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At the Sheehan farm in Co Kilkenny, succession was always a very open discussion, says Eamon Jnr. Without succession, he does not think he would have been able to get a start in farming.
“We always knew from the start what way things were going [on succession], I have three brothers in other businesses. It was always a very open discussion. There’s no surprises on any side,” Eamon says.
“We’re a bit different to the norm in that my father’s background is from a business outside farming. My father was working away from home a lot when I returned to farm originally.”
Almost 50% of the land is in Eamon Jnr’s name and the rest is in his father’s name.
“It was worked on a lease basis back to my father,” said Eamon. “Everything has always been on the table here. If the farm was leased to someone tomorrow morning, my parents would be better off. They would get a lump sum tax free, you can’t get that as a child or a relative. My father bought all the land here, it’s not like he inherited it. If he decided to sell or lease it 10 years ago it was his to do it.”
Eamon says he appreciates his parents making the choice to let him farm.
“It would have been impossible for me to get into farming otherwise.”
Working together
Both father and son work together on the farm where they are currently milking 180 cows.
“My father is around the farm most days doing a lot of the overseeing and if he wasn’t there tomorrow you’d have to get another person. It’s not all rosy, the two of us are very similar and that is one of the areas that would lead to confrontation at times. You both have the same drive but might see things from a different angle.”
What is Eamon’s top tip for people interested in farming? “It’s important to work away from the farm first.”
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