The opera singer and her pet sheep: ‘I'm up on stage in my ballgown one night, and the next down on the farm with Ruairí in my wellies'
Born in the spring of 2020, he's what's known as a wether — a castrated male sheep — and, to be honest, wethers are of no benefit whatsoever to any farmer unless they are sold. Normally, he'd be long gone by now, but such a bond developed between us that when his time to go arrived, I just couldn't part with him. So he's living out his life here with me in the fields of Offaly.
He was a quad — one of four lambs — and that's really why he became a pet. When a ewe has as many as four, it's just too many for her to feed herself and that's how Ruairí ended up being bottle fed. Of course, this was right at the beginning of the pandemic and as I was no longer working, I was able to dedicate a lot of my time to minding the sheep on the family farm.
That's how I got so attached to Ruairí — and he to me. When I'd leave him in the shed after feeding him in the early days, he would roar crying, looking for more attention from me — hence his name! My life revolved around the farm animals that year, with my days totally scheduled around feeding times. It wasn't just the practical stuff, though, I also spent an awful lot of time just playing with Ruairí. He was such an affectionate lamb.
Does he recognise me? I can't be sure about that but he definitely feels safe with me; he's used to being around humans and being handled, and that helps when it comes to the bond between us. He's physically big now, much bigger than any of the ewes, but I can still give him cuddles or a bit of a scratch, and he just loves that.
I am on the road a lot nowadays and my performer life is such a contrast to my family life. There I am one night, up on stage and dressed in my ballgown, and then the very next day I'm down on the farm, back with Ruairí and the other animals, and trudging around in my dirty wellies! I love seeing him if I've been away — it's so relaxing and grounding spending time with him.
I joke sometimes that Ruairí likes to imitate me. A couple of years ago, some of our sheep were chased by a stray dog and poor Ruairí got bitten on his ears. I have lots of ear piercings myself, so it's like he is copying me!
Deirdre Higgins is performing with the Irish National Opera in Donizetti's 'L'elisir D'amore' in Dublin, Cork and Wexford this summer, see irishnationalopera.ie
As told to Roslyn Dee
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