About the Holding
Mike and Joann’s farm is approx. 55 acres. They have a suckler cow farm with a slatted shed, hayshed, and lean-to barn. They keep the calves and sell them then as weanlings to the mart. They also have an enclosed area for fowl and a hen house (ducks and hens).
They have a small number of raised beds where we plant vegetables etc. Their cat ‘Boo’ and guinea pig ‘Nibbles’ make up the rest of the farm!!
Mike’s father originally bought the farm. He transferred the farm to Mike. Mike has always been farming here initially with his father and now with Joann and their children.
A Social Farming Day
Winter/Springtime:
Winter/Springtime is often the busiest time on the farm as the animals are inside. Many of the cows are calving too.
Activities include:
Feeding cows and calves with silage, hay, nuts; cleaning out sheds/slats, cleaning raised beds, dehorning calves, tagging calves, feeding calves, looking after the fowl, walking through the farm, looking after the pets.
Summertime/Autumn:
Activities include:
Feeding cattle, power washing, looking after the fowl, collecting eggs, checking cattle, moving cattle, checking grass, planting, weeding, general housekeeping around the yard (collecting plastic), checking water troughs, walks through the farm.
Farm maintenance: cutting back briars from an electric fence, maintaining water hoses, painting timber stakes, maintaining hedgerows etc.
Local Interests
The Eco- Park is located in Raheenagh village. It’s an area for wildlife and has planted trees, flowers etc. It has a number of raised beds that are looked after by different organisations in the locality. The parish is a very active one for sporting activities e.g., GAA, camogie, soccer, and Irish music (Cluain Chreadail). Currently, the original Ashford tavern is being developed into a community hub.
A very active Tidy Towns committee keeps the villages looking well. The wonderful Ashford/Broadford trails have trail walks in the Mullagherick hills in the parish.
Glenquin Castle is a historical castle with wonderful views from the top.
Joann works as a Guidance Counsellor in a second-level school. She is involved in the community as a member of Killeedy GAA & Camogie Health & Wellbeing committee, volunteers at the Eco- Park and co-ordinates the Gaelic 4 Mothers and Others in the local football club.