

This saw a massive €19,879 raised by Dovea, which was presented to Embrace Farm at this year’s Ploughing.

At the presentation of the cheque, Embrace Farm chair Brian Rohan, on behalf of the board of Embrace Farm, extended sincere gratitude to the staff and the board of Dovea Genetics for coming up with the brilliant idea of this fundraiser.