Uploaded February 2024 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
‘Growing Biofibre: Farming with Ireland’s Native Sheep Breed’
Blátnaid Gallagher and her husband Niall inherited the family farm in 2016. The land, which is located in Killoran Co. Galway, has been farmed extensively and traditionally for generations. Some of the land is rented and the remaining 17ha contains a mix of forestry, permanent pasture and areas of rewilded land. Blátnaid runs a small flock of pedigree Galway ewes, producing organic lamb and Galway wool. The farm is very extensively managed, with no chemicals used and external inputs are extremely low. The hardy sheep live outdoors year-round, and hay/silage is cut from the land every year to supplement winter feeding. Geese, ponies and donkeys are also kept on the farm, and they all play a role in managing the grassland and fertilising the soil.
11.8ha of the farm has now been dedicated to a NPWS scheme that aims to enhance biodiversity on Irish farms. This will involve managing the grassland to ensure it maintains its rich diversity of native plants, grasses and herbs. Areas of the farm have been rewilded to provide habitat for wildlife. 6ha of unused bogland has been dedicated to a butterfly sanctuary, providing a habitat for the rare Marsh Fritillary butterfly as well as numerous other insects and birds. Mature hedgerows, woodland and nature corridors throughout the land provide habitat for the healthy populations of birds on the farm, as well as badgers, hares, pine marten and foxes.For more information on Blatnaid's farm go to: https://www.farmingfornature.ie/nominees/blatnaid-gallagher/
Our Ask the Farmer Q&As are supported with funding from NPWS and DAFM.
‘Growing Biofibre: Farming with Ireland’s Native Sheep Breed’
Blátnaid Gallagher and her husband Niall inherited the family farm in 2016. The land, which is located in Killoran Co. Galway, has been farmed extensively and traditionally for generations. Some of the land is rented and the remaining 17ha contains a mix of forestry, permanent pasture and areas of rewilded land. Blátnaid runs a small flock of pedigree Galway ewes, producing organic lamb and Galway wool. The farm is very extensively managed, with no chemicals used and external inputs are extremely low. The hardy sheep live outdoors year-round, and hay/silage is cut from the land every year to supplement winter feeding. Geese, ponies and donkeys are also kept on the farm, and they all play a role in managing the grassland and fertilising the soil.
11.8ha of the farm has now been dedicated to a NPWS scheme that aims to enhance biodiversity on Irish farms. This will involve managing the grassland to ensure it maintains its rich diversity of native plants, grasses and herbs. Areas of the farm have been rewilded to provide habitat for wildlife. 6ha of unused bogland has been dedicated to a butterfly sanctuary, providing a habitat for the rare Marsh Fritillary butterfly as well as numerous other insects and birds. Mature hedgerows, woodland and nature corridors throughout the land provide habitat for the healthy populations of birds on the farm, as well as badgers, hares, pine marten and foxes.For more information on Blatnaid's farm go to: https://www.farmingfornature.ie/nominees/blatnaid-gallagher/
Our Ask the Farmer Q&As are supported with funding from NPWS and DAFM.
