I farm: “In two separate plots of land in Co Roscommon. One block is at Creta, Elphin and the other one is outside Roscommon town. We have around 150 acres in all.”

System: “I run sheep and suckler cows. There’s about 300 ewes and 40 suckler cows. There’s a few cows calved at this stage but we won’t get going for a few weeks. I sell the weanlings between Elphin, Castlerea and Roscommon marts. The ewes are mostly cross-bred Texels. We have about 85 or 90 lambs dropped now with the rest to come around St. Patrick's Day.”

Heifers: “I have a few pedigree Simmental cows too and I tend to hold on to the heifers from those. The Simmental is great breed.”

Calves: “I buy in calves when they are about a month old and sell them on when they’re a year old or so. I tend to lean towards white head, Simmental and blue calves. I don’t buy the very top end of calves as they’re very expensive but they’re good calves all the same. I bought 22 calves last year and will probably buy 30 this year.”

Market: “Last year I was paying an average of €250 for the calves. I’m paying in the region of €285 each this year. The market is up but a wet summer could change that totally.”

Father: “I farm with my father Padraig. He’s 81 but still as fit as anything. I’d be totally lost without him. He has a great eye for stock and keeps everything great when I’m away.”

Family: “We have five children; Daithí is 18, Cormac is 15, Róisín is 13, Carragh is 11 and Shóna is 7 and I’m married to Annette."

Bouncing castle: “I’ve a bit of a business as well. I run a bouncing castle business called Roscommon Castles. It’s quiet enough at the minute but it gets very busy around April and May.”

Quotable Quote: “I’ve found the system that works for me. There is a massive expense keeping a suckler cow for the winter. Buying calves means you’re getting more stock at a fraction of the cost.”