In the thick of it

Dairy farmer Tommy Lanigan from Rathclarish, Carrick-on-Suir, Co Tipperary is in the thick of calving with one-third of his herd calved. Tommy built a dedicated calving shed a couple of years ago which allows him to separate the calves by age and gender. \ Philip Doyle

Cows feeding on silage on the farm of Tommy Lanigan in Rathclarish, Co Tipperary. \ Philip Doyle

Preparing for milking

Shane Hegarty bringing his cattle into the parlour out of the rain. He is milking approx 180. They are just getting over being snowed in last week during the storms in Craanlusky, Co Carlow. \ CJ Nash

Shane Hegarty prepares the parlour before milking their herd of 180 cows. \ Claire Nash

Preparing for the Mart

Tom Murtagh feeding meal to some of his store cattle that will go to Roscommon Mart in the coming weeks. Tom is a beef and suckler farmer in Erra, Co Roscommon. He breeds sucklers with his Charolais bull, buys in yearlings to rear and sell as stores. \ Philip Doyle

My Farming Week: Colm O'Sullivan, Kilmeaden, Co Waterford

Colm O'Sullivan from Kilmeaden, Co Waterford, in the calving shed. Colm runs a dairy farm. “I farm 500ac of light and free-draining land. There are plenty of stones in it. We own 300ac and we lease another 200ac. I farm with my parents Bertie and Betty.” \ Patrick Browne

“I’m focused on looking after the calves at the moment. I generally let the cows out to the paddock after calving and try to get them out as early as possible – between the rain showers. We’re halfway through calving now.”

Help on the farm

Thomas Doyle and his granddaughter Allanah Doyle Staunton bringing some hay to the yard for feeding time in Gowran, Co Kilkenny. \ CJ Nash

Thomas Doyle and his granddaughter Allanah Doyle Staunton. \ CJ Nash

Thomas Doyle bringing some hay to the yard for feeding time. \ CJ Nash

Flooding after Storm Dennis

Storm Dennis approaches Bolus Head, Iveragh Peninsula, Co Kerry, bringing with it gail force storms, thunder, flooding and damaging winds. Storm weather and heavy rains continue to cause issues for farms across Ireland as river water levels continue to rise. \ Valerie O’Sullivan