I farm: “At Springvale, Kildorrery, Co Cork.”

The flock: “I keep around 120 ewes – a pedigree Vendeen flock and a commercial flock. It’s split around 50:50 between pedigrees and commercial.”

Early lambs: “I have around 50 pedigree lambs on the ground now. They started lambing on 12 December and they lamb indoors. Normally they would be out in the field if the weather was dry and housed just at night, but it’s been too wet recently. The lambs would only be coming in wet and miserable.”

AI: “We bring in semen from France to AI the younger pedigree ewes. This year’s conception rate was poor, less than 50%, due to the drought. The heat was awful when they were jumping the rams.”

Next lambs: “The commercial flock of Vendeen/Texel crosses will lamb from 1 February.”

Sucklers: “I have 40 suckler cows, pedigree Simmentals. I sell most of the bulls and keep some. I sell the heifers as replacements. I finish the rest to beef. There are around 30 calved down now.”

Prices: “Factory lamb prices were pretty good this year, even if most farmers don’t like to say it. My pedigree rams did well too. Cattle prices are terrible though and they have been consistently bad now for 12 months. There’s very little margin in it for the suckler men.”

Family: “My husband Conor and I have three boys, David, Andrew and Peter, and one daughter, Gillian, who is in Australia. She will be home in the spring.”

Three-in-a-row: “I show the best of my Vendeens and the All Ireland is my big target. I’ve won it for the last two years so I’m aiming for the three-in-a-row.”

Knee surgery: “I had a total knee replacement nine weeks ago. I thought I would be flying by the time lambing started but I’m still laid up. I have to avoid all uneven ground and I can’t go into a pen with calves in case I get a knock or slip. Peter and Conor are helping me with the jobs before they go to work in the mornings.”