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I work: “For Noel and Breda Dooley. They have a neighbouring dairy farm with a Friesian cow herd. I do a mix of all jobs on the farm from milking and cow care to slurry and fertiliser. My own family are traditionally beef and sheep farmers.”
Influence: “I have always wanted to go farming from as young as I can remember. My grandfather was a huge influence on me. He engrained a love of farming into us all. Some people ask me why I farm but I cannot give them one reason. You just love it – the outdoors, the animals, all of it.”
Experience: “When I finished school, I really did not have any idea what I wanted to do, so I decided to go to Gurteen for two years and get my Green Cert. Eventually, I want to set up my own farm but for the moment I am trying to gain as much experience as possible. As a young person if you are willing to work and you have a passion for it, there are opportunities.”
Rose of Tralee: “I am delighted to have been selected as the Laois Rose of Tralee 2018. It is a great opportunity to showcase my county and the farming community. It is a hectic schedule but the people I work for have been so good letting me take days off. You find ways to balance it and work.”
Embrace Farm: “I go to the Tullamore Show every year. I’d never miss it. This year, I was part of the Embrace Farm tractor drive launch. It is a great cause and there needs to be more attention paid to farm safety. As my grandfather always said, you need to give both machinery and livestock the respect they deserve.”
Quotable quote: “For me, I just love sheep and lambing and it is my dream to have 1,000 ewes some day.”
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