The sun shone bright for the second day of National Social Farming Awareness Week 2023 when Richard and Áine Galway held a very successful Social Farming Open Day on their beautiful farm outside Thomastown. It was a great gathering of participants, services, neighbours and friends and farmers, some of whom had travelled from as far as Waterford, Tipperary and Kildare. All were keen to gain an insight into what Social Farming is all about and to what the Galway farm has to offer to participants. Social Farming is about providing opportunities and activities on ordinary family farms as a form of social support. People come to a social farm, usually one day a week, and get to be part of whatever is happening on the farm on that day, with huge benefits and real outcomes across multiple dimensions of health and well-being. “Our social farms are both ordinary and extraordinary places,” noted Social Farming Ireland National Coordinator Helen Doherty, speaking during the week. “They provide such huge variety and choice for people regardless of their interests or capacities. People can get involved in every kind of activity, from caring for animals to walking the land to growing food from seed to harvest to maintenance activities like scraping the yard or power washing to cooking in the farm kitchen.”placeholder image
The sun shone bright for the second day of National Social Farming Awareness Week 2023 when Richard and Áine Galway held a very successful Social Farming Open Day on their beautiful farm outside Thomastown. It was a great gathering of participants, services, neighbours and friends and farmers, some of whom had travelled from as far as Waterford, Tipperary and Kildare. All were keen to gain an insight into what Social Farming is all about and to what the Galway farm has to offer to participants. Social Farming is about providing opportunities and activities on ordinary family farms as a form of social support. People come to a social farm, usually one day a week, and get to be part of whatever is happening on the farm on that day, with huge benefits and real outcomes across multiple dimensions of health and well-being. “Our social farms are both ordinary and extraordinary places,” noted Social Farming Ireland National Coordinator Helen Doherty, speaking during the week. “They provide such huge variety and choice for people regardless of their interests or capacities. People can get involved in every kind of activity, from caring for animals to walking the land to growing food from seed to harvest to maintenance activities like scraping the yard or power washing to cooking in the farm kitchen.”

‘Ordinary and extraordinary’ - Kilkenny family farm showcases Social Farming

Sian Moloughney
By Sian Moloughney

Reporter

Published 14th Oct 2023, 13:00 BST

Key to the development of Social Farming has been ongoing support and funding from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine which has enabled the development of the Social Farming Network, Social Farming Ireland. The Galways’ beautiful, organic farm certainly provides a haven and a hub, a busy family farm with a great variety of activities and animals. On the day, Gillian McCarthy the Social Farming Regional Development Officer with Waterford Leader Partnership welcomed everyone and explained what Social Farming is about. Richard Galway spoke about his positive experience of Social Farming, including his connections with Camphill and how his family are also becoming involved in the Social Farming experience. George Dewberry, a social farmer from Callan, told the crowd how all his senses are awakened when out in nature and he can see social farming being of immense benefit to those who avail of it.

1.

Key to the development of Social Farming has been ongoing support and funding from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine which has enabled the development of the Social Farming Network, Social Farming Ireland. The Galways’ beautiful, organic farm certainly provides a haven and a hub, a busy family farm with a great variety of activities and animals. On the day, Gillian McCarthy the Social Farming Regional Development Officer with Waterford Leader Partnership welcomed everyone and explained what Social Farming is about. Richard Galway spoke about his positive experience of Social Farming, including his connections with Camphill and how his family are also becoming involved in the Social Farming experience. George Dewberry, a social farmer from Callan, told the crowd how all his senses are awakened when out in nature and he can see social farming being of immense benefit to those who avail of it.

A highlight of the day was hearing from Michael of Camphill Communities who told everyone of his love and knowledge of vintage tractors and tractor runs. Coming to the farm has enabled Michael to learn more and to contribute as he helps Richard maintain the tractors on his farm. Michael’s presence and enthusiasm has brought such joy to their farm that Áine Galway was moved to say after he spoke that “every farm should have a Michael!”. A walk around the farm with Áine and Richard and their sons Deiric and Darragh gave an opportunity to see the horses, donkey and rare breed cattle. One of the regular social farming participants, Liam called the cattle and fed them. There was plenty of noise coming from the pigsty where the two potbellies were willing to pose for photos. Darragh introduced the alpacas and their two baby crias, telling us history and how to care for them. Social Farming Ireland thank the Galway family and everyone involved in this very successful open day. For further information on Social Farming contact Gillian McCarthy, Social Farming Ireland Regional Development Officer in the Southeast. Email gillian.mccarthy@wlp.ie or phone 087 2311061

2.

A highlight of the day was hearing from Michael of Camphill Communities who told everyone of his love and knowledge of vintage tractors and tractor runs. Coming to the farm has enabled Michael to learn more and to contribute as he helps Richard maintain the tractors on his farm. Michael’s presence and enthusiasm has brought such joy to their farm that Áine Galway was moved to say after he spoke that “every farm should have a Michael!”. A walk around the farm with Áine and Richard and their sons Deiric and Darragh gave an opportunity to see the horses, donkey and rare breed cattle. One of the regular social farming participants, Liam called the cattle and fed them. There was plenty of noise coming from the pigsty where the two potbellies were willing to pose for photos. Darragh introduced the alpacas and their two baby crias, telling us history and how to care for them. Social Farming Ireland thank the Galway family and everyone involved in this very successful open day. For further information on Social Farming contact Gillian McCarthy, Social Farming Ireland Regional Development Officer in the Southeast. Email [email protected] or phone 087 2311061

3.

4.

Related topics:Thomastown
Powered by
Register
Follow us
© 2026 Formpress Publishing LTD. All rights reserved.Cookie SettingsTerms and ConditionsPrivacy notice