Going farming every week gives me a purpose

HI, my name is Mags O Donoghue. I started social farming in 2013. My keyworker in Saint John of Gods told me about a new project called Social farming and I was very interested in trying it out as I come from a farming background.

I started farming with my friend Tim in Eamon’s farm in Kilgarvan. I have learned so many new skills since 2013 and I still go to the farm every Wednesday. I really look forward to Wednesdays. Over the years my work has been a mixture of dosing calves, feeding hens, feeding pigs, checking the cows along with helping to fix gates, painting, cleaning up after hedge cutting, raking and everything else that needs doing. The best part is always working alongside Eamon and having the chat so that makes the jobs easier.

Going farming every week gives me a purpose and I love being out in the fresh air. I feel it’s been so positive for my self-esteem and confidence and by learning all the new skills it shows my ability not disability.

Social farming has given me the opportunity to have been involved in making a video about Social farming, sit on a Social farming committee, I went to the Ploughing Championships, attended awards ceremonies, visited the Dail, and I have spoken as a Social farming participant on my experiences being part of Social Farming Kerry.

I love that I am still on Eamon’s farm all these years, Eamon his wife and 2 sons are like family to me and that’s why I look forward to Wednesdays every week. BRENDAN O’Sullivan from Letter, Cahersiveen has been involved in social Farming for approximately 6 years. Brendan travels on the bus from Cahersiveen to George Kelly’s farm in Killarney every Wednesday.

Brendan loves social farming, especially getting to work outdoors with the farmer George and working with the animals. Brendan says his favourite thing is working with the animals, there are cows and sheep, two horses, a donkey, goats and ducks on the farm. Brendan likes to feed the animals nuts and grass.

Brendan says he really likes working with George and two of the other participants, he has made good friendships with all of them. Brendan says he has been involved in little projects on the farm, he helped to paint the doors on the stable and is involved in the setting up of the polytunnel.

He is looking forward to growing vegetables and doing some gardening. Brendan also said George has a John Deere Gator with 2 seats and George brings him in the tractor around the farm and he loves this.

Brendan says he looks forward every Wednesday to going to George Kelly’s farm.