Tom Gorman (11) became a social media sensation last December after he was interviewed on RTÉ News, just prior to setting off for Brussels by tractor to take part in a Europe-wide protest alongside his dad, Francie Gorman, the IFA President.

There was plenty of support as father and son left the Irish Farm Centre in Dublin last December in their John Deere 6R155 tractor to participate in the protest organised by the European farm umbrella body Copa-Cogeca.

What impressed a lot of people about Tom’s clip that went viral was how articulate the youngster was on why farming matters to him and his family, eloquently explaining his opposition to the Mercosur deal.

Speaking to Irish Country Living from his home in Ballinakill, Co Laois recently, Tom says he couldn’t believe how far and fast the video travelled.

Viral video

“It was so funny. We were coming back to the hotel after the protest, and my dad was going to meet the Commissioner for Agriculture, Commissioner Hansen as well as Commissioner Roswall and two other commissioners, and someone walked up to me and said ‘TikTok’, and I thought she was saying ‘What time is it?’, honestly,” Tom says, laughing.

“Then I realised she said ‘TikTok’ as in the app because of the video I did with RTÉ. She said, ‘You’re famous,’ and I couldn’t believe it [the video] had travelled that quickly. She said she was living 30km from the city centre [of Brussels].”

When he returned home, Tom got a big welcome in the local school, where he will start 6th class in the autumn, and lots of people were asking him about the videos with his dad in the cab during the epic trip and his RTÉ experience.

“I didn’t feel nervous. I didn’t think it would get so much traction,” the young man reflects on the viral newsclip.

The whole trip was very exciting from the time they left the Irish Farm Centre in a convoy of tractors to trying black coffee (he wasn’t impressed) for the first time in the early hours.

“It was mind-blowing to see how much support we got coming down [to Rosslare],” he remembers, saying they stopped off at Crookstown, Tullow and Enniscorthy marts before taking to the ferry to Dunkirk, which took close to 24 hours.

“It was a bit of an adventure [travelling through France] too,” he smiles, adding they left Dunkirk after a sleep at 2am to make it to Brussels for noon the following day where they came in a convoy of thousands of tractors which was quite a sight to see.

Queried if the John Deere was comfortable for such a long journey, Tom’s face breaks into a smile as he replies, “It was, but after a while you’d be a bit stiff.”

He is clearly very proud of Dad’s role in farm politics and would like to follow in his footsteps one day.

“I think it was very important [to take part] because we were underlining the key issues for farmers on the Mercosur trade deal, the MFF (Multiannual Financial Framework) and CAP reform, which will happen next year. The Brazilian beef was undermining the price of beef, not just in Ireland but in the whole of Europe,” says Tom.

“I just think Dad is doing what he can for farmers as a farmer himself, underlining issues in farming and helping out people who need it with different issues,” points out Tom, with obvious pride.

When asked if he will be farming in the future, he says, “100%”. He assists with the herding and jobs around the yard.

“I also help Dad feed the cows in the winter and give hay to the sheep. I do a nice bit on the farm.”

Earlier, Tom had brought Irish Country Living to see Speckles, his Speckle Park heifer out in the fields as he pucked around a sliothar.

He really likes the breed, even though he says they don’t have as good a resale value as others.

I just think Dad is doing what he can for farmers as a farmer himself, underlining issues in farming and helping out people who need it with different issues

Asked if he prefers cattle to sheep, he says the former, “All day.” Sheep can be very difficult to get in, he jokes.

Away from school and farming, Tom is very busy with plenty of activities, and he gets great encouragement from his parents Francie and Kay – although he is taking it a bit easier at the moment, after a mishap at a friend’s house left him with a leg injury.

Normally, at this time during the summer he would be busy with different camps. Tom plays hurling with Ballinakill Gaels, Gaelic football for Spink Crettyard, rugby for Portlaoise, soccer for Durrow and swims competitively for Kilkenny Swim Club.

When asked which sport is his favourite, he says rugby because he gets gametime or being a goalie in Gaelic too, even though it’s a difficult position.

On sporting heroes, he says he looks up to current Leinster players Gary Ringrose and Josh van der Flier. In hurling, his hero is closer to home: Cha Dwyer, who plays for Ballinakill and Laois. “His freetaking ability is just mindblowing,” Tom says. “He’s just a great hurler and an incredible player.”

But while his love for sport continutes to grow, his first passion is still farming.