Making hay while the sun shines

John Fennessy taking advantage of the sunshine to turn hay one last time before baling at Coolisheal, Co Waterford. \ Donal O' Leary

John and Cecilia Fennessy cool down with a drink while turning hay at Coolisheal, Co Waterford. Cecilia reckons it is the first time that they have made hay in the month of May with conditions ideal for the job. \ Donal O' Leary

Next for shearing?

Shaun Maguire and Johnny Patterson from Donegal shearing sheep at Finadoose, Donegal town. Johnny says the prolonged period of fine weather has allowed shearers to work uninterrupted in recent weeks and is also helping with social distancing too. \ Clive Wasson

The two-man shearing trailer is working well in eliminating contact between shearers and farmers. \ Clive Wasson

The race is kept filled by the farmer from the back of the race and shearers can easily access the next sheep from two port holes at their shearing stations. \ Clive Wasson

Baling silage in Co Kilkenny

Patrick Phelan from Phelan Agricultural Contractors bales silage for dairy farmer Paddy Carr. Patrick got 10-12 bales to the acre in Blackball, Co Kilkenny. \ Philip Doyle

My Farming Week: Eamon Corcoran, The Rower, Co Kilkenny

Eamon Corcoran with his dad Edward with their dairy herd on their farm at the Rower, Co Kilkenny. \ Patrick Browne

Eamon milks a herd of British Fresian cows and runs a dairy calf to beef system alongside his father, Edward, in Co Kilkenny. \ Patrick Browne

Checking out the arable silage crop. \ Patrick Browne

Baling hay in sunny Coolgreany

Tom Brennan with his dad Tom Brennan Snr and Shep the dog watch on as Maher Agri Contractors bale hay on their farm in Coolgreany, Co. Kilkenny. \ Patrick Browne

Fine weather allows for saving hay earlier than usual

Ger Deasy turning hay with his daughter Eimear on his farm at the Galley head, Ardfield, Clonakilty, Co Cork. \ Tomy Moyles

Ger Deasy baling hay on his land near the Galley head lighthouse, Ardfield, Clonakilty, Co Cork. The fine weather has seen Ger save hay earlier than usual. \ Tommy Moyles

Native Rare Irish Breed cattle

Shane Daly, on his land in Malainn, Dromid, Co Kerry, a third generation breeder of the endangered breed of cow known as Droimeann, which was granted Native Rare Irish Breed status. Only 243 females and 23 males are left in Ireland. The status is a huge boost to efforts to preserve them. Names comes from "droim-fionn" (white back) the distinctive stripe along backbone and white diamond shape on its head. \ Valerie O’Sullivan

Read more

This week in photos: irrigation, silage and milk processing

This week in photos: silage baling, inseminating cows and donkey milk soap

This week in photos: harvesting cauliflower and anchored livestock carrier

This week in photos: drawing silage, picking strawberries and making hay

This week in photos: farming for generations