As thousands of teenagers while away their summer holidays helping out on the farm, the need to promote and practise family farm safety remains a priority.
Farming accidents over the past 10 years have claimed the lives of 17 children, out of total of 177 fatalities from 2014 to 2024, according to statistics released by the Health and Safety Authority.
A key element of the new Farm Safety Action Plan 2025–2027, launched by Minister of State Michael Healy Rae at this year’s Teagasc Moorepark Open Day is the protection of children on farms.
Irish Country Living spoke to young people at the annual event in Fermoy, Co Cork, to gauge their understanding of the need to protect themselves on the farm.
Sean and Paddy Stapleton are spending their summer helping their uncle Brian Treacy on his dairy farm in Killea, near Templemore in Co Tipperary.
Sean (17) is awaiting his Leaving Cert results while 15-year-old Paddy is about to go into Transition Year. Both brothers are strongly considering a future in farming.
“It’s been drilled into us since we were younger the need to be careful around the farm and to know the dangers,” says Sean.
Paddy says he spends most days on the farm over the summer holidays and as he’s got older, he’s been entrusted to do more jobs.
“We know not to go into the shed when the slurry is being agitated. It’s only recently I’ve been allowed anywhere near it though so I have listened and learned the dos and don’ts.
“When cows are calving, keep back from them. I had a close shave, where a heifer went for me so I know it’s a case of being aware and knowing to step back especially where there are calves as the cows will always be protective and unpredictable.”
Uncle Brian Treacy says the boys learn as they go along but he makes sure he is with them the whole time to teach them the value of being farm safe.
Ella and James Beausang, Churchquarter, Grange, Co Waterford. \ Donal O' Leary
James and Ella Beausang, Churchquarter, Grange, Co Waterford. \ Donal O' Leary
Stay visible
Ella and James Beausang from Grange in Ardmore, Co Waterford are spending their summer helping dad Conor with the evening milking.
Ella (14) says as she’s gotten older, she’s more conscious of farm safety.
“When Dad is on the tractor, you have to make sure he can see you at all times. Even if we’ve already told him what time we’ll be up to the yard, we make sure not to stand in a place he can’t see us,” she says.
“We’re always being told to stay in the one place, particularly if it’s silage season, and not to move so that we aren’t in danger.
James (11) says the evening milking of 160 cows takes just over an hour and they know to be careful around the machinery and the cows.
“I want to go into farming when I’m older and I’ve always been told by Mam and Dad of the need to be aware of all the dangers on the farm. We wouldn’t be there without Dad anyways but when we help him with the milking, it gets done a lot quicker and we’re learning all the time of how to stay safe.”
Brian Treacy with his nephews Paddy and Sean Stapleton in the milking parlour at Gorteen, Killea, Templemore, Co Tipperary. \ Odhran Ducie
Health and safety trail
James Hurley is father to five young children, with his eldest three all keen to learn the ropes of the family farm at Ballineen in west Cork.
Eldest daughter Claire (14) says she’s been spending more time on their dairy farm since she got her summer holidays, helping out with milking of the 120-cow herd.
“We have to watch out for machinery like tractors and loaders that are in the yard because they have blind spots which mean whoever is driving them won’t always see us,” she says.
“Open slurry pits are also a danger that we need to be aware of and the obvious danger of the cows themselves,” she says.
Younger brother John (12) says he knows to be careful around the cows and he isn’t allowed on the farm when the slurry pit is open.
“That’s a problem avoided but one I know to be aware of when I’m older,” he says.
“When I’m on the farm I always know where Dad is, which makes me feel a lot safer.”
James is a second-generation farmer, and his children will be the third generation to take on the farm, if they choose to do so in the future.
“We’re very conscious of farm safety and we talk about it a lot,” he says.
This year’s Teagasc Moorepark Open Day featured an interactive farming health and safety trail, supported by FBD Insurance, to promote practical safety awareness on farms.
With six stations delivering demonstrations on farm machinery blind spots, working at height, livestock handling, health and wellbeing, chainsaw safety and ATV safety, the trail encouraged people of all ages to be mindful of the dangers associated with farming and offered practical tips in how to stay safe.
Anne Marie McAuliffe, health and safety coordinator with Teagasc said the trail was designed to be family friendly and to remind farmers young and old of the need to be aware of the hidden dangers on a farm.
“Storm Éowyn back in January left a lot of damage and destruction for farmers who may not have appreciated the dangers involved in using chainsaws to clear fallen trees, or the problems associated with working at heights,” she says.
“Farm machinery is getting bigger and more technologically advanced so there’s always something to learn about in how to protect everyone on the farm, particularly children.
“We want to engage with farmers and remind them of the need to be aware and alert to all the dangers on a farm, both physical and those that affect their mental health.
“Our wellbeing village offered lots of support. These ranged from blood pressure checks by Croí to a stand by AgriKids to engage families with younger children. The message of farm safety needs to begin as young as possible so that we can all stay safe.”
As thousands of teenagers while away their summer holidays helping out on the farm, the need to promote and practise family farm safety remains a priority.
Farming accidents over the past 10 years have claimed the lives of 17 children, out of total of 177 fatalities from 2014 to 2024, according to statistics released by the Health and Safety Authority.
A key element of the new Farm Safety Action Plan 2025–2027, launched by Minister of State Michael Healy Rae at this year’s Teagasc Moorepark Open Day is the protection of children on farms.
Irish Country Living spoke to young people at the annual event in Fermoy, Co Cork, to gauge their understanding of the need to protect themselves on the farm.
Sean and Paddy Stapleton are spending their summer helping their uncle Brian Treacy on his dairy farm in Killea, near Templemore in Co Tipperary.
Sean (17) is awaiting his Leaving Cert results while 15-year-old Paddy is about to go into Transition Year. Both brothers are strongly considering a future in farming.
“It’s been drilled into us since we were younger the need to be careful around the farm and to know the dangers,” says Sean.
Paddy says he spends most days on the farm over the summer holidays and as he’s got older, he’s been entrusted to do more jobs.
“We know not to go into the shed when the slurry is being agitated. It’s only recently I’ve been allowed anywhere near it though so I have listened and learned the dos and don’ts.
“When cows are calving, keep back from them. I had a close shave, where a heifer went for me so I know it’s a case of being aware and knowing to step back especially where there are calves as the cows will always be protective and unpredictable.”
Uncle Brian Treacy says the boys learn as they go along but he makes sure he is with them the whole time to teach them the value of being farm safe.
Ella and James Beausang, Churchquarter, Grange, Co Waterford. \ Donal O' Leary
James and Ella Beausang, Churchquarter, Grange, Co Waterford. \ Donal O' Leary
Stay visible
Ella and James Beausang from Grange in Ardmore, Co Waterford are spending their summer helping dad Conor with the evening milking.
Ella (14) says as she’s gotten older, she’s more conscious of farm safety.
“When Dad is on the tractor, you have to make sure he can see you at all times. Even if we’ve already told him what time we’ll be up to the yard, we make sure not to stand in a place he can’t see us,” she says.
“We’re always being told to stay in the one place, particularly if it’s silage season, and not to move so that we aren’t in danger.
James (11) says the evening milking of 160 cows takes just over an hour and they know to be careful around the machinery and the cows.
“I want to go into farming when I’m older and I’ve always been told by Mam and Dad of the need to be aware of all the dangers on the farm. We wouldn’t be there without Dad anyways but when we help him with the milking, it gets done a lot quicker and we’re learning all the time of how to stay safe.”
Brian Treacy with his nephews Paddy and Sean Stapleton in the milking parlour at Gorteen, Killea, Templemore, Co Tipperary. \ Odhran Ducie
Health and safety trail
James Hurley is father to five young children, with his eldest three all keen to learn the ropes of the family farm at Ballineen in west Cork.
Eldest daughter Claire (14) says she’s been spending more time on their dairy farm since she got her summer holidays, helping out with milking of the 120-cow herd.
“We have to watch out for machinery like tractors and loaders that are in the yard because they have blind spots which mean whoever is driving them won’t always see us,” she says.
“Open slurry pits are also a danger that we need to be aware of and the obvious danger of the cows themselves,” she says.
Younger brother John (12) says he knows to be careful around the cows and he isn’t allowed on the farm when the slurry pit is open.
“That’s a problem avoided but one I know to be aware of when I’m older,” he says.
“When I’m on the farm I always know where Dad is, which makes me feel a lot safer.”
James is a second-generation farmer, and his children will be the third generation to take on the farm, if they choose to do so in the future.
“We’re very conscious of farm safety and we talk about it a lot,” he says.
This year’s Teagasc Moorepark Open Day featured an interactive farming health and safety trail, supported by FBD Insurance, to promote practical safety awareness on farms.
With six stations delivering demonstrations on farm machinery blind spots, working at height, livestock handling, health and wellbeing, chainsaw safety and ATV safety, the trail encouraged people of all ages to be mindful of the dangers associated with farming and offered practical tips in how to stay safe.
Anne Marie McAuliffe, health and safety coordinator with Teagasc said the trail was designed to be family friendly and to remind farmers young and old of the need to be aware of the hidden dangers on a farm.
“Storm Éowyn back in January left a lot of damage and destruction for farmers who may not have appreciated the dangers involved in using chainsaws to clear fallen trees, or the problems associated with working at heights,” she says.
“Farm machinery is getting bigger and more technologically advanced so there’s always something to learn about in how to protect everyone on the farm, particularly children.
“We want to engage with farmers and remind them of the need to be aware and alert to all the dangers on a farm, both physical and those that affect their mental health.
“Our wellbeing village offered lots of support. These ranged from blood pressure checks by Croí to a stand by AgriKids to engage families with younger children. The message of farm safety needs to begin as young as possible so that we can all stay safe.”
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