William Mulhall

Location: Allenwood, Co. Kildare
Farm Size: 66 ha grassland + 30 ha forestry
Farm Enterprise: Organic beef

Can Beef Production and Biodiversity Go Hand in Hand?

Farming 66 hectares of grassland and 30 hectares of mixed forestry in Allenwood, Co. Kildare, William Mulhall runs a low-input, organic calf-to-beef system that places biodiversity and soil health at the heart of everything. Since converting to organics in 2015, he has moved toward a more self-reliant, closed-loop model that reduces external inputs while maintaining productivity.

A Closed-Loop System that Works with Nature

Willie describes his farming approach as "home bred and home fed” - a system where all animal feed is produced on-farm. He grows combi crops and multi-species swards, manages pastures through a form of mob grazing, and times calving with grass growth to minimise feed needs. His Speckle Park cattle, one of the first herds in Ireland, are hardy and well-suited to this low-input model. As Treasurer of the Speckle Park Society, he’s also helping to raise the breed’s profile nationally.

Boosting Biodiversity, One Habitat at a Time

Willie’s participation in the Protecting Farmland Pollinators EIP saw him more than double his farm’s pollinator score, leading to a deepened commitment to wildlife across the land. Solitary bee nests, kestrel and owl boxes, and moth monitoring are now regular features of his work. He contributes data to the National Biodiversity Data Centre and collaborates with BirdWatch Ireland.

The hedgerows on the farm, managed on a three-year rotation, support species like guelder rose, spindle, blackthorn, and holly, and act as vital corridors for both wildlife and shelter for livestock. Wild orchids have returned to permanent pastures and field corners.

"We don’t get excited about scruffy bits now that we can see what they can do."

Forests, Red Squirrels, and a Self-Reliant Way to Farm

Willie manages around 30 hectares of mixed forestry, including areas under continuous cover. He plans to increase the number of Scots pine in his native woodland planting, hoping to support red squirrels, whose occasional appearances still brighten his day. He sees the farm as a living system that’s still finding balance and he’s giving it the time and space to do so.

Connecting Farm, Community, and Climate

Beyond the farm gate, Willie is an active voice for biodiversity and sustainable farming. He’s a member of the Irish Organic Association, a founding member of the local Allenwood community garden, and participates in Bee-Friendly Farmers and knowledge-sharing events. Through social media, farm walks, and public talks, he shares practical biodiversity solutions and the rewarding outcomes of his experiences.

Willie is also known for his charity BBQs hosted on-farm, bringing together friends, family, and neighbours to raise funds for community causes. He’s committed to building a system that’s not just productive, but also balanced, resilient, and deeply rooted in place.

NOMINATOR: Saorla Kavanagh, Teagasc
NOMINATION:
Willie Mulhall runs an organic calf to beef suckler system in county Kildare. He has a “home bred, home fed” moto and is managing Speckle Park cattle. He farms 158 acres of grassland and 70 acres of mixed forestry under continuous cover. Willie has great interest and knowledge in nature and the environment. He transfers this knowledge to farmers, the local community, national and international governments and his children. He has adopted a very low input system to allow nature to find a balance in order to maximise the ecosystem services on the farm. He is looking for a simpler way of farming rather than an intense, high input, high-cost regime. He is watching and waiting for the natural balance of the farm to reshuffle since he converted to Organic five years ago and aims to eliminate as many inputs as possible.

He changed his management to suit the local environment. He is calving late to tie calving in with grass growth. He grows clover, combi crops, and mixed species swards and has a number of permanent pastures rich in floral diversity including many species of orchids. Willie experiments on his farm to try to find new ways to help biodiversity that have knock on effects for farm economics. By increasing birds of prey on the farm, he has eliminated the need for rodenticides. He maximises the benefits of his hedgerows for biodiversity and livestock by cutting hedges on a 3-year rotation.

Willie is a member of the Irish Organic Association and the Bee Friendly Farmers WhatsApp Group. He monitors Moths on his farms and submits data to the National Biodiversity Data Centre. He has worked with BirdWatch Ireland to install Kestrel and Owl boxes on the farm. As well as farm walks, he hosts and coordinates fundraising BBQs to bring friends and family together on the farm to raise funds for different charitable organisations.

There are visiting Lapwing and Curlew on the farm. He has created solitary bee nesting sites as part of the Protecting Farmland Pollinators EIP Project. He more than doubled his whole farm pollinator score within the course of the project. He has helped to promote pollinators and biodiversity and communicate what actions can be taken to help pollinators on the farm through, social media, hosting farm walks and though public speaking. Willie is looking to improve biodiversity and his work life balance while maintaining a productive farming system.

Willie is also a founding member of a new local community garden project in Allenwood.