I was brought back to classroom last week when, at a Year of the Woman Farmer event, Karen Keaveney of the University College Dublin’s School of Agriculture encouraged women to fight what she called “good girl syndrome”.

Keaveney explained that she experienced the “very Irish thing” growing up, that women have to be a so-called “good girl”.

Being a “good girl” meant be quiet, don’t say too much, take everything in and do your work, she said.

Fighting the syndrome

Keaveney spoke about how she and many other women have to fight their “inner good girl” and realise that women have a voice like any man.

I tell you back when I was a young one, whether it was lambing ewes or standing in a gap, I’d make my opinion known.

However, Keaveney’s is good advice, for all female farmers to take note.