A new generation of female farmers is making strides in sustainability, enterprise and innovation, and sharing their journeys on social media along the way …
A vintage Massey Ferguson tractor might not be the chosen mode of transport for many women in their 30s, but for Karen Moynihan, a farmer in Kerry, it’s all in a day’s work as she runs the family farm. In what has traditionally been a male-dominated field, with family farms often being passed down to sons rather than daughters, there has been a higher volume of female farmers recorded in recent years across Ireland than ever before, though numbers remain low. According to a 2023 report by the CSO, just 13 per cent of farm-holders in 2023 were women, and of the almost 300,000 farm workers nationwide, 34 per cent were women. Notably, there has been an upward trend of female enrolments in third level agricultural science courses since 2020, which is reflective of the strong interest in agriculture by women in Ireland. Introducing more women to farming is essential to the agri-food industry’s long-term sustainable future – it’s been reported that female farmers are more likely to run organic farms, as is the case with Cynthia Fortune Ryan and Blátnaid Gallagher.
Young farmers like Sophie Bell and Katie Shanahan have started sharing their daily lives on social media in order to encourage a new generation – and girls in particular – to step into farming. Their videos aim to encourage girls and young women towards a life in farming, while providing light entertainment for city slickers who might have an idyllic perception of life in the country. But the grass isn’t always greener. Gender bias isn’t the only issue facing the industry. Challenges around sustainability, livestock illness and disease are ever-present, while low incomes and the solitary nature of the farming life can cause mental health issues. We spoke to eight female farmers about the challenges they face, the benefits of social media in their work, and how they plan to ensure the continued success of their family farms.
THE SUSTAINABLE FARMER
BLÁTNAID GALLAGHER, 53. I run Murray Meadows farm near Aughrim in east Galway with my husband Niall. My mother’s family have deep roots in this land, with census records showing their presence here for several hundred years. I inherited the farm from my mother’s brother. We breed registered Rare Breed Galway Sheep – Ireland’s native sheep breed – along with Connemara ponies, a cherished native pony breed.
I studied Farming and Agri-Business and have a masters in Agriculture Innovation and Enterprise from University of Galway. I always knew that Ireland has a world-renowned wool and knitwear industry, yet I couldn’t understand why we have no domestic market for locally grown Irish wool. As part of my masters research, I became curious about why locally grown Irish wool was missing from the domestic market, I reached out to the Design & Crafts Council of Ireland (DCCI) and soon discovered a key issue: there was no supply chain linking farmers to consumers. “I have spent the last five years working with native Irish wool growers. We developed Galway Wool, with the support of over 40 breeders from across Ireland, to re-establish a true farm-to-consumer wool industry in Ireland. With the right vision, Irish wool could become a pillar of sustainable fashion – reconnecting people with the land and the makers behind what they wear. @thegalwaywoolco_op
THE INCLUSIVE FARMER
SOPHIE BELL, 26: Discussions around succession started very early on in our family – it’s always been an open and positive conversation. But I know that it’s not the situation for everyone. I am currently working on a project with a nonprofit organisation to help give young people who don’t come from a farming background more accessible routes to get started in the agricultural industry.
I work on my family’s dairy farm in Virginia, Co Cavan with my father. When I was young the farm was very small and wasn’t making a profit, so the future was not looking great. I had to take over the family farm during my Leaving Certificate when my father had to move away for work temporarily. It was quite stressful trying to handle everything but that probably helped to set me up and motivated me to progress more in farming. I bought dairy calves when I was a teenager and I used to feed them before school. I studied agriculture and animal science at Harper Adams University in Shropshire in the UK and while I was there I took a parttime job on a dairy farm, so I got experience on the practical side as well as learning the theory. Once I came home I was able to introduce new systems on the farm to make it run more efficiently. We now run a successful contract rearing enterprise, where we rear dairy heifers for a local dairy farmer. For International Women’s Day this year I was chosen to speak at the European Parliament in Brussels and took part in a series with the European Commission. I’m also studying a masters in Agricultural Extension and Innovation at UCD, so life is busy. @sophie_bell__
THE HOPEFUL FARMER
KATIE GLEESON, 40: Like a lot of female farmers, I married into farming and fell in love twice: with my husband, Phil, and subsequently with farming! Some might say it’s a form of agricultural Stockholm syndrome – if you can’t beat them, join them. Our spring-calving, grass-based dairy farm is just outside Templemore in Co Tipperary. Farming is the perfect career for anyone who loves to multi-task. Days are varied; milking cows, herding cattle, bedding calf pens and dashing to the co-op or vets in between school runs and afterschool activities. I’m also studying Agricultural Science and Sustainability at TUS in Thurles and I’m on the national steering committee at Dairy Women Ireland – I’m passionate about our work, which supports women in the dairy sector.
Posting on my Instagram page became a way to show the journey into farming from my perspective (as someone from a “townie” background). I try to share honest, hopeful stories about dairy farming and rural life and the bigger picture of what farming means. Ours is a sixth generation family farm and we want to build on what generations before us have created for us and our children, while adapting to whatever changes come our way, be that climate change, policy, dairy markets, food trends. Dairy farms are primary producers so everything that happens further down the food chain has ramifications within the farm gate. We want our farm to remain a place that provides a good life for our family, produces food with care, and leaves space for nature too. There’s a great sense of purpose that comes with farming. There’s something grounding about working with the land and animals, and being part of something bigger than yourself. It’s not always easy, but it’s meaningful and I love what we are building here. It’s also an exciting sector to be part of, there’s so much innovation in dairy and the people I meet are ambitious and inspiring. @katieinthecountry
THE FASHIONABLE FARMER
CIARA HUNT, 52: Fashion and farming are part of who we are. Once inextricably linked, the farm-to-food and fabric cycle has been broken. With our upcoming Fashion & Farming Festival we’re uniting the two worlds and exploring what we wear, and the earth we share. My mother Mareta is the brains behind it, she’s created festivals before and has been planting and regenerating her land in West Cork for decades. With my background in fashion and my more recent interest in farming, it seemed like a logical connection to start something together.
Myself and my husband bought a small farm six years ago just outside Kinsale. We were bowled over by the views and the beauty of the farm when we first saw it but were equally stunned by the silence. No birds, bees, insects, it was deafeningly quiet. The farm had been tilled for decades and stripped of all nutrients. My first goal was to bring some life and love back into the soil. We stopped all spraying and introduced multi-species grasslands with crop rotation. We planted thousands of native Irish trees, hedgerows and orchards, created wild bird cover and field margins and provided boxes for owls, bats and swifts. Within a few years, the humming, buzzing and movements in the fields has been magical. We’re at the very early stages in the regenerative farming process and will move on to animals and crops in the coming years.
THE ECO-CONSCIOUS FARMER
CYNTHIA FORTUNE RYAN, 48: I didn’t come from a farming background (I previously worked in fashion in London) so have built my herd and learned what I know through hard graft and observation. I now have a small herd of rare breed pedigree Kerry and Dexter cattle, in Johnstownbridge, Co Kildare, and on the hillside in Derrynane, Co Kerry, where I was raised. I adhere to the principles of organic, regenerative farming. I feel it is important to return to a heritage style of farming as a means to produce beef that is both more nutritious, sustainable and also serves to benefit soil heath, carbon sequestration and the eco system. My beef is grass-finished and delivered directly to my customers in beef boxes. The dream would be to open a farm shop one day.
Farming is full of high and low points. My very first Kerry cow has reached the end of her road and will have to go soon, which fills me with sadness. She will have one last summer, happy on grass. But every day, something will stop me in my tracks and make my heart leap. The arrival of a new calf, finding frog spawn in a ditch or the first swallows darting across the yard at the beginning of April. We have had red squirrels here for the last few years and a barn owl who, if you are very lucky, can be spotted at dusk silently sweeping down the drive. It is such a privilege to work in nature and have the time stop and observe. @metcalfeparkbeef
THE ENTERPRISING FARMER
EMILY MC GOWAN, 27: I’m a sixth-generation farmer, working alongside my father, Adrian, on Millbank Farm in Co Down. The farm has been in the family since 1889. I always knew I would return home to the family farm. But I wanted to evolve and change the business to suit areas that excited me, which is why I’ve focused so much on diversification to move the business forward. Launching the Millbank Farm Shop in 2019 was a way to bridge the gap between what we grow and the people who eat it. I’m so grateful that my dad has been so encouraging and supportive of letting me take the reins and pursue the direction I want.
I have always had a big interest in working with food. I studied agriculture at Harper Adams University in the UK, and more recently completed the twelve-week cookery course at Ballymaloe, where I deepened my understanding of food and its connection to farming. My goal wasn’t necessarily to learn how to cook, but to see how they ran the business. I wanted to immerse myself in the world of food and get a firsthand look at how a successful food business and brand operates. One of the biggest challenges I’ve faced was becoming a business owner at a young age. Learning how to run a business, manage finances, lead a team. Recently, I’ve started asking for help from people who have done it before. I’ve realised how valuable it is to learn from those who know the ropes. I’m building something sustainable for the future – not just for me right now, but for the long-term success of the farm. @millbankfarm
THE MULTI-TASKING FARMER
KATIE SHANAHAN, 29: I began sharing content on Instagram and TikTok to promote Irish agriculture and showcase the daily realities of farm life. I want to share more about family farming and encourage young people, especially women, to consider careers in agriculture. I count myself lucky to have a family that never questioned my career choices. My husband even gave me two ewe lambs on our wedding day and I couldn’t have been happier. As well as farming, I work for Herdwatch, a farm management app, teach dancing in the evenings (jive, Irish dancing and line dancing) and I volunteer with Macra na Feirme, where I am chairperson of my local club. I work with my father Raymond and younger brother, Eamon on our family farm outside Clonakilty in West Cork, which includes commercial cattle and pedigree Charolais sheep. Our flock has been extremely successful over the last few years, winning multiple awards – I love the buzz it brings to the household, especially for my dad who puts in a lot of hard work year round.
Of course there are also a lot of challenges that come with farming. The loss of livestock, whether due to disease or market pressures, can really affect a farmer’s mental health. It’s incredibly tough to see animals you’ve cared for go, especially when it feels out of your control. The weight of it all can make it feel like you’re fighting an uphill battle, and it’s something many farmers are silently struggling with. We need more support from the government to help manage these issues, and also more awareness of the mental health challenges that come with farming. Losing livestock isn’t just a financial hit – it’s emotional too, and it can feel isolating. @k8_eeee
THE ACCIDENTAL FARMER
KAREN MOYNIHAN, 37: I run a suckler beef farm in Kerry, but this wasn’t always the plan. I had thought about retiring into farming one day, down the line, but when my dad had a workplace accident resulting in him becoming a full-time wheelchair user, I decided to take on the work on the farm. He still does a lot of the management and advising and I do the physical work. Although spring is a busy time, it’s great to see the new life on the farm as the calves are born and then to follow their journey as they grow. The toughest days are the days when an animal gets sick and despite your best efforts they can’t be saved. Thankfully this is rare but when it does happen it’s difficult to see past it. Initially Dad was hesitant about my TikToks, but now he gets involved and people seem to love the videos of the two of us working together. Videos with my two vintage Massey Fergusons tend to be quite popular too! @karenmoynihanfarm
