This is a subscriber-only article
I farm: “For dairy farmer Patrick Dooley. I moved over from Wales just three weeks ago after answering Pat’s advert online. We are milking 250 cows made up of Jersey, British and Holstein Friesian breeds.”
Back home: “We are finishing mainly Limousin cattle and Suffolk sheep near Cardiff in south Wales. I also own a few horses, and I compete in dressage and show jumping. My dad definitely inspired me to get into farming; he’s the first person I call if I have any problems.”
Wales v Ireland: “I prefer working here in Laois – things are very organised and one thing I love is the amount of responsibility I have been given. Farms in Ireland probably aren’t as intensive or as large as the farms you see at home. My previous job was on an indoor dairy enterprise that produced liquid milk year-round, which was definitely a tougher place to work.”
This week: ”I have been taking the milking myself this week for the first time. I’ve been given the responsibility of the morning milking. We are still calving and won’t be finished up until the end of April so I am being kept on my toes. Pat is giving me great experience and I’ve learned a lot in the last few weeks.”
Future plans: “I would definitely love to go into farming myself somewhere down the line, either full-time or just a bit on the side. Horses are my first love and I want to get back into competing with them. Last year, I finished studying equine breeding in college, so I see myself going down the road of genetics and AI.”
Quotable quote: “I miss my family and friends but I’ve been taken aback by how friendly everyone is. The community is so close-knit and people have gone out of their way to help me settle in.”
SHARING OPTIONS: