What is your next Project?
Type Media Article
By Bernie Leahy, B&T Drystock Adviser, Teagasc Galway/Clare
One of my farmers, sadly deceased, recommended that everybody should have a Project!
This statement is shining “true” as I have found whilst making my “ACRES Pilgrimage “through the hills, vales and bogs of East Galway”.
The spirit of Innovation is very much alive despite three difficult years post Covid.
A rustic sign loomed with the name “Green Hills Farm Stay” as I headed to the hills of Kilderry, Kilconnell for a few “ACRES Scheme” related visits.
I had been to this country for a few farm visits to another Kilconnell farmer, Thomas Ward, nearby. Tom hosted some practical sessions for a Department of Agriculture funded training course held in Teagasc Ballinasloe this summer. His fields had a wealth of flora on his extensively grazed grasslands and a flourishing traditional orchard of old Irish Apple varieties. During the summer a carpet of wild flowers were a very pleasing spectacle along with the enticing apples! These Heritage Apples can be purchased at Irish Seed Savers, Scarriff, Co. Clare. English’s Nurseries Wexford also supply a wide range of fruit trees and bushes.
Green Hills Farm Stay Agri Tourism:
Pat Noone, drystock farmer, has a respect for the faeries and folklore of Kilderry Hills handed down to him from his father and grandfather. Having featured on “Kelly’s Ireland” you tube clip and RTE documentary “Into the Mystics”, Pat has used his story telling skills to covet an international following from Europe to Canada. Busloads of avid followers believe every word he speaks on the machinations and activities of the little people. It is easy to imagine the darkest Halloween evening Kilderry faeries are “alive and well” flitting amongst the Faery Forts and ancient trees of this “spiritual” landscape.
Pat like many others has ploughed ahead to develop his enterprise without prior funding.
Local Enterprise Offices, Galway Rural Development can offer grants up to 75% provided the business is not animal or crop production related. The New BIA Innovation Centre on the grounds of Teagasc Mellows Centre, Athenry, provides marketing expertise for business start-ups.
Texel Sheep Breeder with an Passion for Embryo Transfer!
Tom Kenny, pedigree Texel breeder in Hillswood, Kilconnell has been breeding for over 20 years. The Texel Breed is an ideal dual purpose breed with excellent carcase and milk traits.
My purpose was an ACRES visit to take photos for the ACRES Scheme but Tom was on his own “Photo Shoot” with one of his March 2021 born ewe lamb Felicienne and professional photographer.
Tom and his son Thomas see the importance of going one-step ahead in their breeding enterprise. Not only is it important to breed five star rams with excellent genetics, improving by Embryo Transfer, from highest quality donor females and impregnating into commercial ewes with Texel, Suffolk and Mule breeding make up can give a viable way of producing excellent female breeding stock. Tom hopes female selection and recording of progeny from select females will give valuable data in the future.
Before I left Tom showed me his twelve Texel pedigree ewe lambs, which were due for Pedigree Sales where prices of up to €2,000 per head at the upcoming Western Region Texel Club Annual female sale Roscommon Sale on 2nd December.
The New Sheep Improvement Scheme just announced will bring back a focus on Genetic Improvement. Farmers can apply online and the closing date is 19th December 2022.
Heritage Shed in Annagh, Ballymacward:
John and Terry Hanlon have hosted at least one Heritage Event for the fine work carried out on a Heritage Stone Farm Shed with Loft. An arduous task with work carried out to rigorous demands of the Kilkenny Based Heritage Council.
A “Labour of Love”, John has continued his renovation work in his old farmyard attempting to recapture the quality stone and redbrick and blue Bangor slates in old stables and cow byres of bygone days. John would not go for the Heritage Grant Scheme again because of the expense of meeting the very high standards of these schemes.
John was also one of my ACRES Pilgrimage stops and hopes the Scheme will carry through his extensive farming system with a much-needed farm income.
A new Scheme, Croi Connaithe, was announced by Daragh O’Brien, Dept of Housing in early November this year. Grants up to €50,000 are available with Galway County Council for renovating derelict rural houses for accommodation.
You Cannot Fit a Square Peg Into a Round Hole!
I walked a farm in Kiltormer. I had visited the farm well over 10 years ago and was delighted at how well this father had improved his system. Angus, Friesian crosses were finished as 2 year olds. His Project delivered a modest one-sided slatted shed to house stock earlier.
His son was working off the farm but they ran dry hoggets, Suffolk crosses which blended well with their cattle system.
We both agreed that the limited options of Priority Actions 2 (Tree Planting, Riparian Zone, and Tree Belt for Ammonia Capture) would not be feasible for increasing his chances of getting into the ACRES Scheme.
Life Has Changed in 2022:
I also bumped into Local Engineer Conor Hayes whilst looking for directions in Kilt ormer. We remarked on the changes in society in rural Ireland and particularly closure of up to five private nursing homes in East Galway.
As I passed down by the former Kilt ormer Nursing Home, now Home to Ukrainian Nationals, I felt sorry for the Rural Innovators who had started up these homes and lack of Government backing for their survival.
For now, these buildings will be a safe haven for our stricken fellow Europeans.
When one door closes another opens! One of my farmers is taking up a new post in Portumna with Galway Education and Training Board. Teaching English to Ukrainians!