Latest news with #AonghusaFahy
Irish Independent
21-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
How farming works – New ‘open experience' coming to Galway showcasing life on the farm
Agri Aware's Open Farm event is kicking off this June in two counties, Kildare and a brand-new Open Farm experience in Galway. Open Farm is the flagship event in Agri Aware's mission of 'enhancing agricultural literacy', hoping to give the public and schoolchildren a unique opportunity to experience a working Irish farm first hand and understand the journey of food from farm to fork. Making its debut this year, the Galway Open Farm will be hosted by Aonghusa Fahy on his beef farm in Ardrahan. The schools day will take place on Thursday, June 12, followed by the public open farm day on Sunday, June 15. Students and the general public will have the opportunity to engage directly with the Fahy's, see modern beef farming in action, and understand the vital role Irish beef farms play in producing high-quality food sustainably. Speaking at the launch of Open Farm 2025, Agri Aware Chairman Shay Galvin said: 'We are delighted to announce the return of Open Farm after the success last year. Bridging the gap between producers and consumers remains a key challenge, but it's one we are committed to addressing. Open Farm gives us a unique opportunity to connect people directly with the farms that produce their food. We're especially looking forward to welcoming schools on Thursday, followed by the public open days in Galway and Kildare over the weekend. Our sincere thanks go to the Doran and Fahy families for generously opening their farms. Thanks to them, visitors will get to see first-hand how Irish food is produced sustainably, with care and dedication.' Galway host farmer Aonghusa Fahy said: 'As generations pass, the connection between food and its origins is increasingly being lost, even in rural communities. We take immense pride in what we do, from the care we give our animals to the quality of food we produce. Through Open Farm, we want to share our story and show the public how we're farming sustainably for the future.' Open Farm is sponsored by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, the National Dairy Council, the Irish Farmers' Association, Tirlán, Our Food Connects, ABP, Teagasc, Kildare Milk Producers Group and the Fresh Milk Producers Group. Agri Aware has teamed up with Agriland Media as the official media partner for Open Farm for 2025.
Agriland
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Agriland
Agri Aware Open Farm 2025 to take place in 2 counties
Agri Aware has announced the return of its flagship Open Farm event which will take place in two counties this year. The agri-food educational body said that the event will return to Co. Kildare, along with a brand-new Open Farm experience in Co. Galway. Open Farm is the major part of Agri Aware's mission of enhancing agricultural literacy, giving the public and schoolchildren a unique opportunity to experience a working Irish farm firsthand and understand the journey of food from farm to fork. Open Farm is a free of charge event with gates open to the public from 10:30am to 5:00pm on both days. Agri Aware The Kildare Open Farm will be hosted on the Doran family's dairy farm in Donadea (W91 DH99). On Thursday, June 13, the farm will welcome over 800 primary school students from Kildare and Dublin for a dedicated schools day. Students will explore how dairy products are made, learn about sustainable farming practices, and develop a deeper appreciation for where the food they consume comes from. On Saturday, June 14, the farm will open to the general public for an educational and interactive day out for all ages. There will be self-guided tours for visitors, a mini-farm village, food demonstrations, kids' games, and the chance to speak with the Doran's about how they care for their animals and the environment. (L-R) Olivia, Kayla, Hallie and Aonghusa Fahy with Agri Aware chair Shay Galvin The Galway Open Farm will be hosted by Aonghusa Fahy on his beef farm in Ardrahan (H91 TPD2). The Schools Day will take place on Thursday, June 12, followed by the public Open Farm Day on Sunday, June 15. Similar to Kildare, students and the general public will have the opportunity to engage directly with the farm family, see modern beef farming in action, and understand the vital role Irish beef farms play in producing high-quality food sustainably. Open Farm is sponsored by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM), the National Dairy Council (NDC), the Irish Farmers' Association (IFA), Tirlán, Our Food Connects, ABP, Teagasc, Kildare Milk Producers Group and the Fresh Milk Producers Group. Agri Aware has teamed up with Agriland Media as the official media partner for Open Farm for 2025. Open Farm Commenting at the launch of Open Farm 2025, Agri Aware chair Shay Galvin said: 'Bridging the gap between producers and consumers remains a key challenge, but it's one we are committed to addressing'. 'Open Farm gives us a unique opportunity to connect people directly with the farms that produce their food. 'We're especially looking forward to welcoming schools on Thursday, followed by the public open days in Galway and Kildare over the weekend. 'Our sincere thanks go to the Doran and Fahy families for generously opening their farms. 'Thanks to them, visitors will get to see first-hand how Irish food is produced sustainably, with care and dedication,' he added. Kildare host farmer Kevin Doran said that he immediately agreed when he was first approached about hosting Open Farm. 'We are passionate as a family in what we do here in terms of producing a sustainable top-quality product with, first and foremost, the welfare of our animals being the top priority. 'To be able to showcase this to both primary school students and the general public as part of Agri Aware's Open Farm is one of excitement for us as a family that we are looking forward to,' he said. Galway host farmer Aonghusa Fahy added: 'As generations pass, the connection between food and its origins is increasingly being lost, even in rural communities. 'We take immense pride in what we do, from the care we give our animals to the quality of food we produce. 'Through Open Farm, we want to share our story and show the public how we're farming sustainably for the future,' he said.
