This year’s date & location: The Town Hall, Gort, Co.Galway 28th October 2023.
The annual Farming For Nature Gathering and network day will be held on Saturday of the October Bank Holiday, in the Burren, Co.Clare & Galway as part of the Burren Winterage Weekend each year. This will be a day of farm walks and panel discussions held between 10am-5pm, followed by entertainment (with very special guests) and the annual Farming For Nature Ambassador Awards from 7-9.30pm. This event allows us to come together to celebrate farmers across Ireland who are striving to work alongside nature, and to share ideas on how these great custodians might best be supported at a time of great challenge and opportunity. All farmers and other interested parties who want to be part of this discussion and know more about farming for nature are welcome to attend.
All farmers and other interested parties who want to be part of this discussion and learn more about farming for nature are welcome to attend.
Outline
10.30am– 11am Registration/ Tea & coffee
Join us for tea/coffee and meet fellow farming for nature farmers/interested parties.
11am– 12pm Welcome followed by a discussion on Agri policy & economics
FFN Welcome with manager Brigid Barry followed by a discussion on how current and upcoming policy and economics is/might influence and impact at farm level. Led by Dr James Moran (GMIT) and Dr Lawrence Dooley (UCC)
12pm-1.15pm Panel 1: Building Resilience: adapting to a rapidly changing world
We are undoubtedly in a period of unprecedented change and challenge, particularly for farmers. As a food exporter, Ireland is very exposed to global markets – and the pandemics, wars and supply chain issues that affect them. Farmers are also the focus of rapidly evolving EU policy and national ‘sustainability’ strategies. Climate change is bringing droughts and floods and increased unpredictability. So how can individual farmers build resilience in the face of these ongoing changes?
Farming For Nature Ambassadors & Panellists:
Cathal O Rourke (Direct selling) Beef farmer, Co. Clare
Kim McCall (Nature based solutions – ponds, woodlands etc) Beef farmer, Co. Kildare
Gearoid Maher (Cutting costs) Dairy Farmer, Co. Limerick
Mona Muller (Diversifying income streams) Mixed Stock farmer, Co. Galway
Chaired by farmer and journalist Hannah Quinn Mulligan (5 mins each with Q&A with the audience)
1.15pm-2.15pm Light lunch provided in the hall.
2.15pm-3.30pm Panel 2: Farming & social sustainability: the forgotten pillar?
With the focus on the economic and environmental sustainability of farming, are we in danger of eroding the social sustainability of a sector which is the lifeblood of rural Ireland? Dol efficiency-based solutions to climate, increased incentives for forestry and the growing interest in rewilding pose a risk for farming communities and cultures? Do we undervalue the contribution farmers can make in terms of community health and wellbeing?
Farming For Nature Ambassadors & Panellists:
Tommy Earley (Social farming) Mixed stock farmer, Co. Roscommon
Fergal Smith (Community gardening) Mixed stock farmer, Co. Clare
Colm Gavin ((The importance of the hill farm) Sheep farmer, Co. Mayo
Kate Egan (Feeding the community) Horticulturalist, Co. Westmeath
Chaired by Dr Brendan Dunford (5 mins each – followed by Q&A with the audience)
All the above is organised with support from DAFM and NPWS
3.30pm-4pm Break
4pm-5pm The Annual Farming For Nature Ambassador Awards
Presentation of the 2023 Farming For Nature Ambassador Awards. Facilitated by Ella McSweeney.
Organised with support from the Bord Bia Origin Green Programme
5pm-6pm Free to enjoy local eateries etc
6pm-7.30pm Cultural event – ‘A Winterage Session’ – an evening of poetry, music, images and storytelling on the theme of farming traditions with poet Jane Clarke, authors Dan Saladino and Max Jones, and traditional musician Jack Talty.
8pm (Gathering in the Lady Gregory for meet/greet/rugby watching)
Booking:
€15 for the event (this nominal change is to help us prevent no-shows and to contribute to the unfunded cost of Farming For Nature in hosting this event.)
Capacity in Gort Town Hall: 100 people
Burren Cattle Drive
Sunday 29th October (10am-3pm)
The Annual Community Cattle Drive and Food Fayre (BellHarbour). Booking required to receive directions (approximately 30mins from Gort). The food fayre will be held from 10am with food tastings and demonstrations. The drive will start at 12pm. It is a two hour walk on uneven ground so wear the right gear! Don’t forget the hour change!
To book this and more details of other events happening at the Burren Winterage Weekend including walks and other events across the Burren go to
Booking on this Farming For Nature network day does not necessary give entry to other events over the weekend. Please see the booking details of these events on the above site.
View a quick overview of the 2021 Burren Winterage School and Cattle Drive here:
