Kerry Social Farming held its annual meeting at the Brehon Hotel, Killarney on Friday.

Pictured at the Kerry Social Farming Annual Meeting in the Brehon Hotel, Killarney on Friday from left were: Martin Murphy, Shane Savage and Stephen Faley. Photo: Don MacMonagle

Pictured at the Kerry Social Farming Annual Meeting in the Brehon Hotel, Killarney on Friday from left were: Eamonn O'Reilly (NEWKD), John Stack (NEWKD), Belinda Gascoine, Joe McCrohan, Tony Donnelly and Mike O'Donoghue. Photo: Don MacMonagle

Pictured at the Kerry Social Farming Annual Meeting in the Brehon Hotel, Killarney on Friday from left were: Earl Leahy (Valentia Island), Breda O'Sullivan (Glenbeigh), Breda O'Sullivan (Killorglin), Breda McNamara (St John of God) and Stephen Faley (Listowel). Photo: Don MacMonagle

Pictured at the Kerry Social Farming Annual Meeting in the Brehon Hotel, Killarney on Friday from front l-r: Martin Murphy, Earl Leahy, Minister Norma Foley, Breda OÕSullivan, Cian Begley. Back l-r: Stephen Faley, John Fleming, Pat OÕConnor, Mike OÕConnor, Cathal Moriarty and Shane Savage. Photo: Don MacMonagle

Pictured at the Kerry Social Farming Annual Meeting in the Brehon Hotel, Killarney on Friday from front l-r: Martin Murphy, Earl Leahy, Minister Norma Foley, Breda OÕSullivan, Cian Begley, Eamon Horgan (Chair of Kerry Social Farming Working Group). Back l-r were: Evelyn OÕConnell (KSF Facilitator), Stephen Faley, Luke Myers (Kerry Eco-Social Farming Officer), Noel Spillane (CEO SKDP), John Fleming, Joe McCrohan (Rural Development Manager SKDP). Pat OÕConnor, Mike OÕConnor, Eamon OÕReilly (CEO NEWKD), John Stack (Chair of Board of NEWKD), Cathal Moriarty, Shane Savage, Rena Blake (KSF facilitator). Photo: Don MacMonagle

Pictured at the Kerry Social Farming Annual Meeting in the Brehon Hotel, Killarney on Friday from front l-r were: Eamon Horgan, Karen Tetteroo, Mike Hennessy (KSF Working Group member representing Down Syndrome Kerry), Joan Brosnan and Joe McCrohan (SKDP). Back (l-r) Billy Jo OÕConnor, Jan Tetteroo, Mike OÕShea, Breeda OÕSullivan, Mary Fleming, Tom Sears, Rena Blake, Peter Curran, and Dawn Roberts. Photo: Don MacMonagle

Pictured at the Kerry Social Farming Annual Meeting in the Brehon Hotel, Killarney on Friday were: Eamonn Horgan, Chair of Kerry Social Farming Working Group with Minister for Education Norma Foley. Photo: Don MacMonagle

It followed a break of a number of years when the event was held online.

A large attendance heard from host farmers and social farming participants about the importance of social farming in their daily lives. Chairman of KSF Working Group Éamon Horgan, emphasised the need for secure and consistent funding for the project, which has expanded from four farms in 2013 to over 30 farms currently, with weekly social farming opportunities now being provided to over 50 people across Kerry.

Education Minister Norma Foley TD was guest speaker and commended what she described as a ‘life enriching’ project. She noted the various disciplines whose skills and generosity contributed to the success of Kerry Social Farming and reaffirmed the current Government’s commitment to social farming.