Our farm: “There are approximately 50ac of lowland and 85ac of hillside commonage on the western side of Corca Dhuibhne in west Kerry. I farm with my husband TJ, he is a seasoned professional mariner with extensive experience around the globe. Due to the nature of his work, he is away for extended periods and our sons, Thomas and Miguel, actively contribute to the farm, especially during TJ’s absences. We took over the farm three years ago, following the passing of my father-in-law. TJ’s parents, Paudie and Nora, emigrated to America, but returned to Corca Dhuibhne, fulfilling their dream of purchasing a farm.”
Farming: “Following the passing of TJ’s father, we adapted our farming practices to ensure TJ could continue his work. We adopted a non-intensive approach, focusing on resilient, low-labour animals. Our goal is to produce high-quality stock with excellent temperaments. We began with Blue Texel sheep and later introduced Shorthorn cattle.”
Shorthorns: “We had two maiden heifers in the Southwestern Shorthorn Breeders Club sale in Macroom Mart recently and one, Belmont Broadhoks Vera, achieved the top price. We hope to attend more events like this. The support from the Irish Shorthorn Society has been invaluable. It is definitely a family oriented society, where everyone supports one another.”
Horses: “We breed, purchase and sell Friesian and purebred Spanish horses (PRE), selected for their beauty, trainability and talent in dressage. I’ve been breeding them for the past two decades. This passion stems from my family’s farming heritage in Cantabria in northern Spain. These breeds adapt well to our climate and are esteemed for their outstanding temperaments. As I often say, once you experience these breeds, you won’t desire anything else.”
Fencing: “We use virtual fencing technology, which has greatly simplified the management of the commonage. It allows us to define, adjust and monitor grazing boundaries in real time through a smartphone app, eliminating the need for physical barriers. Each animal has a solar-powered GPS collar that emits an audio cue as they approach the virtual boundary and delivers a mild pulse, but only if they attempt to cross it.”
\ Valerie O'Sullivan
\ Valerie O'Sullivan
\ Valerie O'Sullivan
\ Valerie O'Sullivan
Our farm: “There are approximately 50ac of lowland and 85ac of hillside commonage on the western side of Corca Dhuibhne in west Kerry. I farm with my husband TJ, he is a seasoned professional mariner with extensive experience around the globe. Due to the nature of his work, he is away for extended periods and our sons, Thomas and Miguel, actively contribute to the farm, especially during TJ’s absences. We took over the farm three years ago, following the passing of my father-in-law. TJ’s parents, Paudie and Nora, emigrated to America, but returned to Corca Dhuibhne, fulfilling their dream of purchasing a farm.”
Farming: “Following the passing of TJ’s father, we adapted our farming practices to ensure TJ could continue his work. We adopted a non-intensive approach, focusing on resilient, low-labour animals. Our goal is to produce high-quality stock with excellent temperaments. We began with Blue Texel sheep and later introduced Shorthorn cattle.”
Shorthorns: “We had two maiden heifers in the Southwestern Shorthorn Breeders Club sale in Macroom Mart recently and one, Belmont Broadhoks Vera, achieved the top price. We hope to attend more events like this. The support from the Irish Shorthorn Society has been invaluable. It is definitely a family oriented society, where everyone supports one another.”
Horses: “We breed, purchase and sell Friesian and purebred Spanish horses (PRE), selected for their beauty, trainability and talent in dressage. I’ve been breeding them for the past two decades. This passion stems from my family’s farming heritage in Cantabria in northern Spain. These breeds adapt well to our climate and are esteemed for their outstanding temperaments. As I often say, once you experience these breeds, you won’t desire anything else.”
Fencing: “We use virtual fencing technology, which has greatly simplified the management of the commonage. It allows us to define, adjust and monitor grazing boundaries in real time through a smartphone app, eliminating the need for physical barriers. Each animal has a solar-powered GPS collar that emits an audio cue as they approach the virtual boundary and delivers a mild pulse, but only if they attempt to cross it.”
\ Valerie O'Sullivan
\ Valerie O'Sullivan
\ Valerie O'Sullivan
\ Valerie O'Sullivan
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