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The Southern Star | West Cork Farming

AUTUMN 2025

SURVEY 2025

D E L A E V E R S T L RESU NEWS, VIEWS, PHOTOS AND LOTS MORE 1

West Cork Farming | The Southern Star

The Southern Star | West Cork Farming

Welcome to the autumn 2025 edition of

West Cork Farming

Welcome to Southern Star Media, West Cork’s locally owned and trusted news, sport and information provider, connecting local people, communities and businesses everyday.

IN this edition, you’ll find lots of news, views, information and advice regarding all things agricultural in West Cork and beyond. On pages 26-31 you’ll find the fascinating and thought-provoking results of the Great West Cork Farming Survey 2025. Run online over the course of three weeks in August, this survey asked the local agricultural community about an array of topics including job satisfaction, farm safety and succession planning. You can also read about a local mental health initiative that caters specifically for farmers and there’s an interview with a Ballinascarthy artist who is endeavouring to portray a more realistic view of farm life. We look at key advances in tractor tech over the years, plus past and present members of Carbery Macra talk to us about the merits of the organisation ahead of the national rally in Rosscarbery in October. All of this and lots more in this bumper 48-page edition. Here in The Southern Star we really value and support our local farming community, and we endeavour to reflect this, not only in this magazine, but also in our extensive agricultural coverage in the main paper every week, online, and in the prestigious and hugely popular West Cork Farming Awards which this year take place on October 31st. We ask that you continue to support the West Cork farming community by choosing to source your produce locally. We also ask that you extend that support to our advertisers who provide a complete range of products and services to West Cork farmers. Thank you. K RK OR C CO T ES EST The Southern

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The Southern Star | West Cork Farming

Talking is therapy BY EMMA CONNOLLY A BALLINASCARTHY farmer who has had his own mental health challenges in the past has qualified as a counsellor and now helps others in the agri community who are facing their own struggles. Dairy farmer Sean Crowley is involved with ‘Talking Over the Gate,’ a mental health support initiative specifically aimed at farmers and farming communities. ‘The name says a lot,’ said Sean. ‘It’s about creating a space where people can talk openly in a relaxed way, like you might do while leaning on a gate for a chat with a neighbour. We want to take the stigma and pressure out of counselling and instead make it feel like a natural extension of everyday rural life.’ He’s always had an interest in counselling and psychology. ‘And like a lot of people who go into the profession, I’ve had my own mental health struggles in the past, and I found real help through counselling. That experience stayed with me, and when the pandemic slowed things down, I finally had the time to explore it further. ‘So, I began training and eventually qualified as a counsellor. Now I work alongside my farming life, offering sessions both online and in person through the Bandon Family Resource Centre,’ said Sean. The service is available through the Bandon Family Resource Centre and is primarily for farmers, farming families, and people living in rural communities. ‘However, the resource centre itself is open to everyone. If you’re struggling, we’ll do our best to match you with someone who understands. We also offer online sessions, so location isn’t a barrier, and this will hopefully make it easier in the height of calving or tillage seasons where it might not be viable to get into town,’ said Sean. The ultimate ambition is to build a national network of counsellors who either come from farming backgrounds themselves or who genuinely understand the challenges farming brings. ‘We want farmers to be able to reach out and find someone who gets it, someone who understands what calving at 3am looks like, or what it means to go weeks without proper sleep. ‘We’re also actively looking to connect

with other counsellors who’d like to get involved in this kind of work. If you’re a trained therapist with roots in farming or a passion for rural mental health, we’d love to hear from you,’ said Sean. He stressed that it’s not necessary to be ‘in crisis’ to contact them. The idea is to prevent people from getting to that stage. ‘You might be struggling or feeling low, or just need a chat. Whether it’s stress, anxiety, burnout, grief, relationship

‘You might go days without seeing another person properly. Add in the ﬁnancial pressures, the long hours, the unpredictability of the Irish weather, livestock issues, policy changes, all the negative headlines blaming farmers for this and that. It all adds up’

Sean Crowley is from an established farming background and so is well positioned as a counsellor to understand the struggles that farmers have. another person properly. Add in the financial pressures, the long hours, the unpredictability of the Irish weather, livestock issues, policy changes, all the negative headlines blaming farmers for this and that. It all adds up. ‘There’s also a strong culture of stoicism in farming. That mindset of ‘just get on with it’ can be useful at times, but it can also make it hard for people to admit when they’re struggling. Even with all the tech we have now, many farmers are still quite socially cut off. Over time, that isolation can lead to real mental health challenges, especially if there’s no outlet

worries, or just feeling a bit “off ”, talking can make a big difference. We especially want to reach the people who think counselling “isn’t for them”, the ones who think it’s too formal, too serious, or too removed from rural life. Our whole approach is to strip away that formality and just have a real, human chat,’ said Sean. ‘Farming can be very isolating. You might go days without seeing

for stress or emotions.’ To anyone wondering if counselling is for them, Sean urges them to ‘give it a go.’ ‘There’s nothing to lose by talking. We’re not here to judge or diagnose, we’re just here to listen, support, and help you get through whatever you’re facing. This is just the beginning of ‘Talking Over the Gate’. We hope it grows into something that can make a difference across farming communities, one chat at a time.’ • Call 023-8829466/085-1710910. Email info@cfsbandon.com or info@talkingoverthegate.com See bandonfrc.ie

Sean’s tips to maintain your mental health Join a discussion group

Watch your sleep and eating

It’s one of the best ways to break isolation. While the main focus is usually farming topics, the real benefit is the social aspect. You’re away from your own yard, see other farms, chat with other farmers, and realise you’re not the only one dealing with tough days. When you’re working alone every day, it’s easy to get stuck in your own head. Visiting others shows you that most people are fighting the same battles, you’re not on your own, even if it sometimes feels that way.

It’s hard with early mornings and long days during the busy periods, but getting good rest and eating well really helps your resilience. Find a hobby or interest outside farming. It helps remind you that you’re more than your work and gives your mind a break. Stay connected.

Get off the farm when you can A change of scenery, even for an hour or two, can clear your head. 5

Whether it’s a neighbour, a friend, or a family member, make time to talk, even if it’s just a quick phone call or a chat while doing jobs.

West Cork Farming | The Southern Star

The Southern Star | West Cork Farming SPONSORED ARTICLE

Do you need an extra set of eyes on your cows? Find help at the Ploughing! “It’s easily saved me half a labour unit in spring”, says Larry Summers, who milks 140 cows in Co. Wexford. Up the road in Co. Wicklow, Lorcan Byrne milks 170 cows, runs a piggery, and has four GAA-mad kids. “I can get out to matches and training with the kids, and I know the collars are watching the cows. The info is all there on the phone when I get back,” explains Lorcan. In Meath, Neil Burke has seen a clear labour reduction: “We always needed two people in the parlour during breeding, one to milk and one to draft and tail paint. Since we put in the system, one person can milk on their own.” What do these farms have in common? They all use Censortec. Censortec, powered by Nedap, is Ireland’s most reliable cow monitoring system. With an established understanding of Irish farmers’ requirements, Censortec provides world-leading technology with unparalleled support. At this year’s Ploughing Championships, visit Stand 166, where the team will be showcasing many new developments. “It’s been a busy year for us,” explains Donagh Crowley of Censortec. “We have launched Censortec in New Zealand, and we have some new developments at home as well.” These include: • SmartSight – AI-powered locomotion monitoring • SmartTag Ear – A new compact sensor option U Ƃ iÜ V ÕÀ v À Ì i y>}Ã « - >ÀÌ/>} iV SmartSight Locomotion Monitoring SmartSight is an AI-powered locomotion monitoring tool that helps farmers tackle lameness. Teagasc estimates that lameness can cost anywhere from € 4,800 to just over € 14,000 in a 100-cow herd, depending on the prevalence of common foot issues. “We’ve developed SmartSight Locomotion Monitoring in conjunction with Nedap,” says Censortec’s Sean Crowley. “It’s very exciting tech, because it uses AI, and a camera mounted on a drafting gate to monitor cows. SmartSight then analyses the data and gives farmers actionable lameness alerts. We’re really looking forward to showing SmartSight in this year’s Innovation Arena too.” Joe O’Grady, who farms in partnership with Tom Burgess, in Co Wicklow, has been using the technology for two years as part of its development. “When we installed SmartSight, we were impressed by the fact that it picked up cows that we wouldn’t have classed as lame,” explains Joe. “You’d see them walking in the yard and think they’re okay, but when you go to lift their feet, we always found something, be it a stone or a scald or something else. Those cases were easy to treat and easy to solve. You can watch their recovery on the SmartSight app. It’s creating better outcomes for us, because it’s saving labour, and better outcomes for the cows, because they’re treated earlier,” says Joe.

SmartTag Ear Also, on display at the Ploughing for the wÀÃÌ Ì i Ã - >ÀÌ/>} >À q > Ãi Ã À Ì >Ì vviÀÃ Censortec’s trusted monitoring technology in a compact ear tag. After several years of trials on Irish farms, SmartTag Ear is now available to the broader market. In the same way as SmartTag Neck, SmartTag Ear captures insights on • Reproduction • Rumination • Eating times • Active levels It is removable and reusable, allowing it to be swapped between different animals, and it can store up to 24 hours of data independently. SmartTag Ear is built on a long-lasting, proven infrastructure used for other Nedap sensors, ensuring the reliability of data transmission. “SmartTag Ear has a 98% retention rate in the ear on farms using it globally. It has a minimum of seven-year battery life as well, so it gives farmers another option when choosing the most suitable sensor for their system,” says Padraig Kelly of Censortec. With new products, a rebrand, and international expansion well underway, Censortec continues to lead the way in smart farming solutions. As Ì i V «> Þ }À ÜÃ] ÌÃ v VÕÃ Ài > Ã wÀ Þ helping improve life on the farm, for both cows and farmers. To learn more about Censortec’s latest technologies, visit stand 166 at this year’s Ploughing

Championships, where the team will be on hand to demonstrate SmartTag Neck, SmartTag Ear, and SmartSight in action. Don’t miss the opportunity to see the future of cow monitoring up close.

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West Cork Farming | The Southern Star

The right stuﬀ! As though farming life doesn’t already require immense dedication, having the time and talent to become a high-achieving sportsperson into the mix is particularly impressive. Helen Riddell spoke to two of West Cork’s ﬁnest recently Brian O’Driscoll

Road bowling is in 22-year-old Brian O’Driscoll’s genes. His grandfather enjoyed the sport and in 2003, the year Brian was born, his late father Teddy O’Driscoll won the Munster junior B title, but lost out in the All-Ireland series. Brian credits his father for introducing him to the sport. ‘My interest in road bowling came from him, he got me into it from an early age.’ Sadly Brian’s father passed away in September 2023, just days after Brian had won the All-Ireland Novice 1 Championship in Waterford. Earlier this summer, Brian made his father proud by himself getting to the junior B championship final and bringing the All-Ireland cup back home to Drimoleague. Now running the family farm in Castledonovan where he rears dairy and beef cattle, Brian enjoys life on a busy farm and still manages to fit in time to travel to competitions. ‘No two days are the same on the farm, I enjoy the work, I’m doing different things every day, but it can be hard to fit everything in. When you have cows to milk every evening, and you also have an evening score on that you have to travel to, it’s not easy and it can be tiring, but when things are going well with the bowling you don’t mind.’ As much as he enjoys working on the farm, Brian feels it’s vital to have an outside interest from farming. ‘You need to have an activity outside of farming, there’s a great social life with road bowling and you would meet a lot of young people from the local area.’ Most of the scores are local says Brian with a few taking place in the city or beyond and while he manages to get to most of them, he says there are times that the farm has to come first. ‘I might not be able to get to some throws due to work that needs to be done on the farm, but I do my best to work around it.’ Brian believes the physical demands of a farming lifestyle stand him in good stead for his bowling. ‘People ask me if I go to a gym and I tell them, the farm is my gym.’ With the main season now finished, there will still be a few local scores coming up says Brian, and he’s already looking forward to the next season, where he will step up to the Junior A and hopefully ensures an All-Ireland cup will make a return visit to Drimoleague.

xxx 8

Brian O’Driscoll on his way to All-Ireland junior B glory. (Photos: Gretta Cormican)

The Southern Star | West Cork Farming

Nicola Tuthill in the throwing cage that her parents built for her on the family farm in Kilbrittain. Inset: Nicola represented Ireland at the Paris Olympics in 2024.

Nicola Tuthill

Olympic hammer thrower, Nicola Tuthill from Kilbrittain is the go-to heavy lifter on her family’s dairy farm. ‘I have two sisters and out of the three of us, I’m the one my Dad will come to first when there’s something heavy he needs help with moving on the farm.’ Nicola (21) has always been involved in athletics but after trying hammer throwing at a local athletics camp, she decided to take it up full time. ‘I started hammer throwing when I was 12, and at 16 I decided to concentrate on the sport, a neighbour coached me for a while and then my current coaching team came on board.’ Her parents built a hammer cage on the farm for her to enable her to practise at home and although she is currently studying at University College Dublin to be a secondary school teacher, she still trains on the farm and gives a hand whenever she returns to West Cork. ‘Growing up we’ve always helped on the farm, I’m not there that often at the moment with studying in Dublin, but anytime I come home I give a hand. My sisters are busy working and my training schedule, particularly having the cage on the farm, allows me time to help out.’ She credits her father’s idea to install the cage with not just giving her more time, but it also gives back time to the rest of the family. ‘Before that, when I was doing my junior cert, there was a lot of travelling to training, my mother drove me and my sisters would have been in the car as well. Having the cage here makes it a lot easier for everyone.’ In 2024, Nicola made it to the Paris Olympics where she achieved a throw of 69.90 metres, narrowly missing out on advancement to the final by just one metre. The same year she recorded a then-personal best throw of 70.32 metres, becoming only the second-ever Irish woman

to pass the 70-metre mark, and earlier this year, Nicola won the gold medal in the Under 23 hammer throw at the European Throwing Cup in Nicosia. Nicola has been training for the hammer throw at the World Championships in Tokyo which start this week, and after that she’s thinking of the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. ‘Getting to the Olympics in Paris was the

pinnacle for me, it’s something every athlete aims for. I’m hoping to get to Los Angeles, but with injuries and everything else, it’s something you can’t take for granted.’ Between helping on the family farm, fitting in training and studying for her degree, Nicola barely has a minute to herself. ‘I have a really busy college timetable, although I’ll be missing for a few weeks with going to Tokyo but UCD are very accommodating.’ However, studying and training doesn’t leave Nicola any time for a part-time job. ‘My training is my job at the moment. I’m very lucky in that I’ve got some sponsors and Sport Ireland are funding me, so that makes life easier as I don’t have to have a job outside of college.’ Eventually Nicola hopes to return to West Cork. ‘I think I will move back to Cork when I’ve finished college as my coaches are based here and it’s home.’

West Cork Farming | The Southern Star

Marking Century Milestone with Joyful Community Fun Day

Lisavaird Co-Op marked its centenary on Saturday, 30th August, with a hugely successful family fun day that drew a large crowd from across the community. ÕiÃÌÃ i Þi` }Õ `i` vwVi tours, Lisavaird Food Group samples, refreshments and treats. Entertainment included music from Ken Perrott and the C103 Street Fleet, children’s activities such as Ger’s Mobile Petting Farm, rodeo bull, face painting and a magic show. The History and Memorabilia Marquee proved a highlight, with talks by historian Michael O’Mahony.

Top row : Dan O Sullivan with his horse Lokie; Muireann McCarthy; Sean Cronin, Kathleen & Padraig Eady. 2nd row: Fachtna O'Donovan, Liam O'Donovan; Loretto O Regan, Jo Hayes, Jane Beechinor, Foncie Deasy. 3rd row: Philly Beechinor; James Healy. Bottom: JJ & Kathleen Spillane; Tim Hayes, Martin Dineen, Eleanor Hayes; Ava O'Sullivan & James O'Sullivan. (Photos: Andy Gibson) 10

The Southern Star | West Cork Farming

Competitors and officials representing the West Cork Ploughing Association at the National Ploughing Championships (Tullamore, September 16th to 18th) met in Rossmore recently where they were presented with their team wear sponsored by Michael Ryan Lubricants. Back row: Leslie Wolfe, Ger Lawlor, Jim Grace, Aidan Grace, Eibhear O’Farrell, James Jennings, Flor Wycherley, John O’Neill, John Wolfe. Middle row: Ger Kirby, Kevin O’Driscoll, Mathew Coakley, Leonard Deane, Gordon Jennings, Liam O’Driscoll, Eugene O’Donovan, Michael Wycherley. Front row: Kieran Keohane, Katie Hayes, Séad Ni Mhaoilmhia, Claire O’Rourke, Michael Ryan, team sponsor; Richard White, Barry O’Sullivan, Caroline O’Driscoll, Laoise O’Driscoll and Ellen Nyhan. Missing from photo: Jer and Kieran Coakley who were competing at the World Ploughing Championships in the Czech Republic. (Photo: Gearoid Holland)

At the Mogeely Vintage Club Tillage Demo and Vintage Tillage Working day in Mogeely on the lands of R&R Farms were Dan McCarthy, Grenagh; Sandra Patterson, Dunmanway and Thomas McCormick, Skibbereen on the 20th anniversary of the site hosting the National Ploughing Championships. They are standing with Sandra’s 1975 Ford 6600 which has been in her family for 42 years. There was a large selection of Ford 600 series tractors at the event to mark the 50th anniversary of the release of the 600 series in 1975. There was also a large and varied selection of new, vintage, classic and modern classic tractors and machinery on show and working. Proceeds from the day are going to The Hope Foundation. (Photo: David Patterson) 11

West Cork Farming | The Southern Star

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West Cork Farming | The Southern Star Two John Deere 6900s with fitted front axle TLS (Triple Link Suspension) – a system introduced in the early 1990s. (Photos: Peter O’Brien)

Ploughing forward The Southern Star’s Farm Classics columnist Peter O’Brien looks at ﬁve groundbreaking advances in tractor technology over the last 60 years THE progression of tractors over the last 60 years has been extraordinary, with vintage tractors in the shadows of their modern counterparts. Every advance, no matter how small, has had its role to play in the creation of the latest and greatest modern tractors of today. An endless list including synchromesh and powershift transmissions, oil-immersed brakes, air conditioning – even three stage wipers, have all been fundamental to the process and have allowed operators to be more productive, and more importantly, to work safer. Here is a brief summary of some of these advances.

Cab

Tractor cabs have come a long way since the humble roll bar to offer protection to the operator. Driver comfort was not a priority for most manufacturers until the mid the 1970s. The driving force behind this were new laws introduced in the UK and Europe surrounding operator’s exposure to noise levels, the limit being set at 90db – which was still particularly loud! Ford’s Q-Cab was the cab to aspire to in the mid ’70s, while cabs took on a whole a new level of operator focus in the 80s with the upgraded Ford Super Q cab, the John Deere SG2 and the Porsche designed XL cab for International and Pininfarina- designed SuperComfort cab for Fiat. Today’s tractors feature a whole host of operator comforts such as Bluetooth, fridges, climate control, heated seats and noise levels as low as 74db.

A John Deere 3650 with the famed SG2 cab. This is a highly desirable ‘wide-step’ model. 14

The Southern Star | West Cork Farming

Comfort

While tractors may be viewed as slow moving vehicles by motorists, drivers will know that hitting a bump or hollow even at a slow speed is quite uncomfortable. The traditional rigid chassis of the tractor is quite unforgiving to the driver’s back which was finally given some reprieve in the mid 1990s. Zetor were early pioneers of front-axle suspension, with the Mercedes specialist MB-Trac one of the first to employ truck-like coil springs and dampers. Renault were the amongst the first to roll out cab suspension with their ‘HydroStable’ cab, with springs and shock absorbers on each corner. The late ’90s saw the standardisation of air-suspended operator seats across tractor manufacturers, while John Deere also brought front suspension to the masses with their TLS front-axle suspension with the launch of the famous 100 series in 1993.

GPS and Autosteer

Even though GPS and Autosteer systems are widely available today – the technology was still in its infancy in the 1990s. I can remember a contractor using a system in 2005 to spread fertiliser whereby once the field headlands were mapped and the spreading width set, the operator worked off a lighting bar mounted to the dash with nine lights, the middle three being green, the goal being to keep the green lights illuminated. Veering too far to the right illuminated the right three lights which were red and vice versa for too far to the left. Today’s system uses an LCD screen to show the operator in real time with auto-steering providing hands-free driving in the field. The technology has become so advanced, that some systems can even turn the tractor on the headland in the most efficient way possible. Fields and implements can even be saved for future use when returning to the field. GPS systems have become so mainstream that basic kits can now even be purchased in one’s local co-op.

able automated functions that can be programmed, timed and saved for each implement for headland turns or working in the field.

Engines and horsepower

Many fuel types have been tried and tested on tractors before diesel became the mainstream fuel. The ever-popular 47hp Perkins three-cylinder 3.2 litre engine used in the Massey Ferguson 135 set a benchmark for simplicity, power and longevity. Ford upped the ante with the Garrett AIR-Research turbocharged Ford 7000, pushing 97hp from it 4.2 engine. Big displacement, six cylinder turbocharged engines became the mainstay of the 80s, pushing horsepower ever closer to the 200hp mark. Such power was often to the detriment of emissions leading to the introduction of the EU ‘Tier’ engine emission regulations in 2002 for non-road going diesel engines. As these regulations progressed, manufacturers haves responded with innovations such as SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction) and EGR (Exhaust Gas Recirculation) valves – the SCR by means of using AdBlue. Furthermore, engine manufacturers are continually pushing more horsepower from smaller engines, for example the four-cylinder 4.9l SISU engine in the Valtra N175 is capable of pushing out 201hp on boost. According to the FTMTA, the 161-200hp power bracket is now the most popular in Ireland, accounting for 28% of new tractor registrations in January 2025.

This Valtra N175 packs a serious punch from a short wheelbase frame, its four-cylinder engine pumping out 201hp on boost.

Automation

Massey Fergusons’s Autotronic is considered to be the world’s first headland management system (HMS) and pictured (right) is a 3095 Autotronic. Massey Ferguson is considered to be the real pioneer of automatic tractor features, releasing the 3000 series in 1987 complete with its ‘Autotronic’ features. Taken for granted by todays operators, ‘Autotronic’ featured a whole range of automatic functions designed to relieve the operator of repetitive, arduous tasks particularly during headland turns. In essence, Autotronic was an electronic link between the PTO, engine, differential lock, 4wd and gearbox. This included auto disengagement of the differential lock and PTO when an implement is raised and re-engagement when lowered, true 4wd braking as well as automatic disengagement of the 4wd at speeds over 9mph. Essentially, this was the world’s first headland management system. Today’s tractors have customis-

Massey Fergusons’s Autotronic is considered to be the world’s first headland management system (HMS). Pictured is a 3095 Autotronic. 15

West Cork Farming | The Southern Star

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The Southern Star | West Cork Farming

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West Cork Farming | The Southern Star

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The De Courcey Classic and Vintage Club held its annual harvest working day in Ballinadee on Monday, August 4th. Thousands of people attended to see ploughing, old time threshing, barley harvesting, vintage cars and much more. Clockwise from top: David O’Neill from Ballinadee demonstrating barley harvesting with his 1970s New Holland Clayton 1545 combine harvester. Clodagh Kearney, Róisín McKenna and Ciara Forde, all Ballinadee, at the working day. Marie and Eamonn Geary from Ballinadee with their 1959 Massey Ferguson 735 combine harvester which their father and grandfather Paddy Buckley bought new. Old-time threshing at the working day. (Photos: Andy GIbson) 19

West Cork Farming | The Southern Star SPONSORED ARTICLE

A longstanding local resource for high quality farm equipment AGRIBAND Ltd has deep roots in the farming community of West Cork. Located in Bandon, it began as Michael Hurley Farm Machinery and the branding still bears the founder’s name today. Following his retirement in 2003, one of the current owners of the company, Gerard Lordan, took over and Agriband Ltd was formed. “I started out in stores in 1976” recalls Gerard. “The plan was that I would work in stores for a few years and then take over the sales… I took over the sales after 6 weeks and I’ve been selling ever since!” Today, Agriband supplies a wide range of agricultural machinery for the modern farmer, along with a range of housing, bedding and feeding equipment. They deal in cattle-handling equipment, housing materials, slat and cow mats and general rubber products that can be used for a variety of different applications. They also stock a comprehensive range of tools and accessories from well known names such as Jefferson, BNR and Milwaukee as well as parts for some of the older machines that have been sold in the past. Gerard says “if it’s not on the shelf, we can order it and have it available in 24 to 48 hours”. The company acquired the Honda agency for ATV (All Terrain Vehicles) in the 1990’s. At the time this was a new concept, and it has grown to be a huge success. Commonly referred to as the ‘quad bike’, the ATV has become an indispensable piece of equipment on the Irish farm – both big and small. “What has driven the whole ATV growth has been farm expansion,” explains Gerard. “Farms have gotten bigger and they need something to get around. You’d have had someone typically milking 50 cows 20 or 30 years ago. Now he’s milking 300 cows. He has the same amount of labour to get through but on a much larger scale, so he needs something to get himself from A to B in order to get to C: to do all the different jobs that have to be done around the place. They’re also invaluable to both beef and sheep farmers.” It's both a time-saving and a labour-saving machine, he says, adding that for the smaller ‘hobby’ farmer, the ATV also provides a great solution to their needs: “For the hobby farmer with, say 10 or 12 acres, he can’t get in a contractor to spread a bag of fertilizer or to do a bit of mowing or whatever needs doing. The ATV is an ideal solution for him.” Attachments such as, spreaders, feeders and fertilizers are all a part of the extensive

range that Agriband supply. They also stock the Wessex Agency for grass cutting equipment, including a full range of self-powered trailer mowers which can be pulled by both ATV and UTV. Well-known brands such as Gamberini, Aithision, APV grass and pellet applicators, Green Mount Quad Sprayers with hand lance and boom, JFC Nugent quad trailers and CDAX Weed eliminators are also stocked. ATVs have also become widely used outside of traditional farming. Public service providers such as County Councils and the ESB use them, to access rough terrain. As Gerard says, “They’ve been a game-changer for a lot of people, even outside of farming.” Safety is of course paramount in the area of ATVs and all ATV users must complete a state approved safety course before operating the machines. Agriband also supplies all the safety equipment required, such as safety helmets and roll bars. Crucially, they also provide KP JQWUG UGTXKEKPI CPF TGRCKTU D[ SWCNKƂGF mechanics, to ensure machines remain safe, GHƂEKGPV CPF TGNKCDNG HQT FCKN[ WUG While Agriband is well known for being an QHƂEKCN *QPFC #68 RCTVPGT VJG DWUKPGUU JCU built its reputation on offering a comprehensive range of products. “We cover all the aspects of farming, except for the bigger stuff,” says Gerard. “We don’t go into silage harvester, combines or that type of thing.” For example, another well-known brand that is stocked in Agriband, is Nugent trailers and Bale handling equipment. They also do a 20

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West Cork Farming | The Southern Star

The realities of rural living A Ballinascarthy artist wants to dispel the ‘picture perfect’ portrayals of country life ARTIST Maitiú Mac Cárthaigh, 28 and a native of Ballinascarthy, is at a point in their career where everything is coming up roses and, speaking with The Southern Star in Skibbereen earlier in the summer, they admit to not quite knowing if it’s the Catholic guilt getting to them, but either way, who are they to question it? The artist, coming from a childhood on a pig farm with three brothers, David, Joe, and Rob, has drawn extensively on the agricultural landscape of home for their work. Maitiú’s work is challenging the idea of the rural nuclear family, and the ‘picture perfect’ green field that is meant to represent the reality of farming to the uninitiated. The brutal realities, visually represented in the materials used like artificial insemination gloves, give a ‘real’ reflection of the farming life rather than the romanticised version of country living, where sheep live happily alongside their lambs, and no one goes to the abattoir at the end of the day. Studying a PLC course in Coláiste Stiofáin Naofa, when the students were told to go home and find a space to work in and inhabit, many went to their bedrooms, but Maitiú went into the shed, towards spaces that were never ‘done up’, and covered in asbestos. Maitiú wears their rural roots, quite literally, pulling down their t-shirt to show a large tattoo of a white Landrace across their shoulders. What did their dad have to say? ‘The ears are wrong!’

‘People are so happy to draw or take photographs of “farming”, but it’s often so far from the reality. You see photos of the lovely green field, but is that what our grandparents knew? It’s considered such a large component of Irish identity, but is it? People take the black and white picture of the shed falling down, and take it back to the city, but it’s not “real”. It’s broader than that’. From a box, Maitiú takes out a gelatinous material to show to our reporter; it feels soft and malleable. It’s a special biodegradable material, to mimic the swathes and miles of agri-plastic on any farm. Another material that is used in the work, are orange elbow-length artificial insemination gloves. In one of the shows, Maitiú had people mimic the act of insemination, wearing the gloves, with binbags and a box in place of the animal. ‘It makes the audience feel less “safe”. Some people have no context; they thought the AI gloves were a fashion statement. It’s stopping that over-sentimentalisation of country life’. Other materials they use are long co-op receipts, another one of those things that is immediately recognisable to anyone in the country, but alien outside of that. All these materials are common household objects to the Irish farmer, and are practical too; Maitiú practises that idea, that country boys ‘make do’. The family farm was destroyed in a fire when Maitiú was three or four, meaning

that for them, the question of inheritance was gone. ‘We laugh about it around the kitchen table. The running joke is, I’m the eldest son, so if it had been left to me I’d have been a gay farmer with an organic pig farm! If I went back, it wouldn’t be farmed the way my father did. I’d look less at extractive purposes, however they come.’ Another element Maitiú considers in their art, is the question of how rural identity is thought of. In farming literature, in posters, and in dialogue, it is always the heterosexual husband and wife with their children who are shown, whereas the reality is that the rural and farming population is every bit as diverse

as society at large. Visibility is about more than just swapping out one happy family for another. ‘If we’re slotting in a different family experience [rather than the man-woman couple] it’s great for visibility, but what would a queer farm look like if we just swapped out the nuclear family? What does it look like, this idea of the gay son coming back to find a partner and continue the patro-lineal system?’ Maitiú focuses heavily on the realities of rural living, and how different it is from the pretty aesthetic, or ‘cottage-core’, visual of living in the sticks. Making future plans with partner Liam, Maitiú doesn’t forget the real commitment that

The Southern Star | West Cork Farming living rurally commands. ‘They never invented the five-day pig, and I have great respect for animals. Country living is kind of amazing, really; like, it’s a huge thing when the shop runs out of something. So how do you live like that, and make it more sustainable?’ ‘People are moving out of cities to the countryside – a re-ruralisation’, but there’s a danger that we’ll go back to the land, without the understanding of the extractive nature of farming. You can’t move out of the city to the country without living in it; I feel in Ireland, “rural” becomes part of your existence’. While “cottage core” – an aesthetic, ‘cute’ vision of farming and rural life – can be welcome, says Maitiú, it does raise the question if the current ‘green’ practices are really eco-friendly, rather than the more cyclical processes of a century ago. Referencing the book, The Men Who Eat Ringforts, which claims that with ‘increasing regularity, the Irish state has sanctioned the destruction of ringforts as part of motorway schemes and infrastructural development. How can we understand a nation hell-bent on the demolition of its own history for the expedient delivery of perceived notions of progress?’ ‘We’re cutting off the nose of Irish culture to sustain this romanticised view’ continues Maitiú. ‘We have this dichotomy of intense agricultural practices, but next door

you have people living the “cottage-core” life. I don’t think there’s any harm in this though; even if it’s just growing herbs on a windowsill. If you understand it, it can be a really good starting point. A field is not a natural thing, and if cottage core is getting us there, it’s good’. Maitiú is currently in residence in The Triskel in the city, with a different body of work that looks at the myth, that ‘the gay son or daughter went to London’. Of course, not all did and the country is peppered with people who hid their identity, or continue to do so. This is usually softly acknowledgement: the ‘special friend’ in the death notice, or the ‘lifelong friend’. ‘When I was young I thought, where is everyone queer? Are they all up in the city? I will say that people look at queer lives and think, “Oh it must be so hard” but it’s only ever added to it for me. “Coming out” is something we have to do, but there’s a whole life without it and besides it’. Maitiú’s work can be enjoyed at The Triskel in Cork from September 25th to the 28th; their work has already been purchased by the OPW (Office of Public Works) for their collection. They were awarded the Cork County Council Partnership Residency at Uillinn West Cork Arts Centre which they undertook in Spring 2025. Maitiú was also this year’s recipient of the 2025 Emerging Visual Artist Award.

ICMSA has represented farm families from West Cork and all over Ireland at local, national and European level with their problems that has been our trademark for over 75 years. We’re the specialist family farm organisation and we have an unrivalled record of sound analysis and a focus on farm incomes. We are organised by - and work for - farmers. And only farmers. Chairperson of West Cork ICMSA: D.J. Keohane, Timoleague, 086-8566473 Secretary of West Cork ICMSA: Vanessa Kiely O’Connor, Upton, 086-1768112 Member Relations Oﬃcer for West Cork: Michael Thornton, 087-1618213 061-314677, or info@icmsa.ie Please also look at our website at www.icmsa.ie

West Cork Farming | The Southern Star

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West Cork Farming | The Southern Star

D E L A E V E R S RESULT

GREAT WEST CORK SURVEY 2025

The results are in and they oﬀer a fascinating insight into agricultural life in West Cork Way of life

OVER two thirds of the farmers who took part in the The Southern Star’s Great West Cork Farming Survey for 2025 are not involved in a farm succession plan. Of the respondents, 68% aren’t part of a farm succession plan, either as the current owner or the successor. The majority of farmers who took part in the survey were from Clonakilty, Skibbereen, Bandon, Macroom and Dunmanway with 36% of them dairy farmers, followed by 30% who have beef enterprises. The survey also revealed that 47% of respondents said they didn’t have a will – the majority of them (76%) said they hadn’t gotten to it yet. That could potentially be due to lack of free time, as 51% of respondents said they had to rely on family members to help with farming, with 20% working entirely on their own. Only 8% said they worked with paid employees, while 58% said they don’t feel adequately rewarded for the work they do. In keeping with this, low income and high input costs were identified in the survey as the two biggest concerns for the future of farming, followed by succession and climate change. Interestingly, the number of part-time farmers was almost on a par with full-time farmers – 42% compared to 47% respectively. The survey revealed that 41% sometimes feel isolated in their work, with the pub and sport cited as main social outlets. Some 48% said this isolation had impacted their mental health in some way. However, 60% of respondents said they don’t think there’s adequate supports in place to help farmers with their mental health. Only 8% have ever availed of such supports. Of those who said they or a family member had a farm-related accident that required medical attention, 32% were unable to work on the farm for a period of months as a result of the accident, with 20% being out of action for weeks and 40% off duty for a period of days. If Ireland was to lose its nitrates derogation – which is potentially on the cards – not surprisingly 31% said it would impact their work, with 25% saying it would impact it in an unsustainable way. However, only 21% are considering diversifying their enterprise. Regardless, and positively, an overwhelming 77% would recommend farming as a way of life. First run in 2018, again in 2020 and also in 2024 is designed to provide an insight into the current state of agriculture in the region. Read the full results on the following pages.

Somethings haven’t changed since we last ran the Great West Cork Farming Survey in March 2024 when 76.3% of those who responded said they’d recommend farming as a way of life. In August 2025 a cool 77% said they would recommend it. When asked why, a strong theme of working outdoors with nature, connection to the land and being part of the ‘real world’ was evident. People also liked the idea that they were their own boss and the health benefits associated with a life in agriculture. However, of the 23% who said they wouldn’t recommend it, some of the main reasons given were that it’s too difficult a life with not enough financial reward, bureaucracy/overregulation and lack of support for those farming on their own.

Yes 77%

V <H

No 23%

The Southern Star | West Cork Farming

Sources of information

Education

*U H H Q & RQ H UW H

Formal agricultural education ranked well with 35% having a Green Cert, 17% having a degree, 10% having a qualification at Fetac level 5/6 and 9% having a diploma. 29% hold no formal agricultural education whatsoever.

When asked about their preferred sources for farming news and information, 30.4% identified traditional broadcast media (radio and television) as their top pick, followed by print media at 22.4%, trusted news/farming websites at 14.2% and social media coming in at 12.4%. Advisory services came in at 10.5% followed closely by ‘word of mouth’ at 9.9%.

Degree 17% None 29%

Print media 22.4% Advisory services 10.5%

Fetac Level 5/6 10% Diploma 9%

Word of mouth 9.9%

News or farming websites 14.2%

Green Cert 35%

Social media 12.4%

Radio/television 30.4%

D L K W G

Rewards

No 21%

Yes 79% Yes 19%

.5%)

Of young farmers (under 35) who took the survey, approximately one in five (21%) said they did not have access to land on which to farm. Of those who do have access to land, the majority (81%) already own it while 15% lease it and a further 4% are working on land owned by a parent.

d (81

Access to land

With long days, low returns and no proper time off being seen as contributing factors, only 19% of those surveyed felt adequately rewarded for the hours they work (compared to just 11.7% of respondents when asked the same question in our 2024 survey). 23% said they only felt ‘somewhat rewarded’ while a massive 58% of participants do not feel adequately rewarded for the hours they work on the farm.

Somewhat 23%

Own the land 81% Parents’ land 4%

No 58%

Lease the land 15%

West Cork Farming | The Southern Star

Climate action

In an interesting deviation from our 2024 survey results when climate action and taking steps to mitigate damage to the climate were ranked as ‘very important’ by 45.2% of those who took the survey, this time that figure has dropped by just over 10% to 35%. The percentage of respondents citing it as ‘somewhat important’ didn’t change quite as dramatiNot so cally (46% vs 44.1% in 2024) but important rather concerningly those that said it was ‘not so important’ had 19% risen from 10.1% to 19% in 2025.

SURVEY 2025

Somewhat important 46%

Very important 35%

Eve

Farm safety

Never 18%

57% of farmers who completed The Great West Cork Farming Survey 2025 carry out a Farm Safety Risk Assessment every two years with 17% doing an assessment every five years. Almost one in five (18%) admitted to never carrying out a Farm Safety Risk Assessment. Just 16% said they or a member of their family had had an accident on the farm in the past five years that required medical attention. Of that number 32% were unable to work on the farm for a period of months as a result of the accident, with 20% being out of action for weeks and 40% off duty for a period of days.

'XGT[ Ƃ XG years 17%

N/A Other Every year

Every two years 57%

Division of labour

Unable to work for days 40%

Unable to work for weeks 20%

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GREAT WEST CORK

51% of farmers who took the survey work the land with the assistance of family members, while one in five (20%) does so on their own. 15% work in an ‘informal partnership’, 6% in a registered farm partnership and just 5% have paid employees working with them. On their

Longer

own 20%

Unable to work for months 32%

V\D'

In an informal partnership 15%

With help from family members 51%

In a registered farm partnership 6% Others

With paid employee/s 5%

The Southern Star | West Cork Farming

Succession and inheritance

68% of those taking the recent survey are not involved in any succession arrangement, either as the current farm owner or the successor. A whopping 47% said that they have no will in place with 76% of those stating the main reason for not having done so is because they simply have not gotten around to it. 13% said the process was too complicated and 4% believe the process to be too expensive.

Succession arrangement – Yes 32%

Succession arrangement – No 68%

Will in place 53%

No will in place 47%

Derogation

When asked ‘If Ireland is unsuccessful in retaining its nitrates derogation in the next round of talks, to what extent would it affect your farm income?’ A massive 25% – one in four – respondents said that it would affect their farm income in an unsustainable way with another 31% stating that it would affect their income in a major but manageable way.

&KXGTUKƂ ECVKQP A very significant 79% of respondents said that they are not engaged in, nor are they thinking about doing anything in the area of diversification to improve income from their farm. Of those who are, reducing density and moving to organic production, forestry, farm tours and more agricultural contracting are the methods in place or being considered.

Not at all 20% In a major way but manageable 31%

Yes 21%

In a minor way 24% No 79%

In an unsustainable way 25%

Mental health

GREAT WEST CORK

41% admitted to feeling isolated in their work as farmers (slightly down on 2024 when 46.5% reported feelings of isolation). In 2024 however, 37.7% said this isolation had affected their mental health, with this figure now rising to 48% in 2025. 60% of those taking the recent survey believe that there are not adequate mental health supports available to farmers, down from 80% in 2024. A meagre 8% of those reporting mental health issues said they had availed of support services.

Yes 41% No 32%

SURVEY 2025

No 52%

Somewhat 27%

Yes 48%

V H <

West Cork Farming | Th The he Southern Star

No 60% Yes 14% Has this isolation affected your mental health?

Do you ever feel isolated in your work as a farmer? I don’t know 26%

Do you think there are adequate supports available to help farmers deal with mental health issues?

No 92%

Yes 8%

Have you ever availed of mental health services as a result of isolation/pressure of life as a farmer?

The pub 30% Other Church

Social outlets

Macra 16% GAA/other sport 25%

None Community groups | Social event/dancing 17%

Despite the decline in the number of pubs in West Cork, the ‘local’ remains a very important focal point in the community it seems, with 30% of those surveyed acknowledging the pub as their chief social outlet, followed closed by GAA and other sporting activites at 25%, social events (e.g. dancing) at 17% and a not insignificant portion (12%) of those polled citing community groups (e.g. local development associations, Tidy Towns etc) as important social outlets.

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The Southern Star | West Cork Farming

GREAT WEST CORK

Other

Access to land 14%

SURVEY 2025

High input cost 24%

Concerns for the future

Impact of climate change 16% Low income 22% Succession 20%

While the percentages may have changed, the chief concerns for the future still rank in the same order as in our 2024 survey, as follows: • High input costs (24% in 2025, 38.5% in 2024) • Low income (22% vs 29.1% in 2024) • Succession (20% vs 14% in 2024) • Impact of climate change (16% vs 11.4% in 2024) An interesting additional concern highlighted in the recent survey cites access to land as a significant concern for 14% of those taking the survey, with overregulation and no compensation for farm improvements relating to the environment also being mentioned.

WINNER! Those who took the time to complete the Great West Cork Farming Survey 2025 were offered the chance to enter a draw for a €100 SuperValu voucher. The lucky winner is was: James Cronin, Bantry

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West Cork Farming | The Southern Star

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West Cork Farming | The Southern Star

Macra matters Carbery Macra will host the association’s national rally in Rosscarbery next month. Helen Riddell caught up with some past and present members ahead of the event

OVER the October bank holiday weekend, Friday, October 24th to Sunday, October 26th, Carbery Macra will host the 2025 National Rally – which is the annual nationwide gathering of Macra groups – at the Celtic Ross Hotel, Rosscarbery. The official opening ceremony takes place on the Friday evening, and on Saturday 25th a number of farm tours will take place followed by the conference that afternoon which will feature a number of speakers. There will be live music on all three nights of the rally. Carbery Macra covers the length and breadth of West Cork with clubs in Ballinadee, Ballinascarthy, Bantry, Barryroe, Beara, Caheragh, Clonakilty, Crossmahon-Bandon, Dunmanway, Innishannon, Kilbrittain, Kilmeen and Mizen. The Southern Star recently spoke to some past and present members of Carbery Macra who all acknowledged the work the organisation does in supporting young people in rural Ireland.

Katie Hurley

Katie Hurley is a few weeks into her role as PRO for Carbery Macra. A member of the Caheragh branch she’s recently qualified as a primary school teacher. Growing up on a farm, Katie joined Macra four years ago but says it’s only the past year she has become more involved. ‘I initially joined to meet new people and try different activities and then I got involved at committee level.’ Recently Katie was crowned Macra Queen of the Castle, ‘that’s something I would never have done before, but I really enjoyed and it was great fun.’ Caheragh currently has 90 members and Katie says there’s something for everyone. ‘There is a huge range of sports and debating activities and social meet-ups and also a number of farming-based activities, including farm skills courses and stock judging.’ Katie is looking forward to the rally in October. ‘It’s the largest Macra event there is and we’re hoping to see a big crowd at it.’ Whilst there is a specific committee tasked with organising the rally, it will be a case of all

Brian Fenton

Brian Fenton was PRO for the 2009 Macra rally held in Bantry. He initially joined his local Macra club in Innishannon, as some of friends were involved, but says within no time he became fully involved. ‘We were travelling the length and breadth of West Cork taking part in a huge variety of activities.’ After a few years, Brian became involved at committee level including the organising committee for 2009 rally. ‘There were 13 of us on the committee that time, it was a very enthusiastic committee and the majority of us had been in Macra for up to 10 years, so we had a lot of combined experience plus we had attended other rallies around the country so we knew what to expect.’ Although not currently involved in

Macra Brian will be attending the rally in October and says he would encourage all young people thinking of joining Macra to come along to the rally. ‘It’s a great weekend and you get a chance to see what the organisation is about.’

John O’Driscoll John O’Driscoll has a busy few weeks ahead of him as chair of the national rally committee for Carbery Macra but is looking forward to the challenge. ‘All the big jobs are done now, we’ve finalised the itinerary and we’re really looking forward to the event.’ John joined his local Caheragh Macra club in 2008 while studying in UCD. ‘I became more active from 2012 when I moved home to Drimoleague. I’d recommend Macra to anyone, there’s something for everyone and it gives you the opportunity to try something that you’ve never done before, such as public speaking, debating or sports competitions. You don’t have to be good at it to take part just be up for trying it.’ The upcoming rally is a huge event for the area says John and he encourages everyone to come along to the various events over the weekend. ‘You don’t have to be a member of Macra, everyone is welcome and if anyone is thinking of joining Macra this weekend will give them a good taste of the organisation.

Tom Moyles

Tom Moyles was involved in Carbery Macra for one of the first rallies held in the county in 1974 in Owenahincha. Organised at a time before there was such a thing as the internet or social media, Tom says the organising committee had to contend with a national postal strike, but he says everyone came together to ensure the rally was a huge success. ‘I was part of the rally committee, it was a joint effort with the national executive of Macra and the Carbery region. We had approximately 400 delegates attending with around 600 non-delegates, and all accommodation throughout the area was completely booked out. The theme that year was “land is our greatest resource” and that still holds true.’ Tom outlined how at that time there were over 80 clubs in Cork county, with twenty-one in the Carbery region. Tom

hands on deck says Katie for what promises to be a hectic weekend. ‘There will a lot of activities throughout the weekend, and big numbers of people travelling to it and it’s a great opportunity for us to showcase the local area.’

looks back fondly of his time in Macra and is a huge advocate for the organisation. ‘I left school at 17, at that time very few people were doing the leaving cert and for some people who left after national school Macra was in effect their secondary school.’

Living in rural Ireland can be isolating for young farmers, Macra is an ideal way to meet like-minded people and there’s even been a good few marriages come from Macra over the years!’

–––– Macra National Rally – October 24th-26th, Celtic Ross Hotel, Rosscarbery –––– 34

19 80

The Southern Star | West Cork Farming

Top: A ‘blast from the past’ (1980) showing officers of the Carbery Macra region who attended a two-day leadership course sponsored by the Bank of Ireland at ‘Enniscore,’ Montenotte, Cork. Included are regional officers, Kathryn O’Donoghue, Geraldine McCarthy, Donal Walsh, Martin Hayes and John Horan. Also included are Seamus Hayes, Macra National President; Flor Riordan, National Vice-President, and Donal O’Donovan, agricultural advisor, Bank of Ireland. Above: 1999 – at the launch of Carbery Macra’s commemorative book, 50 Years of Macra in West Cork were Sinead Murphy, Carbery Macra; TJ Maher, National President of Macra na Feirme; Colm McCarthy, Carbery Macra and Elizabeth Ryan, Carbery Macra. 35

West Cork Farming | The Southern Star

Major milestones for two West Cork co-operatives Lisavaird and Barryroe Co-ops are both celebrating 100 years in operation this year, proving that they are true cornerstones of the agricultural community in the region VERY recently, two major industries in West Cork, both Barryroe Co-op and Lisavaird Co-op, celebrated a phenomenal 100 years in business, in each case blooming from nascent and optimistic beginnings into thriving industries today. The nature of the business and their proximity means the two co-ops have something of a shared history, as it was in 1965, 40 years after both their formations, that Carbery Milk Products was established as a partnership between the four West Cork Co-Ops including the two ‘birthday boys’.

LISAVAIRD

In 1925, a group of local farmers in the Lisavaird area united with the intention of improving their livelihoods through cooperation. Initially focusing on butter production and farm supplies, the milk intake in the first year was 700,000 litres. Just over 30 years later, the South West Co-operative Society was formed, and in the 1960s, the introduction of milk lorries made a massive difference to how dairying was managed in the area. In 1989, the trio of Barryroe, Lisavaird, and Bandon Co-ops acquired Clona Dairy Products from the Hurley family, and a short few years later, Carbery Milk Products became 100% owned by the four West Cork Co-Ops, including Lisavaird and Barryroe.

Thousands of people turned out for Lisavaird Co-Op’s 100th celebration at its head office in Tullineasky West at the end of August. There was a packed programme including tours of the offices, a history of the Co-Op, free food and children’s entertainment and lots more. Clockwise from top left: Kevin Finn, Clonakilty and Martin Dineen, Lisavaird Co-Op CEO; Sonny Walsh from Rosscarbery. The history of Lisavaird Co-Op proved very popular with visitors. (Photos: Andy Gibson) 36

The Southern Star | West Cork Farming

BARRYROE

Meanwhile, Barryroe Co-op recall that at least three attempts had been made to establish a co-operative in the area, going back as far as 1892, before a successful founding in 1925. Fr Jeremiah Burke is credited with being a ‘decisive element’ in the foundation, and they were spurred in some ways by the establishment of nearby Lisavaird Co-op. In April of that year, the site at Curahevern Cross was found to be suitable, and purchased from Daniel O’Leary, and the grand opening took place on September 7th, 1925 where the creamery was ‘far from finished’, the refrigerator was not fully in operation, and the pavement wasn’t laid. Nevertheless, just ten years later, in 1935 the Barryroe Co-op’s butter was judged to be the best in the country after a series of surprise inspections. The co-op were proactive in the early years in imposing ‘law and order’, so to speak, hiring two taxis to get members to the monthly meetings in the 1940’s as there was such poor attendance, due to petrol rationing. One taxi was sent to Ballinspittle and Kilbrittain, and another to Inchybridge and Darrara. The taxi drivers were Lawrence O’Donovan and Robert Wright, the father of the famous tenor, Finbar.

EXPANSION

In more recent history, in 1995 Barryroe entered the pork processing business with the setting up of Staunton Foods as a joint venture and today owns 100% of this business. A little later, in 2011, the Co-op set up a Greenfield dairy farm on 300 acres outside of Bandon, in conjunction with Teagasc and the other Co-ops. In Lisavaird, since the year 2000 the Co-op has acquired Shinagh Estates, and cooked meats were added to the menu with the purchase of both Glen Aine Foods and Leeway Foods in 2009. Things got sweeter in 2014 with Coolmore Cakes added to Lisavaird’s ventures, and a little ‘fishy’ the following year with the acquisition of Glenmar Seafoods. Since then, Lisavaird has purchased JD spreads, with an investment of over €10 million in facilities. Recently, the original Lisavaird grocery store closed its doors to be replaced by a modern shop. Today, Barryroe purchases 110 million litres of milk each year from 200 suppliers, and operates a thriving mill overseeing the manufacture of 40,000 tons annually. Meanwhile, recent figures show that Lisavaird was supplied with just over 122 million litres of milk in 2024, from 236 suppliers, and employs 382 people. This is a far cry from 1925, when 675,000 litres of milk were supplied, generating a turnover of £28,000.

From top: Barryroe staff Tim Kingston, Branch Manager, Deirdre Griffin and Retail Manager John Cuddihy at the Barryroe Co-op centenary events last weekend, at which thousands were in attendance. Patricia and Seamus O’Donovan, Patrick and Kay Lawton and Dan Joe O’Sullivan with his horse ‘Loki.’ Seamus and Patrick have retired recently from many years of service at Barryroe Co-op. Timmy Finn, Courtmacsherry, Lawrence O’Donovan Butlerstown and Denis O’Sullivan Lislevane at the Barryroe Coop celebrations. (Photos: Gearoid Holland)

• The information for this article was obtained from the websites of both Barryroe and Lisavaird Co-ops, with some valuable insights into the history of Barryroe Co-op from their recent series of newsletters. 37

West Cork Farming | The Southern Star

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The Southern Star | West Cork Farming

ICMSA seeks extension to Forgotten Farmer Scheme

Eamon Carroll, Deputy President of the ICMSA. THE Deputy President of the ICMSA, Eamon Carroll, has repeated his call on the Minster of Agriculture Food and the Marine to extend the closing date for applications for the Forgotten Farmer Scheme to the end of September. Mr Carroll said that it was proving near impossible for affected farmers to get their paperwork together within what he said was always ‘too tight’ a timeframe. ‘There are numerous instances where farmers who are trying to apply for the scheme are trying to deal with advisors just back from holidays and aren’t “back in the groove” yet. Even more frustrating are the cases where farmers are trying to attain their relevant records from their Agriculture College that was closed over the summer and are just re-opening and trying to deal with this year’s intake. It would surely make sense for the application deadline to be pushed to at least September 30th when normal administration resumes, and it would be that much easier to access the records and information that the Department itself is insisting accompany applications to the Scheme?’ Mr Carroll said that the scheme’s

introduction was a positive step, and he said it would be ‘a shame’ if an unrealistic deadline and excessively restrictive conditions wiped out the good intentions the announcement represented. He also said it was ‘very obvious’ that there would have to be a Phase Two that dealt with those excluded. ‘There is still significant concern that the cut-off date of December 31, 2007, has excluded many farmers — the very individuals who began farming just as we were about to enter a period of national economic hardship with very limited supports for young farmers. In the context of the calls and feedback we are getting – that are surely being communicated to the other stakeholders – it’s very obvious that we need a second tranche or Phase Two that deals with those individuals. We don’t think the numbers are excessive and neither would the amounts involved. But they have a completely valid case to be covered, and we think that on reflection the Minister would be wise to fix “all” the problem, once and for all’, concluded Mr Carroll, who also chairs ICMSA’s Farm Services Committee.

Special invite to all Cork visitors at ploughing THE Chairperson of West Cork ICMSA, DJ Keohane, has issued an open invitation to any West Cork farm visitors to this year’s ploughing championships to call into the officers and staff of the association at the association’s centrally located stand: Row 9, Stand Number 198. Mr Keohane said that as part of commitment to mark the 75th anniversary of the association’s founding – in which Cork farmers like Jimmy O’Keeffe and Con Scully played hugely prominent roles – the stand would offer ‘hot tea and a warm ear’ for any farming connected problems. ‘Unlimited tea, coffee and biscuits are available, and the occasion represents a superb opportunity to meet, chat and discuss farming problems with experts who absolutely will be able to help. Cork – and West Cork in particular – has always 39

played a pivotal role in ICMSA and Cork is by far the biggest milk-producing county in the State. So, we love to see Cork dairy farmers coming in for a chat and being able to help with any problems they might be having.’ ‘That address again is Row 9, Stand Number 198 and that’s very close to the NPA Head Office’, Mr Keohane concluded.

West Cork Farming | The Southern Star

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The Southern Star | West Cork Farming

Look to the future

Teagasc emphasises the importance of succession and registered partnerships GENERATIONAL Renewal Week is taking place this week and has been highlighting career paths for young farmers, as well as supporting older farmers who want to take a step back from farming. Considering that The Southern Star’s Great West Cork Farming Survey has found almost half of farmers do not have a will in place, the importance of succession planning cannot be understated. Also covering tax and alternative arrangements like partnerships and share-farming, the Teagasc-run week-long event has been giving people a chance to see real-world examples of what different types of succession planning looks like. The average age of an Irish farmer is 59, and many are reporting that they have no successor for the farm, or others that have children who are not planning to return home to farm. As part of Generational Renewal Week, farmers have heard from the likes of Gerard and Shane O’Connor in Roscommon, who are currently farming under a joint herd number and have recently begun the process of transferring the farm to Shane. Meanwhile in Westmeath, Tony McCormack and Chris Cahill, who are unrelated, have been farming together in a Registered Farm Partnership since 2022. While not in West Cork, their story is a fine example to any farmers looking to set up a similar arrangement. Tony McCormack’s farm is in Caddagh, Westmeath. Together with his father Seamus, Tony has expanded the farm to 115 hectares (111 adjusted), including 20 hectares that are leased. In 2015, Tony took a more active role in the family farm, leasing it from his father. After eight years, ownership transferred fully to Tony, except for 50 acres given to his brother, which he now leases from him. Five years ago Tony decided that it was time for things to change, as his two daughters have willingly helped out on the farm

over the years but, they currently have different career pathways in mind. Tony knew that he still wanted to be involved in the running of the farm and therefore leasing was not an option he considered. However, managing everything alone was difficult, especially keeping up with technological advances and attending discussion groups. Employing a manager felt unsatisfactory, as responsibility would still fall on him. Instead, Tony sought a partner to share the workload and responsibility. Tony found the land mobility service to be hugely

‘Tony and Chris meet monthly, generally around the time of the milk cheque being received, to discuss the ﬁnances on the farm, but could talk three to four times a day during the busy times...’ helpful in finding what he needed, and gives a particular mention to Patrick Brady who guided him through the process. In April 2021, Tony advertised in the Irish Farmers’ Journal for a collaborator, and by May, he had interviewed eight candidates, and Chris Cahill stood out, impressing Tony with his technical expertise, excellent grassland management (Chris runs a grass measuring business) and strong knowledge of breeding and fertility. Chris and Tony spent several months negotiating and planning before formally establishing their registered farm partnership in January 2022, seven months after their first meeting. During this period, significant changes were made: Tony’s 100 cows and heifers combined with similar numbers from Chris; the 69-hectare grazing 41

and silage platform was converted entirely to grazing; a new 20-unit milking parlour was built; and winter accommodation was expanded to support the larger herd. They chose a registered farm partnership to qualify for increased TAMS funding. Finances are managed through a single partnership bank account. Tony took on the financial responsibility for capital investments, while Chris covers all labour, whether this is his own labour or external. All other farm expenses are covered by the partnership, and the profits are then split 50:50. The partnership has now been running for three and a half years. An initial agreement was drawn up for 10 years; this was to allow for a portion of the investment in capital projects to be recovered. All of the plans that they had discussed during the initial negotiations in 2021 have now been implemented on the farm and the system is finally settling down after a number of years of significant change. Tony and Chris meet monthly, generally around the time of the milk cheque being received, to discuss the finances on the farm, but could talk three to four times a day during the busy times of the year. In addition, although Tony is not officially involved in the day-to-day work on the farm, he is happy to cover milkings when needed and also covers the night calvings during the busy calving period as Chris is currently living about 20 miles away from the farm. Tony does discuss all the physical aspect of the farm with Chris, and so remains actively involved in the management. Tony is very pleased with how the partnership is working and is optimistic it will continue beyond the initial ten-year term. The pair plan to revisit long-term plans in year eight, and this collaboration highlights how unrelated parties can successfully work together with clear, well-defined agreements and mutual commitment, requiring compromise from both sides.

West Cork Farming | The Southern Star

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The Southern Star | West Cork Farming

A snapshot of the action-packed Ahiohill Vintage Club working day held on August 3rd which raised €50,000 for charities including Pieta House, Cancer Care at the Mercy Hospital and Dunmanway Hospital Day Care Centre. Above: With 63 seasons driving a combine under his belt, David Gleasure, Oysterhaven puts Laureate malting spring barley to the knife in (Photos: Peter O’Brien) Dunbogey. 43

West Cork Farming | The Southern Star

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The West Cork Farming Awards, now in their eleventh year, celebrate the men, women, families, agri-businesses, educators, scientists and researchers behind West Cork farming. We love to tell the stories of the people who make agriculture in our region such an important part of our economy, our communities and our lives. Awards ceremony and gala luncheon at the Celtic Ross Hotel, Rosscarbery on Friday, October 31st, 2025

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The Southern Star | West Cork Farming

Over 100 vehicles were signed on for the Rossmore Car, Tractor, Truck and Bike Run, which was held in aid of West Cork Jesters and Critical Care Emergency Response on Sunday, August 31st. Clockwise from top: Dillon McSweeney, Sam’s Cross; Daithi O’Keeffe, Rossmore; Daniel Bennett, Rossmore and Max Harte, Rosscarbery; Seán and Elena Harrington from Ring; Ailbhe; Etain and Regan O’Driscoll; Éadaoin Collins and Mason O’Driscoll, all from Rossmore; John Collins from Rossmore on his 1989 Ford 7610 tractor. (Photos: Andy Gibson) 45

West Cork Farming | The Southern Star

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Bantry + Skibbereen

Call us today with any questions and we will be happy to help! Tel: 028 28134 | Mobile 086 8045371

Grant Approved Concrete.

Main Local dealer in West Cork for Bridgestone and Firestone Tractor Tyres:

TYRE CENTRES

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Newtown, Bantry • 027 50320 | Cork Road, Skibbereen • 028 21527 E: info@bantrytyres.com W: www.bantrytyres.com 46

The Southern Star | West Cork Farming

Cork GAA CEO Kevin O’Donovan (Kilmeen) and his family Thomas, Joaquin, Beatriz, Cecília, Víoleta and Adriana enjoying the Rossmore Tractor, Truck, Car and Bike Run which took place on Sunday, August 31st.

Ticket sellers Nora Murphy and Fiona Connolly with Michael Deasy at the Rossmore Tractor, Truck, Car and Bike Run which was in aid of West Cork Jesters and Critical Emergency Response. Left: Adrian Collins, Ballineen; Traoloch McCarthy, Kealkill; Ryan O’Leary, Dunmanway and Oisin McCarthy, Dunmanway at the Rossmore Tractor, Truck, Car and Bike Run. (Photos: David Patterson) 47

West Cork Farming | The Southern Star

Quick loan approval for farmers Flexible repayment plans that make sense for farmers Unsecured loans of up to €75,000 up to 10 years* Quick and easy application process Personal service Andrew Smith, Dairy Farmer

*Secured lending of up to €200,000 is available from Access Credit Union under the Cultivate Secured brand.

Watch Andrew’s story

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accesscu.ie

bantrycu.ie

macroomcu.ie

(028) 21883

(027) 50535

(026) 41689

access credit in the future. The cost of your repayments may increase. Credit unions in Ireland are regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. A list of participating credit unions is available at www.cultivate-cu.ie.