opinion

‘Whatever you do, don’t mess with the Little Folk at Oíche Shamhna'

As we near Samhain, our Desperate Farmhusband considers the small ringfort on his land and some of the stories and fables surrounding it.

FEATURES 21 October 2026

‘Whatever you do, don’t mess with the Little Folk at Oíche Shamhna'

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Colm McCarthy: a national understanding? Or misunderstanding?

Colm McCarthy: a national understanding? Or misunderstanding?

VIEWPOINTS 21 October 2026

Unfair narrative in NI around BCRS

Unfair narrative in NI around BCRS

NORTHERN IRELAND 21 October 2026

Dempsey at Large: The hills: back to square one

Dempsey at Large: The hills: back to square one

Dempsey at Large: The hills: back to square one

VIEWPOINTS 21 October 2026

Home Farm: conditions spur activity

Home Farm: conditions spur activity

Home Farm: conditions spur activity

VIEWPOINTS 21 October 2026

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Colm McCarthy: Russian diesel deal could widen EU-US rift

Colm McCarthy: Russian diesel deal could widen EU-US rift

The US mid-term elections are due on 3rd November and the Democrats could win enough seats to attain majorities in both houses.

VIEWPOINTS 7 October 2026

Home Farm: mucky paddocks, but progress

Home Farm: mucky paddocks, but progress

On the concentrate side, having sold all our grain after the harvest, we are having to buy in.

VIEWPOINTS 7 October 2026

Dempsey at Large: Guinness or Jameson - the mixed story of farming for alcohol

Dempsey at Large: Guinness or Jameson - the mixed story of farming for alcohol

There has been a reassessment of the place of alcohol in our lives, particularly among younger people.

VIEWPOINTS 7 October 2026

NAP policymakers must tread carefully

NAP policymakers must tread carefully

DAERA minister Andrew Muir recently indicated changes will be required to NAP.

NORTHERN IRELAND 7 October 2026

Dempsey at Large: Manure clearing house needed

Dempsey at Large: Manure clearing house needed

Lough Neagh is a reminder of how a sector's reputation can be tarnished.

VIEWPOINTS 7 October 2026

Home Farm: VAT, tax and bills

Home Farm: VAT, tax and bills

We are being forced to either supplement at grass or else have some fields near the yard to which we can let cattle out by day and bring them in for silage with a little meal in the evening.

VIEWPOINTS 7 October 2026

Colm McCarthy: our shrinking fiscal comfort

Colm McCarthy: our shrinking fiscal comfort

A lower surplus and the risk of slipping sooner into deficit is not popular with independent economic commentators.

VIEWPOINTS 7 October 2026

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Know what’s below before you dig

For many farmers, clearing drains, putting in a gate post or a new fence is just another job on the list. But where a gas pipeline runs beneath the land, that routine job can carry significant risks.

Know what’s below before you dig

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