[7][8] It was created to centralise the overseas marketing of Irish dairy products to achieve economies of scale and greater brand recognition.

Tony O'Reilly was appointed General Manager in 1962 and announced to the board in July the plan to launch a new consumer brand to grow exports of Butter.

[10] In October 1962, the Board successfully test-launched the Kerrygold brand in the Winterhill area of North West England.

When Ireland joined the EEC in 1973, the Board began expanding its presence to continental Europe, beginning with the North Rhine-Westphalia state of Germany.

[11] Currently, Ornua operates from 19 subsidiaries worldwide, with pre-packing and blending facilities located in Germany, Great Britain, the United States and the Middle East.