4 days ago
Co. Carlow event to celebrate farmers working with nature
Carlow County Council as part of National Heritage Week will hold an event aimed at highlighting farmers that are actively working with nature within the county.
The event will take place on Saturday, August 16 in Myshall Community Hall from 10:30a.m, and is funded by the National Parks and Wildlife Services (NPWS) under the Local Biodiversity Action Fund.
Farmers Eric and Catherine Osborne, Leonie Baldwin and Andrew Lloyd, Richard Brennan, and Michael Purcell have been short-listed to represent Carlow at the 2026 National Farming for Nature Ambassador Awards.
These farmers were chose as a result of their due diligence in protecting nature on their farms.
The event was organised by Carlow County Council biodiversity officer, Shane Casey as part of the Carlow Biodiversity Action Plan.
Casey said: 'Some of the best examples of biodiversity in Co. Carlow occur on farmland, and it's important that we give full credit to the farming families who have been actively managing its conservation - for generations in many cases - and to support this critical role going forward.
'I've always been struck, when visiting farmers around Carlow, of the pride they place in their little corner of the world, and the efforts they take to retain, conserve, and restore nature on their farms.
'I grew up on a farm in the Burren, where farmers are recognised as custodians of that landscape.
"We have high nature value landscapes here in Carlow also, and farmers have always been, and will continue to be, on the frontline of their conservation and restoration, and it's important to acknowledge and support this role.'
The event will be attended by Minister for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity, Christopher O'Sullivan, who will give on opening address, reflecting on the important work these farmers are carrying out.
Farming for Nature creative director, Dr. Brendan Dunford will also speak at the event on the role of an ambassador and the contribution farmers make to conserve and restore nature.
Carlow County Council organised the event in collaboration with Carlow Irish Farmers' Association (IFA), Carlow Irish Countrywomen's Association (ICA), the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine's Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES), and Teagasc.
Organisers say they hope to target both farming and non-farming members of Carlow communities, and celebrate this positive side of farming.
