Latest news with #JoeHayden
Irish Independent
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Beloved Baileys Irish Cream cows from Wicklow to star in new film
The latest offering by the Carlow director is his love letter to Irish produce, featuring surprising discoveries, connections and Irish influences across the globe, from Prince Albert of Monaco's ties to the Guinness family to our underappreciated contributions to wine making. Surprising viewers who think of Ireland as just the home of Guinness and Irish stew, the cast of A Sip of Irish includes a range of artisans and public figures, including Midleton whiskey blender Deirdre O'Carroll, Donegal-based Muff Liquor Co in which Russell Crowe is a proud investor and chefs Anna Haugh and JR Ryall of Ballymaloe, along with Una Healy, Ryan Tubridy, Laura Whitmore, winemaker Michael Flatley (founder of Flatley Whiskey) and Pat Shortt. Easily among the most colourful and captivating characters in the stellar cast, Tinahely farmer Joe Hayden and his herd of Holstein Friesian cows take centre stage in the first segment of the film, which premieres in the Tinahely Courthouse Arts Centre on August 1. Although he has worked with the likes of Ian McKellen and Judi Dench on Quintessentially British, and with Stephen Fry in Sparkling: The Story of Champagne, Frank said that the day spent filming on the unique Baileys Farm, where Joe's cows receive a full spa treatment, will live long in his memory. 'The film celebrates Ireland's contribution to the drinks and culinary world, and I wanted to find surprising stories for familiar products,' Frank began. 'It looks at whiskey, stout, artisan brands like Scraggy Bay and Muff Liquor, and also Bailey's Irish Cream. Ultimately, the film is an entertaining origin story for all those products. 'With Baileys, I thought, we know it's really popular. We know it's 50pc cream. We know it has sold two billion bottles around the world. But what don't we know? Where is it actually made? 'I discovered that the quintessential Baileys dairy farm is called the Baileys Farm in Tinahely, County Wicklow, and there's an amazing, dynamic farmer there called Joe Hayden who has won many awards for his Holstein Friesian cows. 'He has 230 cows that produce the cream for Baileys Irish Cream. He doesn't call them 'his herd' or 'his cows', but rather his 'Bailey's ladies', and he treats them as such. 'You often hear of racehorses being treated better than humans. And in a way, Joe has almost like a spa treatment set up for his cows because his philosophy is that a happy cow is more productive, which is a fact. A happy cow will produce better quality milk. ADVERTISEMENT Learn more 'He plays music to his cows. So, when they're in the milking parlour, the cows have to listen to his taste in music, which is The Killers, Bruce Springsteen, and Coldplay. He had a saxophonist there last week, and they seemed to like it. He thinks it makes them more productive, and he's probably right. 'When I went to the farm, I thought, this is amazing, Joe is a very forward-looking farmer with lots of interesting methods – I must be the first to have come here to put him and the Baileys Ladies on camera. But no, last month he had the Real Housewives of Orange County pay him a visit. So, the secret is out!' Delighted to have contributed to the production, Joe said that it was a privilege to collaborate with 'gentleman' Frank on a project that will place a global spotlight on Wicklow and its long-standing ties to products that have put Irish food and drinks on the map. 'This film is going to be huge for the Baileys Farm, and it's going to be a huge thing for Wicklow and Tinahely,' he said. 'To be featured in such a way, and to get the whole first segment of the film dedicated to us, it's fantastic for the county. 'Frank spent the day down here. He is a very interesting individual, and I really enjoyed working with him. An absolute professional, and a gentleman to boot. 'I wasn't sure how he was going to knit everything together, but the film is very cleverly done. The way Frank has woven the story of the Irish influences into everything from Hennessy to Californian white wine development – he's a very clever guy. I suppose, like in a lot of things, Ireland punches well above its weight. 'I've seen the film a few times, and every time I look at it, I enjoy it more. It's going to be very good for giving Wicklow exposure across the globe and for the business here, and I'm thoroughly looking forward to the premiere.' Just down the road from Joe's farm, Frank and his crew visited St Patrick's Well, which was supposedly visited by St Patrick in the fifth century, and is the most southerly point in Ireland he is known to have travelled to. As Frank explained, the reason he wanted to film there was to establish a connection with Prince Albert of Monaco, who has a paternal connection to the Guinness family on the Grimaldi side of the family. 'We came to shoot in Wicklow because there are two great locations right next to each other that tell very interesting stories that very little is known about,' he said. 'We spoke to Prince Albert in the film, as one of his ancestors married into the Guinness family, so he joked with us that he considers Guinness the family drink! 'Before coming to Ireland, St Patrick was educated at the Lérins Islands, which are just off the coast of Cannes, off the coast of Monaco. 'So in the film, we segue from Saint Patrick's Well in Wicklow to Monaco and Prince Albert talking about how two of his ancestors were the principal abbots of Lérins Monastery, where the monks make really nice red wine to this day. 'Another little-known story is the wine geese, these dynamic Irishmen from Galway, Tipperary and Kildare who left Ireland in predominantly the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries for France and set up vineyards that are still world famous to this day, including Lynch-Bages, Phélan Ségur, and Léoville Barton. 'So, again, of course, we're known for Guinness, stout, and whiskey, but in the film, we say, well, we should be known for wine as well. 'And Hennessy Cognac, as Richard Hennessy was from Cork, and we tell that story of how he ended up in Cognac having fought for the French King Louis XV against the English at the Battle of Fontenoy.' A Sip of Irish will premiere at the Tinahely Courthouse Arts Centre on Friday, August 1, at 8pm. Tickets are €8/€6 and available to the public via An additional public screening will take place on the same day at Carlow County Library at 3pm. There will be a reception sponsored by Baileys at both screenings. The film will be released on digital platforms, including Amazon Prime and iTunes, on August 2.
Times
12-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Times
Why I played my saxophone to Baileys Irish Cream cows
From the time dairy farmer Joe Hayden was a child, he knew that music played a powerful role in helping his cows produce top-quality milk. For years the gravelly voice of Bruce Springsteen and bands such as Coldplay have been credited with helping to make the cream used in Baileys, one of Ireland's most recognisable exports. Twice a day at the family farm near Tinahely in Co Wicklow, Hayden's 230 'Baileys ladies' expect their favourite tunes to be delivered to them via Spotify. In addition, each one is equipped with a personalised Fitbit around their necks to monitor their health and wellbeing. In short, they are among Ireland's most pampered cows, and must be kept happy and well fed at all times to deliver a product that's a cut above their bovine counterparts.
The Independent
27-05-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Harper vs Zimmermann: The unbeaten prospects on the undercard
Terri Harper is set to defend her WBO lightweight title tomorrow night against Natalie Zimmermann at the Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster. The Doncaster fighter will defend the WBO belt she acquired last year, beating Rhiannon Dixon over ten rounds to become a three-weight world champion. She goes up against Natalie Zimmermann, an unbeaten yet untested fighter from Germany. The undercard is stacked with more homegrown talent looking to make a statement in South Yorkshire. Here is what you need to know about the unbeaten prospects on the supporting cast. Joe Hayden Joe Hayden, 17-0 (1 KO), is a football convert, having made the move to boxing due to a knee injury during the Covid-19 pandemic. The man from Conisbrough was picked up by Dave Allen, who has been Hayden's manager since his debut in 2022. Hayden said to the Yorkshire Times last year: 'It's thanks to my manager Dave Allen, the 'White Rhino', that I've had so many bouts and I appreciate his faith in me. I began serious training on Dave's patio three years ago, and I've got more drive now than ever. ' This fight with Booth will be Hayden's first over eight rounds and he is hoping that it is the next step on his way to challenging for his first title. He said: 'I trust Dave [ Allen ] totally. He'll decide when it's time for me to step up to eight rounders and then maybe next year I'll be looking at a ten-round area title fight challenger' Ebonie Jones Originally a kickboxer from Portsmouth, Jones, 6-0-1, started boxing when she was 12 and had a successful amateur career with a record of 60-5, winning the European U-22 championship in 2018 and competing at the world championships later that year. After taking a brief hiatus from the sport in 2019, Jones returned to the ring as a professional in 2021, beating Vaida Masiokaite on points at Wembley Arena. A draw in her second fight was quickly rectified with five consecutive wins. Jones trains out of the Steel City Boxing Club in Sheffield and said this was a move for the good of her career. She told BBC Radio Solent: 'I moved up here to concentrate on my boxing. I was on Team GB in Sheffield before, so I know the area a bit, but I do miss my family back home.' In her last outing, the former kickboxer beat Consolata Musanga for the Commonwealth Silver featherweight title via unanimous decision. Now unbeaten in her first six fights professionally, Jones is taking a step down in weight but a step up in opposition when she takes on Tysie Gallagher for the British and Commonwealth super bantamweight titles. Ellie Hellewell Ellie Hellewell, 6-0 (1 KO) is another of the Yorkshire natives on the undercard. She has campaigned at featherweight but will move down to super bantamweight this Friday and trains out the Steffy Bull gym in Conisbrough, alongside the headliner Terri Harper. She had a short career as an amateur but won a national title in 2021 before quickly turning over to the paid ranks to make her debut in 2022. The 24-year-old has curated a record of six fights unbeaten and one knockout. She will now have her fight ten-round fight against Stevi Levy as a final eliminator for the Commonwealth super bantamweight title that Ebonie Jones will challenge for later on the card. Watch the very best boxing with a DAZN subscription DAZN is the home of combat sports, broadcasting over 185 fights a year from the world's best promoters, including Matchroom, Queensberry, Golden Boy, Misfits, PFL, BKFC, GLORY and more. An Annual Saver subscription is a one-off cost of £119.99 / $224.99 (for 12 months access), that's just 64p / $1.21 per fight. There is also a Monthly Flex Pass option (cancel any time) at £24.99 / $29.99 per month. A subscription includes weekly magazine shows, comprehensive fight library, exclusive interviews, behind-the-scenes documentaries, and podcasts and vodcasts.
