Conor Smyth – Ballon Hill, Co Carlow

“We’re sheep and tillage at home, we’ve always talked about getting into cows as well. We came here today and it looks very promising for the future, new entrants can get in [to dairying] and there is someone there to back you.

“I’m studying agriculture in South East Technological University (SETU) – I’m a transfer student so I did my first two years in Kildalton, got my Green Cert and now I’m in SETU to do the degree.

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“Dairy farming is the only way to have a steady, monthly income at the moment. I don’t think my father will ever quite get rid of all the sheep, so we’ll keep a few of them around.”

Dan O’Connor– Lovers Walk, Cork city

“I’m not farming at home, but I was always farming with my uncles in Kilkenny and Tipperary – they’ve beef and sheep. Around the time of my Leaving Cert I got into [relief] milking at home and went working full-time after my Leaving Cert.

“I’m doing agriculture at the moment in SETU, I did my two years in Kildalton, got my Green Cert.

“Hopefully I’ll have my own herd in time or farm. We’ll see what happens. You can make a lovely lifestyle out of farming, I don’t see why more young people don’t get into it.”

Evan Hayden – Dunlavin, Co Wicklow

“We’ve a small beef farm at home, we’re finishing cattle. We had sucklers and we got out of them eight or 10 years ago.

“Even back before I was born the farm was leased for a while when there was no money in cattle.

“I’d say in the future we’ll probably stay in beef, but if I got a farm myself I’d use it [the home farm] as an out farm for rearing calves.

“The outlook for farmers at the minute is good for young farmers but if nitrates comes in and cow numbers have to drop I don’t know where things are going to stand.”