We farm: “About 110ac altogether. We own about 70ac and rent 40ac more in Bohola. The farm is divided in two, with some around the house and the other half owned by my grandparents.”
Sucklers: “We have 28 Simmental-cross sucklers and run a Limousin bull with them. We are all spring-calving at the moment but, because the farm is segmented, we are thinking about splitting up the calving a bit.”
Finishing: “We usually keep stock until finishing and send them to Dawn Ballyhaunis. However, with the costs involved, dad [Jack] is thinking of selling stock off as weanlings and concentrating more on the suckler side of things.”
Weather: “Half our ground would be decent but the other half can be wet. The weather over the last few weeks hasn’t helped things.”
Silage: “At the moment we are weaning calves off cows. It’s too wet to cut second-cut silage so we are putting the weanlings on that ground now.”
Family farm: “There is my father Jack, my mother Breda, then Grace (23) and Sean (25). My father would do the majority of work on the farm but Grace, Sean and I would give a hand.”
Off-farm work: “I’m going into final year in St Pat’s in Dublin. Grace qualified in 2016. I’m working in Moore’s farm supplies in Swinford for the holidays.”
All-Ireland final: “Grace and I have been on the Mayo ladies’ football team since 2010. We have played for the local club Bohola Moy Davitts from a young age, so obviously it is a dream come true to be playing in the All-Ireland final. It’s my first time playing in Croke Park as well. We are just trying to enjoy the experience.”
Quotable quote: “I decided to go to America this summer on a J1 visa so I didn’t play with Mayo for the league. Before I left I decided I would only go for six weeks so I re-joined the panel after the Connacht final. I am obviously relieved I did that now.”
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