Picture of the Week

Wheelie good helper: Molly Hogan (two) from Rathcormac, Co Cork, helping her dad Niall Hogan feeding calves.

Letter to the Editor

Morning Janine,

I just wanted to commend your article published in March 2022 encouraging young women into engineering as a nod to STEPS engineers week.

I am a lecturer in the department of civil engineering and construction here at IT Sligo and we have recently begun an initiative to assist our female students by way of regular network gatherings.

Our intention is to encourage our female students with discussion groups and inspiring presentations from professional females working in industry.

Living on a busy farm here in the west, a copy of the Irish Farmers Journal is always knocking around the kitchen table and so I am familiar with the agriculture-themed articles. However, this was a fantastic, inspiring piece for all young women and girls and as a mother to three daughters, I am conscious of making them aware of all career options ahead.

Many thanks Janine and keep up the great work.

Regards,

Lisa Brennan.

Tweet of the Week

Chef Janine’s Tip

At this time of year, the greens from local farmers are deliciously tender and sweet, making for a great salad. I love a big, hearty salad for dinner and this combination is my favourite: chunks of roasted chicken (fresh out of the oven), seeded and diced cucumber, halved cherry tomatoes, diced red onion, crumbled feta (or finely grated Cáis na Tíre cheese, to keep it Irish), toasted nuts and/or seeds and a zingy lemon vinaigrette made with good-quality oil, garlic, oregano and lemon juice. Even the most meat-and-potatoes kind of person wouldn’t turn their nose up at that (and you can always serve up some potatoes on the side!). The combination of cold, fresh veggies and warm, juicy chicken is, in my opinion, perfection.

Growing Wild

Look out for Lesser celandine on banks at the base of hedges. This low, fast-growing plant is one of the first flowers to bloom in spring when temperatures begin to rise while hedgerow shrubs are not yet casting shade and dies back before being engulfed by taller grasses and vegetation. The flowers have bright glossy yellow narrow petals. At first glance it can be mistaken for buttercup but has eight to nine petals compared to five. It closes up in overcast conditions and at night. Even in fine weather it only opens during the working day from 9am-5pm. It supplies nectar to insects and bumblebee queens as they emerge from hibernation. This constellation of golden starflowers is part of our native Irish biodiversity.

Number of the Week

7 – the number of guiding principles outlined by Paul Keogh which may be beneficial in succession planning.

Quote of the Week

From our My Country Living feature, artist Krisztina Rozanich on painting the Irish countryside:

A lamb with a yellow jacket caught my eye a few weeks ago and I just snapped a couple of pictures. As an artist what struck me was the jacket with the yellow and the shape of it. The shade of yellow was exactly the same as the Ukrainian flag.