Hannah Bolger has no rural background and was introduced to farming by her husband Michael Keegan.

“I used to think that lambs were fluffy white clouds that had legs. Now Michael is the expert, but I know more than I ever did,” she says.

They live at Waterfall Farm, Co Wicklow, with their daughter Eleanor. Sheep are their main enterprise and they keep a Welsh breed called Lleyn.

“We have about 350 ewes and some rams. I help out when I can, especially with feeding and the like. I don’t mind it as I am used to hard work,” she says.

They have 100 acres and also rent high ground for the mating season. Michael has worked hard to ensure that nearly every birth is twins. Hannah teaches horseriding and runs their farm shop. They sell lambs direct to customers for their freezers and they keep pet animals, which Hannah looks after, for families to visit.

“We don’t charge people to come and see the animals, and it is great for kids to see them and experience a farm,” Hannah explains.

“We have pygmy goats, a selection of hens, rabbits and Mr Gobbles the turkey, who is in no danger at Christmas time,” she laughs.

Hannah loves life as a farmer and living in the country.

“We are in a beautiful location and we are so lucky to live the country life and work at what we love,” she says.

Featured in a film

Their farm and the surrounding areas are so picturesque that it was actually the farm featured in the film adaptation of Cecelia Ahern’s novel, PS I Love You.

“A lot of people are in awe of that. We get a lot of English and American visitors.”

2014 will hopefully see the couple expand their shop into a tearoom.

“In the springtime we are hoping to open a tearoom that would be very traditional, with scones and simple food, and to expand the pet area to make it a destination farm,” Hannah explains.

“We are also hoping to do farm walks in the future.”

Hannah admits there is a lot on her plate but that her mother is a huge help.

“Mom does lots, helping out with Eleanor, it shows how it really takes a village to rear a child.” CL