You’re what? No seriously, you’re doing what?” Such was my response when my older sister Enrika told me that she would be travelling from Australia with all four of her children, under eight, on her own. But it has happened. Enrika, accompanied by her four Australian-born children, landed into our house last Monday for a month. And although I am thrilled to see them, it has brought home some realities for me. Firstly, that I am absent and secondly that the house, and those in it, are suffering from that absence.
Our Desperate Farmwife (page nine) this week discusses this issue that affects so many of us, that inexplicable feeling of “mammy guilt”. It really doesn’t matter what your personal situation is, most likely at some point you feel it. My sister felt it as she left Australia, for taking the kids out of school so that she could come home to see her own mother and siblings. I felt it this weekend as I departed home on Thursday to accompany my old colleagues from Glanbia on a charity climb in the west of Ireland. Although these absences are passing and conscious now, I will re-prioritise, there are “mammy guilt” issues that linger.
The worst for me was when my younger daughter was diagnosed with having been born with no retina in her right eye. The words “she will still be able to drive and educate” will forever sit with me, as if that was some consolation for what I felt at the time was that it must have been something I did. I remember asking all the questions that the consultant had probably heard a million times before “can it be fixed?”, “is there any research?”, “can she have one of mine?” The answers: “no, nothing proven, no’. Guilt…
Amii McKeever climbing the Two Peaks Challenge with Glanbia in September 2018.
All that said, reading Paudie Cotterall’s story (page 20 and 21) most likely at her next appointment, I will bring my copy of Irish Country Living and ask the consultant “so what are retinal implants?”, as one thing I am very confident of is that science will eventually bring a solution to the table.
I mentioned above that this weekend I travelled over to Westport to climb Croagh Patrick and Mweelrea, in aid of Breastcancer Ireland. This is the second year that Glanbia staff (and a few ex-staff kindly allowed to tag along) are supporting this worthy charity which focuses on researching a cure to breast cancer. Advances are being made, with research publications growing from just one published every 24 months, to now five being published within 12 months instead.
In terms of agriculture, we are very fortunate in this country to have a really strong research culture through Teagasc and our universities. The importance of advocating for science and communicating that science is something we should all feel passionate about.
The agricultural industry is at a crossroads in terms of communicating with the general public on a range of issues, such as climate change and inputs, and these issues will continue to gain momentum. Science will provide the solutions for agriculture too as, “the good thing about science is that it’s true whether or not you believe in it”.
Read more
Food choices drive food politics
It's time to better support women in farming
You’re what? No seriously, you’re doing what?” Such was my response when my older sister Enrika told me that she would be travelling from Australia with all four of her children, under eight, on her own. But it has happened. Enrika, accompanied by her four Australian-born children, landed into our house last Monday for a month. And although I am thrilled to see them, it has brought home some realities for me. Firstly, that I am absent and secondly that the house, and those in it, are suffering from that absence.
Our Desperate Farmwife (page nine) this week discusses this issue that affects so many of us, that inexplicable feeling of “mammy guilt”. It really doesn’t matter what your personal situation is, most likely at some point you feel it. My sister felt it as she left Australia, for taking the kids out of school so that she could come home to see her own mother and siblings. I felt it this weekend as I departed home on Thursday to accompany my old colleagues from Glanbia on a charity climb in the west of Ireland. Although these absences are passing and conscious now, I will re-prioritise, there are “mammy guilt” issues that linger.
The worst for me was when my younger daughter was diagnosed with having been born with no retina in her right eye. The words “she will still be able to drive and educate” will forever sit with me, as if that was some consolation for what I felt at the time was that it must have been something I did. I remember asking all the questions that the consultant had probably heard a million times before “can it be fixed?”, “is there any research?”, “can she have one of mine?” The answers: “no, nothing proven, no’. Guilt…
Amii McKeever climbing the Two Peaks Challenge with Glanbia in September 2018.
All that said, reading Paudie Cotterall’s story (page 20 and 21) most likely at her next appointment, I will bring my copy of Irish Country Living and ask the consultant “so what are retinal implants?”, as one thing I am very confident of is that science will eventually bring a solution to the table.
I mentioned above that this weekend I travelled over to Westport to climb Croagh Patrick and Mweelrea, in aid of Breastcancer Ireland. This is the second year that Glanbia staff (and a few ex-staff kindly allowed to tag along) are supporting this worthy charity which focuses on researching a cure to breast cancer. Advances are being made, with research publications growing from just one published every 24 months, to now five being published within 12 months instead.
In terms of agriculture, we are very fortunate in this country to have a really strong research culture through Teagasc and our universities. The importance of advocating for science and communicating that science is something we should all feel passionate about.
The agricultural industry is at a crossroads in terms of communicating with the general public on a range of issues, such as climate change and inputs, and these issues will continue to gain momentum. Science will provide the solutions for agriculture too as, “the good thing about science is that it’s true whether or not you believe in it”.
Read more
Food choices drive food politics
It's time to better support women in farming
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