Over 80 people came to learn more about social farming at the farm of Michael Joe and Brid Murphy in Slaheny, Kilgarvan in last week.

Farmers, social farming participants, service providers, social farming projects from across Ireland, support services and local representatives were among the large attendance, who heard from a range of speakers about how social farming in Kerry is operating and its potential to expand to assist older people and those living with dementia.
The event, organised by South Kerry Development Partnership (SKDP) through Kerry Social Farming was part of a visit by FarmElder research group, who are studying the role of social farming for older people at a European level.

Claire McAuliffe (Teagasc Advisor) and members of KSF Working Group, outlined how dairy farms can be ideal venues for social farming. They provide a variety of activities, which change depending on the season. For the benefit of guests, Claire outlined how the dairy farming system works on the Murphy farm and how factors such weather and markets can impact farming life. She noted how farmers and their families provide a welcoming environment for social farming and are conscious of safety as part of their farming operations.

Dr Brendan O’Keeffe (O’Keeffe Research) told the gathering that he is currently completing an Evaluation of KSF and how the growth of the project, which now has 40 active farms and over 60 participants, has been guided by the framework from a previous Evaluation which he and colleagues did in 2017. The potential for social farming for older people is one of a number of new avenues which KSF can follow. He noted the strength of the partnership approach and the advantages of the long-term relationship which develops between host farmer, their family and the participant who comes to their farm.

Anni and Josef Hindelang, who run a social farm in the foothills of the Bavarian Alps, shared their story through a video about their farm. Since 2020, they have hosted older people with dementia, their family members and carers on the farm twice a month.

The gathering also heard from Danny Healy-Rae TD and Mayor of Kenmare Municipal District, Cllr Patrick Connor-Scarteen.

The attendance brought together the groups operating social farming across Ireland, with Rachel Budd (IRD Duhallow social farming), Debbie Kelleher (Field of Dreams, Cork) and Eadaoin O’Connell (Social Farming Ireland Development Officer, West Limerick Resources) among the attendance.

More information about the project is on their website www.farmedler.eu and information on Kerry Social Farming can be viewed at www.kerrysocialfarming.ie or by contacting Joseph McCrohan (087) 284 9165 or jmccrohan@skdp.net.