GAA legend O’Rourke launches farm project
TOP GAA analyst Colm O’Rourke went back to his native grassroots recently to launch a special social farming initiative in Co Leitrim.
Social farming is the practice of offering activity on family farms as a form of social support to people availing of health care services. Although participating farms continue to operate as normal, interested individuals are invited to take part in daily routine inside the farm gate.
Leitrim Development Company recently received €350,000 in funding to develop the project in the region. It is part of a large-scale national venture, with the network’s national support office based in Drumshanbo.
Meath football legend O’Rourke was guest speaker on the day and spoke of his fond memories of growing up on a dairy farm with 11 siblings in the neighbouring parish of Aughavas.
Colm discussed how the establishment of a social farm in every community could be akin to the local GAA club model.
“I think it is a wonderful idea, it’s fantastic for people with various types of difficulties to be in an environment like that because they are outside, close to nature — it brings out the best in people.
“There are very few Irish people more than a couple of generations removed from the land so it doesn’t take long before that natural love of the land and animals and plants comes out.
He feels very proud to see Leitrim take the lead. Colm’s father was a farmer who moved to Meath in 1966. His brother is farmer and says he is “very keen” on farming himself.
“I’m a bogman at heart and people realise that very quickly after any conversation with me, so I was delighted to go back to my roots where my father came from and to help out.
“My father was a dairy farmer and my brother is a dairy farmer in Meath so farming is very close to my heart,” he said.
Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed gave the project his stamp of approval on Michael Heslin’s farm in Gortletteragh attended by over 150 people including farmers, health and social care professionals and community advocates.
“The concept of social farming fosters inclusion. It helps participants to build self-esteem, confidence and to improve their health and well-being.
“For participating farm families and local communities, social farming has proved a very worthwhile and satisfying activity which contributes to community development. For these reasons, I want to ensure that this concept is developed and encouraged through the Social Farming Network,” he said.
The Department will provide funding totalling €720,000 in 2017 for a range of social farming initiatives.