With three brothers, the idea of becoming a farmer did not seem viable to Linda Hanbidge-Cliffe growing up.
Leaving her home farm in Brockna, Co Wicklow behind, Linda ventured to Kilkenny and worked in film.
When she lost her job, however, she returned to her safe haven to figure things out.
Now Linda and her brother, Gordon, have joined forces to manage their family farm. Together they milk 110 Montbéliarde cows.
“I always presumed that one of my brothers would take on the farm and they were always there to give dad a hand.
Mam had a bed and breakfast until six or seven years ago and I would have helped her. We took very stereotypical roles in that sense.
“I trained as a makeup artist and then I got a job in Kilkenny as a youth worker teaching kids how to make films.
Linda Hanbidge Cliffe. \ Claire-Jeanne Nash
"In February 2011 I lost my job due to funding cuts and I came home to get my bearings. Our brother, who lives in Australia, was getting married here.
“That was happening in August of that year so I said: ‘I won’t look for a job yet, I will give dad a hand for a few months and we will get everything ready for the Australians who would be staying with us.’ Then after the wedding, Gordon went to college and Mum and dad were going to Australia. Somebody had to milk the cows so I thought: ‘Right, I can do it.’
“When my parents came home, I asked if I could stay. Dad was okay with it, he never had an issue with a female farming, but I had to speak to Gordon because he wanted to farm too. Daddy’s main concern was that Gordon and I wouldn’t have enough income from the farm. We have to make sure that we’re doing things as efficiently as possible because we have to make money for two.
“I was going out with my then boyfriend, now husband, two years when I moved home. He was living in South Kilkenny and I had to ask him: ‘Is there any chance you could move here?’
“My first year at home was probably one of my healthiest, because I was out and moving all the time whereas I had been working in an office quite a bit in Kilkenny. I prefer this lifestyle. I had hoped to travel as a makeup artist, but I don’t think about it anymore, it’s not like I regret not getting to do it.
“When I came home and dad had help, it gave him a new lease of life too.
"I wasn’t much use for lots of things, but sure I was company and I took on the paperwork, which he was delighted with.
"It’s been a great couple of years, we’ve done a lot of expansion and it’s been exciting.
“I had a very swift learning curve because I went from never being here to being here every minute of every day.
"I still don’t know how to drive a tractor – well, I can move it, just about. Machinery is not my strong point, but it would be Gordon’s.
Linda Hanbidge Cliffe among the herd of Montbéliarde cows at her home farm in Co Wicklow. \ Claire-Jeanne Nash
“Gordon and I are the sixth generation of Hanbidge to farm here. The Hanbidges built this farmhouse, which is 150 odd years old – it used to be my grandparents’.
"I’m a Cliffe and some people said that it should’ve been Gordon that moved in here, but he didn’t want the old house.
“Gordon and I work alright together, we don’t have a labour issue and we don’t have an isolation issue. We probably see each other a bit too much. Daddy turned 66 in September so he’s officially retired, although he’s more like part-time retired.
“I couldn’t farm without Gordon and dad. I have two small kids so I haven’t been able to be as active in the yard as I would like to be. That’s been hard on Gordon, but the girls will get older, they will either be out with me or they will go to granny’s.
We’re very lucky that my parents are only up the garden, we rely heavily on each other, but it’s a family farm and you have to make the best of it. Gordon might have a family one day too and I’ll be able to say: ‘It’s okay, my kids are old enough, go and mind your own babies.’
Two Montbéliarde cows from Linda Hanbidge Cliffe and her brother Gordon's dairy herd. \ Claire-Jeanne Nash
“My daughter, Zoe, probably spent more time in the yard than she did in the house when she was small. It’s harder now with two, they are not able to get out as often, but Zoe would be walking along and she would say: ‘Heifers are my favourite, mammy.’ It’s a great education for them and it gives them a love for the outdoors.
“Growing up on a farm definitely instilled a hard working ethic in us.
"None of us ever saw 11 o’clock in bed. Even when we were on summer holidays, if we walked down at nine o’clock mam would say: ‘What time do you call this? Your dad has been up for hours.’”
With three brothers, the idea of becoming a farmer did not seem viable to Linda Hanbidge-Cliffe growing up.
Leaving her home farm in Brockna, Co Wicklow behind, Linda ventured to Kilkenny and worked in film.
When she lost her job, however, she returned to her safe haven to figure things out.
Now Linda and her brother, Gordon, have joined forces to manage their family farm. Together they milk 110 Montbéliarde cows.
“I always presumed that one of my brothers would take on the farm and they were always there to give dad a hand.
Mam had a bed and breakfast until six or seven years ago and I would have helped her. We took very stereotypical roles in that sense.
“I trained as a makeup artist and then I got a job in Kilkenny as a youth worker teaching kids how to make films.
Linda Hanbidge Cliffe. \ Claire-Jeanne Nash
"In February 2011 I lost my job due to funding cuts and I came home to get my bearings. Our brother, who lives in Australia, was getting married here.
“That was happening in August of that year so I said: ‘I won’t look for a job yet, I will give dad a hand for a few months and we will get everything ready for the Australians who would be staying with us.’ Then after the wedding, Gordon went to college and Mum and dad were going to Australia. Somebody had to milk the cows so I thought: ‘Right, I can do it.’
“When my parents came home, I asked if I could stay. Dad was okay with it, he never had an issue with a female farming, but I had to speak to Gordon because he wanted to farm too. Daddy’s main concern was that Gordon and I wouldn’t have enough income from the farm. We have to make sure that we’re doing things as efficiently as possible because we have to make money for two.
“I was going out with my then boyfriend, now husband, two years when I moved home. He was living in South Kilkenny and I had to ask him: ‘Is there any chance you could move here?’
“My first year at home was probably one of my healthiest, because I was out and moving all the time whereas I had been working in an office quite a bit in Kilkenny. I prefer this lifestyle. I had hoped to travel as a makeup artist, but I don’t think about it anymore, it’s not like I regret not getting to do it.
“When I came home and dad had help, it gave him a new lease of life too.
"I wasn’t much use for lots of things, but sure I was company and I took on the paperwork, which he was delighted with.
"It’s been a great couple of years, we’ve done a lot of expansion and it’s been exciting.
“I had a very swift learning curve because I went from never being here to being here every minute of every day.
"I still don’t know how to drive a tractor – well, I can move it, just about. Machinery is not my strong point, but it would be Gordon’s.
Linda Hanbidge Cliffe among the herd of Montbéliarde cows at her home farm in Co Wicklow. \ Claire-Jeanne Nash
“Gordon and I are the sixth generation of Hanbidge to farm here. The Hanbidges built this farmhouse, which is 150 odd years old – it used to be my grandparents’.
"I’m a Cliffe and some people said that it should’ve been Gordon that moved in here, but he didn’t want the old house.
“Gordon and I work alright together, we don’t have a labour issue and we don’t have an isolation issue. We probably see each other a bit too much. Daddy turned 66 in September so he’s officially retired, although he’s more like part-time retired.
“I couldn’t farm without Gordon and dad. I have two small kids so I haven’t been able to be as active in the yard as I would like to be. That’s been hard on Gordon, but the girls will get older, they will either be out with me or they will go to granny’s.
We’re very lucky that my parents are only up the garden, we rely heavily on each other, but it’s a family farm and you have to make the best of it. Gordon might have a family one day too and I’ll be able to say: ‘It’s okay, my kids are old enough, go and mind your own babies.’
Two Montbéliarde cows from Linda Hanbidge Cliffe and her brother Gordon's dairy herd. \ Claire-Jeanne Nash
“My daughter, Zoe, probably spent more time in the yard than she did in the house when she was small. It’s harder now with two, they are not able to get out as often, but Zoe would be walking along and she would say: ‘Heifers are my favourite, mammy.’ It’s a great education for them and it gives them a love for the outdoors.
“Growing up on a farm definitely instilled a hard working ethic in us.
"None of us ever saw 11 o’clock in bed. Even when we were on summer holidays, if we walked down at nine o’clock mam would say: ‘What time do you call this? Your dad has been up for hours.’”
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