Pictures: Farming in the MacGillycuddy's Reeks

Some pictures of hill farming in one of the most unspoilt areas of Ireland.

Maura Fay

1 February 2014

Pictures: Farming in the MacGillycuddy's Reeks

A Kerry Mountain Ram set against a winter scene at Derrygarriff, Moll's Gap, Co Kerry.

Sheep Farmer, Donal Foley, with his dog 'Jake', bringing down his ewes for scanning,on his land at Lough Accose, Glencar, McGillycuddy's Reeks, County Kerry.

Sheep Farmer, Donal Foley, with his dog 'Jake', bringing down his ewes for scanning,on his land at Lough Accose, Glencar, McGillycuddy's Reeks, County Kerry.Photo:Valerie O'Sullivan

A Kerry Mountain Ram set against a winter scene at Derrygarriff, Moll's Gap, Co Kerry.

Kerry Mountain sheep on the ledge on the Gap of Dunloe, Killarney.

Michael Leane of Coolroe, who is a sixth generation sheep farmer.

Brothers Davey 'Jackeen' O'Connor, left, and Jeoffrey O'Connor, sheep farmers in Lisliebane, McGillycuddy's Reeks, County Kerry, driving down their sheep during this weeks harsh weather conditions.

The MacGillycuddy's Reeks is a mountain range which stretches for 19km along the Iveragh peninsula in Country Kerry.

Here are a range of images captured by photographer Valerie O'Sullivan between 2012 and 2014 of sheep farming in the area.

The pictures include Michael Leane of Coolroe, who is a sixth generation sheep farmer. He and his family live on the foothills of the McGillycuddy's Reeks. Michael is well used to climbing the mountains to tend to his sheep in all weather conditions especially during the annual snowfall on The Reeks. The Reeks tend to be very inaccessible and treacherous during the snow and ice fall.Photo: