All roads led to Tullamore last Tuesday (23 July), where the Irish Farmers Journal team welcomed over 2,200 attendees through the gates of the demonstration farm.
Among them were some future farmers eager to see the animals in the fields as they enjoyed their school holidays.
Charlie Lynch, Co Kildare
“I am from Prosperous in North Kildare. I am 12 and I am looking forward to starting first year in Newbridge College in September.
"I look after Aubracs, and I have two young heifers, Tinkerbell and Thia, but we messed up the names at the start of the year so they are now called Una and Unice. My brother has Herefords and two young bulls that we are training up for a couple of the shows in August.”
When it comes to Charlie’s interest in agriculture, he says he was born with it.
“I am from a beef farm and my brother and I have a duck-egg enterprise, we have won a good few rosettes with them. Don’t tell anyone, but we have two butchers, who don’t know about each other. We get €3 for six duck eggs and spend the money on our holidays.
“My aunty has Dorset sheep too. I like helping her out, going to the shows, winning a few rosettes and having a bit of pocket money. I like to show cattle, it’s good craic. We are going to the Royal Meath Show in Trim with my brothers and my heifer calf, she looks good now, so hopefully she does well.”
Charlie Follis, Co Fermanagh
Charlie Follis from Co Fermanagh at the Irish Farmers Journal Suckler and Sheep Open Day 2024.
“I am 13, we farm pedigree and Texel sheep at home as well as keeping 80 acres that we own and 12 acres that we rent.
"We grow some kale for the pedigrees. From the age of five or six, I started going down to the farm with my dad and helping out. From then on I have been dosing sheep and doing other jobs.
“My favourite time of year is spring when they are lambing. I do some night shifts and help my dad looking after the lambs. When I am older, I hope to take over the farm and maybe do joinery as well. I am going into third year next September.”
Robyn Kennedy, Killarney, Co Kerry
Robyn Kennedy from Killarney, Co Kerry at the Irish Farmers Journal Suckler and Sheep Open Day in Tullamore.
“My name is Robyn and I am 10. I am going into 4th class in September. I wanted to see all the cows and sheep.
“We have a suckler farm at home and I like when we do silage because I get to jump on all of the bales when they are in the field. I like the smaller animals. I want to be a farmer when I am older.
"Calving is one of my favourite parts of farming because I name all of the calves. Sometimes, I name them after my friends in my class. I love living in the countryside because when you step outside, you’re always in grass.”
Andee Lenihan, Knocknagree, Co Cork
Andee Linehan, Knocknagree, Co Cork pictured at the Tullamore Farm Suckler and Sheep Open Day 2024. \ Donal O' Leary
“My name is Andee, I am from Knocknageen in Co Cork where I live on a suckler farm, where I help my dad.
“My interest in agriculture comes from my mum and dad, they are big into farming and we grew up around it. Even when I was a little kid, I was going around looking at tractors.
“I didn’t even need to think about it, I automatically chose Ag Science as a Leaving Certificate subject. I am finding the new syllabus good; I love it and it helps when you have a good teacher.
"I am hoping to do my project on the advancements in ICBF (improving genetics). I enjoy being around big animals, and I am hoping to study veterinary in UCD, and become a large animal vet.
“If that doesn’t work, I don’t mind going to Poland. I am praying the new vet school is announced by the time I start. I am not sure whether I will have to look for accommodation.”
Helene and Conor Farrell, Dungarvan, Co Waterford
Brian Farrell alongside his grandchildren Helene & Conor Farrell who attended the farms open day while visiting from Dungarven. \ Claire Nash
Brother and sister Helene (9) and Conor (7) attended the open day while visiting their grandad Brian who lives in Tullamore.
“We came today to see the cows and the sheep. My grandad is a farmer and my favourite part of the farm is the cows. Our favourite time of the year is when the lambs and calves are born,” says Helene. Conor prefers the sheep.
“We help Grandad by travelling to the cows and giving them hay. It’s not really hard work,” says Conor.
Helene is going into 4th class and is looking forward to returning to school and seeing her friends.
On the other hand, Conor is not looking forward to doing more homework, he is going into 1st class.
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All roads led to Tullamore last Tuesday (23 July), where the Irish Farmers Journal team welcomed over 2,200 attendees through the gates of the demonstration farm.
Among them were some future farmers eager to see the animals in the fields as they enjoyed their school holidays.
Charlie Lynch, Co Kildare
“I am from Prosperous in North Kildare. I am 12 and I am looking forward to starting first year in Newbridge College in September.
"I look after Aubracs, and I have two young heifers, Tinkerbell and Thia, but we messed up the names at the start of the year so they are now called Una and Unice. My brother has Herefords and two young bulls that we are training up for a couple of the shows in August.”
When it comes to Charlie’s interest in agriculture, he says he was born with it.
“I am from a beef farm and my brother and I have a duck-egg enterprise, we have won a good few rosettes with them. Don’t tell anyone, but we have two butchers, who don’t know about each other. We get €3 for six duck eggs and spend the money on our holidays.
“My aunty has Dorset sheep too. I like helping her out, going to the shows, winning a few rosettes and having a bit of pocket money. I like to show cattle, it’s good craic. We are going to the Royal Meath Show in Trim with my brothers and my heifer calf, she looks good now, so hopefully she does well.”
Charlie Follis, Co Fermanagh
Charlie Follis from Co Fermanagh at the Irish Farmers Journal Suckler and Sheep Open Day 2024.
“I am 13, we farm pedigree and Texel sheep at home as well as keeping 80 acres that we own and 12 acres that we rent.
"We grow some kale for the pedigrees. From the age of five or six, I started going down to the farm with my dad and helping out. From then on I have been dosing sheep and doing other jobs.
“My favourite time of year is spring when they are lambing. I do some night shifts and help my dad looking after the lambs. When I am older, I hope to take over the farm and maybe do joinery as well. I am going into third year next September.”
Robyn Kennedy, Killarney, Co Kerry
Robyn Kennedy from Killarney, Co Kerry at the Irish Farmers Journal Suckler and Sheep Open Day in Tullamore.
“My name is Robyn and I am 10. I am going into 4th class in September. I wanted to see all the cows and sheep.
“We have a suckler farm at home and I like when we do silage because I get to jump on all of the bales when they are in the field. I like the smaller animals. I want to be a farmer when I am older.
"Calving is one of my favourite parts of farming because I name all of the calves. Sometimes, I name them after my friends in my class. I love living in the countryside because when you step outside, you’re always in grass.”
Andee Lenihan, Knocknagree, Co Cork
Andee Linehan, Knocknagree, Co Cork pictured at the Tullamore Farm Suckler and Sheep Open Day 2024. \ Donal O' Leary
“My name is Andee, I am from Knocknageen in Co Cork where I live on a suckler farm, where I help my dad.
“My interest in agriculture comes from my mum and dad, they are big into farming and we grew up around it. Even when I was a little kid, I was going around looking at tractors.
“I didn’t even need to think about it, I automatically chose Ag Science as a Leaving Certificate subject. I am finding the new syllabus good; I love it and it helps when you have a good teacher.
"I am hoping to do my project on the advancements in ICBF (improving genetics). I enjoy being around big animals, and I am hoping to study veterinary in UCD, and become a large animal vet.
“If that doesn’t work, I don’t mind going to Poland. I am praying the new vet school is announced by the time I start. I am not sure whether I will have to look for accommodation.”
Helene and Conor Farrell, Dungarvan, Co Waterford
Brian Farrell alongside his grandchildren Helene & Conor Farrell who attended the farms open day while visiting from Dungarven. \ Claire Nash
Brother and sister Helene (9) and Conor (7) attended the open day while visiting their grandad Brian who lives in Tullamore.
“We came today to see the cows and the sheep. My grandad is a farmer and my favourite part of the farm is the cows. Our favourite time of the year is when the lambs and calves are born,” says Helene. Conor prefers the sheep.
“We help Grandad by travelling to the cows and giving them hay. It’s not really hard work,” says Conor.
Helene is going into 4th class and is looking forward to returning to school and seeing her friends.
On the other hand, Conor is not looking forward to doing more homework, he is going into 1st class.
Read more
IFJ Junior: Mart days are a highlight for young Galway farmers
IFJ Junior: Clare entrepreneur hatches an egg-citing business plan
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