Winterage Webinar Week

A series of free online webinars in the run up to the Burren Winterage Weekend

Ahead of the Farming for Nature events at the Burren Winterage Weekend, we are hosting a week of free webinars to whet your appetite. These webinars will feature a diverse panel of farmers from across the country discussing key issues in agriculture.

Each event has a separate link and you must register for each one individually.

The Winterage Weekend is a wonderful opportunity to join us in person, connect with like-minded farmers, and enjoy a rich cultural programme including a farm walk in the beautiful Burren, panel discussions, Burren cattle drive and the Annual FFN Ambassador Awards. More details about the Annual Farming For Nature Gathering here.

This webinar series is supported by DAFM & NPWS.

MONDAY 19th: Outwintering Cattle – Pros & Cons – with Clive Bright and Kim McCall

The Burren Winterage festival celebrates the ancient farming practice of overwintering livestock on the limestone hills of the Burren. This practice has been shown to be crucial to sustaining the Burren’s unique biodiversity. With milder winters and increasing costs, many farmers across Ireland are increasingly interested in reducing winter housing and feeding costs: hear from some of these farmers as to how this has worked out for them so far.

Clive Bright is an organic beef farmer from Sligo. More info on his farming system and work for nature here. Kim McCall is an organic beef farmer from Kildare, more info on his farm and work for nature here.

TUESDAY 20th: Using Technology in Upland Farming – with Tommy Reidy and Seanie O’Baoill

Farmers play a vital role in managing our uplands and, with proper support, in optimising the ecosystem services delivered there. However, such extensive farming systems offer poor economic returns while requiring a significant amount of time to manage. Can technology – from virtual fencing to the use of drones – play a role in future-proofing upland farming? Hear from some farmers as to how technology has enabled them to farm their upland areas.

Tommy Reidy is an organic beef and sheep farmer around Castlegregory, Co. Kerry. More info on his farm here. Seanie O’Baoill is an upland farmer from Donegal. More info on his farming system here.

WEDNESDAY 21st: Rangelands and Pastoralism – with Aoife Forde and Will Condon

2026 has been designated by the UN as the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists (IYRP). From our ancient booleying traditions to the renowned Burren Winterage festival, Ireland is very much part of this global celebration of community, culture and heritage. This webinar will hear from two young upland pastoralists who manage extensive ‘rangelands’, describing their farm systems and how they are continually innovating for sustainability.

Will Condon is a producer of 100% grass-fed and grass-finished Irish organic Galloway beef on farm in the foothills of the Knockmealdown Mountains. Aoife Forde is a part-time beef farmer from the Burren in Co. Clare.

THURSDAY 22nd: Women and Farming for Nature – with Sinéad Moran and Blátnaid Gallagher

The UN declared 2026 as the International Year or the Woman Farmer (IYWF). Recent research has suggested that women farmers are often the main drivers behind interest in environmental scheme participation. This webinar features some great exponents of women who ‘farm for nature’ and explores the wider potential of, and obstacles to, engaging more closely with women farmers in meeting our challenging biodiversity and climate targets.  

Sinéad Moran runs a micro-dairy with her family in Co. Mayo. More info on Gleann Buí Farm here. Blátnaid is a sheep farmer from Galway. More info on her farm and work for nature here.

Sign up to our newsletter

Forum logo

Join our forum for farmers to ask questions and share information around farming for nature.

It is set up to encourage and support farmers that are or wish to include nature more in their farming practices. Whilst it is primarily for farmers we welcome users that are able to contribute from related fields.

Scroll to Top