The Belclare x Lleyn sheep belongs to Johnny and Eileen Manning of Knockraheen, Carriganima, Macroom, Co Cork.

Johnny told the Farmers Journal that the ewe has had a total of 21 lambs over the years.

The lambs were delivered last week by UCD Animal Science student Siobhan Ring while on work experience with Johnny and Eileen.

Johnny says that he would have had sheep giving birth to sextuplets over the years but it is very rare that all six would survive.

The lambs are being kept with the ewe and being supplemented with bottle feeds.

Tim Keady of Teagasc says multiple births would be rare in many sheep breeds but not so rare in Lleyn or Belclare breeds.