Tirlán processes an annual volume of 3.2 billion litres of milk and handles 190,000 tonnes of green grain.

The creamery became a success story that emerged from the dedication and cooperation among farmers, management, workers and the community at large.

Co-operatives faced major downsides in that they lacked significant capital raising instruments that allowed for expansion and development and also the legal and financial protection afforded by corporate structures.

To realise the benefits of scale and diversification, the 1960s many of these small, locally focused co-operative Creameries across Ireland amalgamated.

After the introduction of European milk quotas in 1984, the domestic growth opportunities for Irish co-operatives and their members were very limited.

Waterford Co-op Society and Avonmore Creameries both realised that to expand they would have to seek out new markets from outside of Ireland.

After agreement was reached in a special general meeting in Waterford attended by almost 3,200 of the Waterford Co-op's 5,000 shareholders, a joint statement of the Chairmen read: "It would lead to an Irish, farmer-controlled food company with the scale and resources to successfully compete in a highly competitive international marketplace".

Between 2001 and 2004 Glanbia implemented a significant reorganisation aimed at reshaping its portfolio and providing the foundation for future growth.

The sale completed in April 2022 which marked the return of direct ownership of the dairy processing business to its farmer-members.

Fresh milk is still sold under a number of legacy brands that were bought by Tirlán that have strong geographic ties to certain areas : Premier Dairies in the Greater Dublin Area,[10] Snowcream who were based in the South-East Region, Ireland and Midland Region, Ireland, CMP who were based around Cork.