Twenty-one weanlings were killed in Co Wicklow on Friday when big volumes of snow were blown into their shed near Dunard.

The farmer, Patrick Nolan, from Knocknadruce, cleaned out the shed on Thursday and put down a bed of clean straw. However, snowfall that night left roads impassable and he wasn’t able to check the stock as normal on Friday morning.

Eight-mile walk

On Saturday morning he walked eight miles across snow to the yard and then made the grim discovery. Another 17 weanlings in the shed survived.

Nolan has informed the Department of Agriculture and his vet. He has also arranged for Kildare Hunt Club, at nearby Punchestown, to have the carcases taken away for disposal. However, this will only be done when the roads are cleared of snow.

No cover

The Green Cert farmer has also been in touch with his insurance provider. He has been told that his policies, which include public liability, will not cover this loss of stock. “They were home reared stock weighing about 350kg to 360kg.”

The animals, a mix of Charolais and Belgian Blue, had a value of €450 to €500 over the €1/kg.

I hope the Government will set up a hardship fund for the farmers involved

Denis Halpin, representative for Kildare/West Wicklow on the IFA’s hill committee, who farms near Patrick Nolan, warned that further losses of livestock, particularly sheep, will emerge this week.

“I hope the Government will set up a hardship fund for the farmers involved where there is no insurance. In a small number of cases, the losses will be high.”

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