by Liz Mahony

The first couple of lines from Rudyard Kipling’s poem, ‘If’, came to mind the other day: “If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs!..”

One of my neighbour’s hens had forced her way through the metal confines of her run. She was happily plucking away at the grass and earth in the garden area, totally oblivious to my consternation and Saffron’s interest!

Receiving no reply from my text to said neighbour, I realised the situation was solely in my hands. I approached the problem in totally the wrong way forgetting about my professional dog training skills. Thus I tried to hem her in assuming she would return back into the run through her escape route. But, she had other ideas! She wasn’t going to give up her new-found freedom that easily, proceeding to run hither and thither like the proverbial ‘headless chicken’. Please forgive the deliberate pun!

My actions panicked her further, so she kept trying to force her way back into the run by sticking her head into various narrow spaces in the metal fence, through which the latter part of her body had no hope of following! Then Saffron decided I needed her help and got rather excited. Having twice despatched her offers of assistance with a ‘flea in her ear’, I took a deep breath, slowing down to take stock of what, if anything, I had currently achieved! The first realisation was that my efforts so far had only exaggerated the circumstances. Gathering my wits, I went off to get a cup of hen food and opened the main gate to the run after grabbing a towel from the kitchen.

The towel was a last resort. I didn’t fancy handling her, as I was certain to get pecked or clawed in the ensuing debacle. If the worst came to the worst, I might have to throw the towel over her and then secure her with a rugby tackle! Fortunately, it didn’t come to that! Instead I began to review the situation in a more grounded manner.

Firstly, I chucked some hen food into the run to keep the other hens focused on food rather than also escaping through the open gate to join their wayward companion in her escapade. That worked except the lady on the outside decided she didn’t want to miss that food, so she once more vainly attempted to force her way back through the metal bars instead of through the open hole that I’d intentionally aligned with the food inside. I’d imagined she might be clever enough to remember the hole and go back through it again. What a vain hope!

After another deep breath, I backed away from her even further to encourage her to come nearer to the open gate and out of the paddock to which she kept seeking refuge from me. The danger with the paddock was that it had two equine inhabitants who would either have crushed her under their hooves or chased her around the field and panicked her even further. But, luckily, they were oblivious to the excitement.

Steadying my nerves, I slowly advanced on her from the opposite direction to the open gate and began shaking the container with the remaining food. At first, that

made her run the other side of the open gate between it and the fencing and more vain attempts to squeeze through more narrow, unrelenting gaps! Time for me to back away again.

Taking yet more deep breaths, I slowly approached her again. Each time she ran the wrong side of the gate until finally she strutted inside, as though nothing untoward had happened, rejoining her companions while I slammed the gate shut. Heaving a sigh of relief I rewarded them all with the remains of the feed and blocked up the hole in the fence.

And what has the above got to do with dog training, I hear you ask? In a word: Everything! Just bear with me for a little longer. At the beginning of this episode, I, too, was running around like that proverbial ‘headless chicken’, and getting nowhere. I couldn’t even think of a solution, let alone do anything constructive. At the beginning, I didn’t even contemplate that my training skills might possibly apply across a spectrum of animals.

However once I took myself in hand, employed deep breaths, my brain started working again, and a plan unfolded effortlessly. The panicked hen no longer sensed my own trepidation so she calmed down too which then allowed a greater chance for my plan to work.

The moral of my story is that if we, ourselves, lack self control when dealing with our own pets, how can we expect our dogs to show restraint since they copy everything we do?

by John Hosford

As we move into May, we hope the days are finally warming up, but gardeners must remain vigilant. Beware of cold nights early in the month. While those living near the coast may have seen the last of the frosts, venturing just five or eight miles inland can bring you into contact with late seasonal freezes. Always keep a watchful eye on the forecast and keep frost protection fleece, cloches, or cold frames ready to protect your tender plants.

Watering

Preparation for drier days is essential this month. Install taps in strategic locations, particularly in or adjacent to your greenhouse, cloches, and frames, as well as near hanging baskets, window boxes, and patio containers. For those with numerous containers or recent plantings, an automated watering system with a time clock is a worthwhile investment, especially if you plan to be away for prolonged periods.

To manage resources effectively, conserve and store water in water butts. Mulching beds and borders with bark mulch or well-composted farmyard or stable manure will further conserve moisture and suppress weeds. If you cannot source manure locally, consider ‘Gee-up’, made in Blarney, Co. Cork. When sourcing any manure, ensure it is free from weed seeds or roots.

Vegetables

May is a busy month for both indoor and outdoor sowing. If you have not yet started courgettes, pumpkins, squashes, vegetable marrows, sweet corn, runner beans, or French beans, these may be sown indoors early this month. Sowing seeds individually in 9-12cm biodegradable pots helps cut down on waste and minimises transplanting shock. These can be planted out at the end of the month or in early June once they have been thoroughly hardened-off.

Continue successional sowing of beetroot, cabbage, carrots, salad onions, lettuce, radishes, swedes, and turnips outdoors, sowing thinly in well-prepared soil. Celery can be planted out towards the end of the month, while cauliflower and broccoli should be sown now for a spring 2027 harvest.

Brussels sprouts can be moved into their final cropping quarters now, spaced 90cm apart with 90cm between rows. As they occupy space for a long period, you can optimise the ground by intercropping with quick-maturing crops like lettuce, radishes, or kohl rabi. Protect sprouts against cabbage root fly by placing cabbage collars around the neck of the plants immediately after planting. In autumn, ensure they are supported with robust stakes to prevent wind rock, and use Enviromesh to deter caterpillars and pigeons.

Fruit

To ensure a clean harvest, tuck straw under strawberries to protect the fruits from rotting and to prevent soil splashing onto them. Newly planted fruit trees and bushes require consistent watering during dry spells. Additionally, currants, gooseberries, raspberries, and loganberries will benefit greatly from an application of well-rotted farmyard manure, garden compost, or spent mushroom compost.

Under Cover

Now is the time to plant up hanging baskets and containers, keeping them indoors and frost-free until the end of the month. Gradually acclimatise them to the outdoors as they establish. Bedding plants, geraniums, and fuchsias should also be hardened off in preparation for summer displays.

Tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, and aubergines are ready for larger pots or grow bags. Opt for the deepest grow bags available, as shallow versions dry out too quickly. Ensure plants are not crowded, as proper spacing reduces the risk of disease, mould, and pests. Cordon tomatoes require regular tying and side-shooting; snap off small shoots with your thumb and forefinger, or use a sharp, disinfected knife for larger ones to prevent the spread of viral diseases.

Glasshouse management is crucial as temperatures rise. Apply shading using a wash or fit roller blinds to the exterior. Alternatively, fine mesh netting can be used on sunny days. Morning watering and ‘damping down’ paths will increase humidity and discourage red spider mites. Weekly feeding with an organic seaweed-based fertiliser is recommended for all indoor and container plants. For a unique touch, plant ‘Tumbling Tom’ tomatoes or cascading herbs in hanging baskets.

Keep a sharp lookout for pests such as whitefly, greenfly, vine weevil, and lily beetles. Lily beetles are easily identified by their bright red colour and should be removed by hand to prevent damage to leaves and flowers. Biological controls for various pests can be sourced from Mr. Middleton in Dublin or Fruit Hill Farm in Bantry.

Lawns

Mow established lawns regularly and apply feed if you have not already done so. Any remaining tasks for sowing new lawns should be completed early this month to allow for establishment before the peak heat of summer.

Hardy Annuals

Sow hardy annuals in informal drifts for a natural look. In one-sided borders, position taller varieties at the back, tapering down to the front; for island beds, place the tallest plants in the centre. Avoid making the soil too rich, as this can encourage foliage at the expense of flowers.

Excellent varieties for May sowing include Eschscholzia (Californian poppy), Limnanthes (Scrambled Eggs), Nigella, Calendula, and Nasturtiums. Echium ‘Blue Bedder’ is particularly attractive to bees, while others like Orlaya, Ammi, and Poppy “Ladybird” provide wonderful texture and colour.

Chelsea Flower Show

A true highlight of the gardening calendar, the Chelsea Flower Show takes place this year from May 19-23 in the grounds of The Royal Hospital, Chelsea. For those unable to attend in person, the BBC provides extensive coverage, offering a wonderful insight into the world-class show gardens and floral displays.

Materials: 

•  3 toilet rolls

•  4 different colour paints…one of which is green

•  Scissors

•  Black paper or card

•  Paint brush

•  Cotton wool

•  Saucer or plate

Snip approx half an inch up around the base of the first toilet roll. Then splay out where you have cut.

Repeat this process with the second toilet roll, making longer snips about an inch up.

Repeat with third toilet roll, an inch-and-a-half-up.

Squeeze out the first colour paint (for your outer petals) onto a saucer.

Use the toilet roll with the largest cuts first, dipping it into your paint so that the bottom of the splayed out (petals) are completely covered. Then – thinking about where you want your flowers – press down on to your black paper to make a petal print.

Repeat this step two more times on different parts of the paper.

Next, with your second toilet roll (the middle-sized one) choose a different colour paint, dipping it in and imprinting it into the middle of the flowers.

 Repeat this step with the third colour paint.

With your cotton wool, dip into the same colour paint that you used for the outer petals and dab into the centre of your flowers.

Use your green paint to paint the stems and leaves.

There you have it, a beautiful bunch of flowers! Make as many of these as you like, experimenting with different colours.

A natural beauty, exuding calmness, confidence, and a quiet dignity, Fiona Carson grew up on the family farm about four kilometres west of Schull, where she lives today after converting the ruins of an old building where she played as a child into her home. Fiona speaks proudly of her roots. Her maiden name, O’Mahony, has a long and rich history in this part of West Cork. The O’Mahony clan once ruled a significant part of West Cork in the early seventeenth century. Fourteen of their castles were built along the coastline, and many of them still remain today. The closest to Fiona’s home is Leamcon Castle, while one of the oldest is Dunlough Castle, also known as ‘Three Castle Head’.

Fiona works remotely as an accountant for a group of companies based in Killarney. Working this way allows her to stay at home and enjoy life surrounded by nature.

She tries to spend as much of her free time outdoors as possible. She loves long walks along the country roads with her collie, enjoys gardening, and in summer swims from the local pier about a mile from the house. Another of her passions is yoga.

Interestingly, there was once a very different side to her life – together with her husband, she competed in ballroom dancing. At that time, her wardrobe was full of long, flowing dresses embellished with sequins and crystal jewellery. These days, she rarely thinks about fashion, as most of her time is spent at home or around the village. But when an occasion does arise, she still enjoys wearing something beautiful and elegant, although comfort always remains her priority.

For Fiona fashion comes down to personal taste. If a person carries themselves with confidence – head held high and shoulders back – they can look wonderful in any outfit. She also believes that women today are placed under too much pressure, even when it comes to something as personal as hair colour. She has chosen to embrace natural change and calmly watches her hair gradually transform from brunette to a beautiful silver shade.

When I invited Fiona to take part in my photoshoot, she was surprised. But she decided to take the opportunity – to step outside her comfort zone and try something completely new.

Look 1

A beautiful example of modern understated elegance, where comfort and style are perfectly balanced.

The main focus is a soft beige poncho with fringe. Its relaxed silhouette creates beautiful movement and brings a sense of lightness to the outfit. The chocolate roll-neck underneath adds depth and makes the look feel more polished and composed.

Slim turned-up jeans balance the volume of the top, while leopard-print ballet flats bring character and a contemporary edge – exactly the kind of detail that makes an outfit feel alive and interesting.

The accessories are kept simple and considered: statement earrings and wide bracelets support the colour palette and add individuality.

This is the look of a modern woman who chooses comfort while remaining elegant.

Stylist’s tip: If you wear volume on top, always balance it with a slimmer shape below or show the ankle – it visually lengthens the silhouette and keeps the outfit feeling light.

Look 2

Depth of colour and understated femininity with character.

A monochrome look in a rich turquoise-blue shade creates a refined, elegant silhouette. The pleated dress adds softness and movement, while the leather jacket structures the outfit and brings in a sense of modern confidence.

The jewellery becomes the main accent here – a bold necklace and matching earrings deepen the colour story and make the look more expressive, almost artistic.

Simple shoes complete the composition without drawing attention away from it.

This is the look of a woman who combines strength and refinement while staying true to herself and her personal style.

Stylist’s tip: Don’t be afraid to build an outfit around one colour – play with different textures, such as leather, knitwear, and silk, to make it feel layered and stylish.

Look 3

Confident eclecticism.

The paisley-print dress sets the tone: feminine, dynamic, and instantly eye-catching. The soft silhouette and midi length make it versatile, while the belt defines the waist, adding structure and balance.

A contrasting leather jacket brings modernity and a subtle edge to the look – it is exactly this element that grounds the romantic feel of the dress and makes the outfit feel more current.

The accessories work as accents: a small textured bag and jewellery in turquoise tones echo the print, creating harmony in the details. Gold-toned shoes add light and a sense of completion.

This is the look of a woman who is not afraid to combine prints, textures, and character – and does so with ease and natural confidence.

Stylist’s tip: With a strong print, add one grounding piece – such as a leather jacket. It makes the outfit feel modern and stops it from looking too dressy or overloaded.

Stylist and photographer: Galyna Zaitseva.

by Melissa Byrne & Gillian Hegarty

One of the tastes of summer is most definitely that of a fresh strawberry, eaten in the (hopefully!) West Cork sunshine. In West Cork, we are so lucky to have Union Hall and Bushby’s strawberries on our doorstep. What makes our local strawberries special is not just our rich West Cork soil, but the way they are grown. Instead of using harmful pesticides to manage pests that might damage the crop, Bushby’s uses other beneficial insects in a preventative role. This means what ends up on your plate is as clean and natural as it gets. Hotels, restaurants and food lovers across West Cork all make local strawberries their preferred choice, for that exact reason. And if you’ve ever tried them, you’ll know what we mean. 

Strawberries are packed with Vitamin C, so one small bowl gives you more than your daily dose. They are also full of fibre, which is great for your gut, and they have natural sugars that give you energy.

This summer, keep an eye out for the Alpine strawberry, a tiny wild strawberry, which you might know as sú talún fiáin in Irish. It grows in hedgerows, along woodland edges and on grassy banks .These are much smaller than the ones you buy, but the flavour is intense and sweet in a way that is hard to describe until you have tried one. Top tip: you might find some near the playground in Dunmanway! Wild strawberries are perennial, meaning they come back every year in the same spot once established.  

Strawberries are one of the easiest fruits to grow at home: in a garden bed, a pot on a windowsill, or even a hanging basket. They like sunshine and well-drained soil. Plant them in spring and you could be picking your own by June or July. Once the plant finishes fruiting, it sends out runners, which are long thin stems with a baby plant at the end. You can pot those up and they will grow. So one plant can become many.

Strawberry frozen yoghurt pops

We have a tasty – and healthy – recipe for you! These frozen strawberry pops are brilliant on a warm day and they could not be simpler to make. You will need ice lolly moulds, which you can find in most supermarkets or hardware shops.

You will need:

•  250g strawberries

• 120g natural yoghurt

• 1 tablespoon of honey

There are two ways to make these: You can either just blitz the strawberries in a blender and freeze in moulds – these are delicious on their own, and great for teething babies, too.

Or, combine with the ingredients above. If you don’t have fresh strawberries, frozen is fine! Mix in the yoghurt and honey and stir until combined. Pour into your lolly moulds, insert the sticks, and freeze for at least four hours, or overnight. To release, run the outside of the mould briefly under warm water.

Tips: Strawberries freeze beautifully on their own too. Take out the stems, and freeze in a bag. Frozen strawberries are perfect for smoothies, porridge toppings, or blitzing into a quick sauce for pancakes.

Fruit skewers with chocolate dip

Thread chunks of strawberry, banana, apple, and whatever fruit you have, onto wooden skewers. For a dip, melt a bar of good dark or milk chocolate in a bowl set over hot water, stirring gently until smooth. Dip and eat immediately.  

Chocolate-covered strawberries

Wash and dry a punnet of strawberries and set aside. Line a baking tray. Melt good quality dark chocolate (we like 70pc cocoa). Dip strawberries into it and lay out on a baking tray to harden. Pop in the fridge or freezer and enjoy once chocolate has set.

Did you know?

Unlike most fruits, the seeds of the strawberry are on the outside. If you’ve ever bought a packet of strawberry seeds, you’ll know that they are tiny: those tiny yellow specks you see on the skin. A strawberry is not actually a berry at all, in the botanical sense. Bananas and avocados are true berries. The strawberry, meanwhile, belongs to the rose family, which perhaps explains why it smells so good.

We love the surprises Irish holds: ‘sú’ is from Old Irish, meaning juice or berry, and ‘talún’, comes from ‘talamh’, meaning earth or ground. So strawberry means ‘berry of the ground’ or ‘ground berry’.

Fun Facts

• The average strawberry has around 200 seeds.

• Strawberries were used in medieval times to treat everything from fevers to sore throats.

• The world’s heaviest strawberry on record weighed 289g, roughly the same as a small tin of beans.

• In Japan, strawberries are so precious that a single perfect fruit can sell for several euros.

Follow us for more news about our cooking and gardening workshops in West Cork schools: Instagram: @kidsfoodrevolution. Newsletter: kidsfoodrevolution.substack.com. Website: www.kidsfoodrevolution.com.

West Cork-based farms, enterprises, and parks featuring as part of the tour include: Drimoleague’s Glenilen Farm; Gougane Barra Forest Park located in the Shehy Mountains; Macroom Buffalo Farm; Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM)’s ARC (Aquaculture Remote Classroom) mobile unit; West Cork’s Gurteen Share Farm; and Clonakility Agricultural College, Clonakilty.

Led by Nuffield Ireland, as part of the global Nuffield International network, encompassing over 1,700 scholars from sixteen countries, this unique event will bring together a global cohort of Nuffield leaders alongside a substantial gathering of senior figures from agribusiness, policy, and economics. The summit will be one of the most significant global agriculture forums of 2026, attended by more than 300 delegates and featuring top level speakers from Ireland and overseas. 

Internationally-renowned economist David McWilliams has been confirmed as the headline speaker. An Adjunct Professor of Global Economics at Trinity College Dublin, author and podcaster, Mr. McWilliams is widely respected for his incisive analysis of global economic trends and their effects on societies and industries. His address will offer a macroeconomic perspective on food security, trade dynamics, and global responsibility.

The summit programme will also feature a distinguished line‑up of Irish and International speakers and panelists, including: Simon Coveney, former Tánaiste and former Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine; Ksenija Simovic, Senior Policy Advisor, Copa-Cogeca, Brussels; Marie Donnelly, Chairperson, Climate Change Advisory Council; Professor Rogier Schulte, Chair of Future Farming and Food Systems, Wageningen University, The Netherlands

 Speaking ahead of the event, newly appointed Chair of Nuffield Ireland and Ireland’s first ever female Nuffield Scholar, Gráinne Dwyer said: “Hosting the Agri-Summit is a defining moment for Ireland. As a small nation with a global agricultural footprint, we sit at the intersection of innovation, responsibility and opportunity. The challenges facing global food security are immense, but so is our capacity to shape real solutions.

 This Summit will confront the toughest questions facing modern agriculture with voices that challenge convention and demand serious reflection. Expect rigorous debate, uncomfortable truths, and a speaker line-up that goes beyond the usual agri circuit. Our Agri-Summit is designed to test assumptions and sharpen leadership thinking, to forge together a sustainable path for global agriculture in an uncertain world.”

 Chair of the FBD Trust, Michael Berkery, added: “As founder Investor of Nuffield Ireland we are delighted and proud to sponsor the 2026 Nuffield Agri-Summit, a groundbreaking event in Ireland’s agricultural calendar. We have long taken the view that Nuffield Ireland, and the Nuffield global agricultural leadership development programme it brings to Irish farmers and other agri-professionals, are perfectly aligned with the values and mission of the FBD Trust. We look forward to welcoming international alumni and Irish agricultural stakeholders to this exceptional event.”

 Under the theme ‘Feed the World – Our Responsibility?’, the summit will address the urgent and complex pressures facing global food systems including: the responsibilities of food‑producing nations; the balance between domestic sustainability targets and global needs and obligations; the role of multinational agri‑food corporates; how geopolitics are reshaping agri-food, as food security is increasingly recognised as integral to national and global security; and the impact of managing geoeconomic risks such as migration, labour markets, and demand patterns.

The event will conclude with a gala banquet featuring the 4th Earl of Iveagh, Edward Guinness, a significant figure in the agricultural sector, particularly in regenerative farming practices, in conversation with broadcaster Seán O’Rourke.

The Agri-Summit is the flagship event of the 14th Nuffield Triennial, which runs from May 18-26, 2026. Held every three years in a different member country, the Triennial fosters collaboration among Nuffield Scholars worldwide. 

Tickets for the 2026 Nuffield Agri-Summit, including the gala banquet, are €175 and are expected to sell quickly. To register your place, visit www.nuffield2026.com.

The 2026 Nuffield Agri-Summit is kindly supported by FBD Trust.

Every year International Dawn Chorus Day celebrates the natural wonder of birdsong and in particular the dawn chorus, a phenomenon that takes place every morning during the breeding season and starts even before the sun rises writes Branch member Nicholas Mitchell. This year it is on Sunday, May 3 and you can tune in to RTÉ Radio 1 that morning, shortly after midnight, or you can enjoy it in your own garden, local park or surrounding countryside.

Avian spring migrants started leaving their over-wintering grounds in Africa many weeks ago and have been arriving at their northern hemisphere breeding grounds, including Ireland, since April. These summer visitors, like Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Sedge Warbler and Whitethroat, have all added to the chorus of birdsong that began with our resident birds as far back as February. This means that, by the time we get to May, the volume and variety of the chorus has increased manyfold, especially at dawn and dusk.

That is why the West Cork Branch of BirdWatch Ireland hosts a dawn chorus event most years during May. However, every so often, we run a Dusk Chorus event instead. And this is one of those years. The birdsong at this time of day does not have quite the same impact that it does at dawn, in that the chorus does not build to a crescendo. However, it is not without its benefits. There is the obvious bonus of not having to set an alarm clock at some unearthly hour. Another is that the birdsong is more ‘spread out’ and less of a wall of noise. This allows different birdsong of each bird to be separated and highlighted more easily for the audience. Also this time of day makes it more appealing as a family event.

The event will start at 8pm in the Long Strand car park, Castlefreke. We will gather there for a while and then probably walk up into the woods behind. It will last an hour or so and, as with most Branch outings, it is free of charge and open to everyone. Any walking will be on good paths and appropriate footwear is recommended, as is warm clothing and, most importantly, midge repellent!

BirdWatch Ireland West Cork Branch News

Upcoming outings being held by the Branch are:
Sunday May 24: Dusk Chorus at Long Strand, Castlefreke
Sunday May 31: Cape Clear Island

Visit our website www.birdwatchirelandwestcork.ie for more information about these events. For more information about the Branch, contact Fiona O’Neill at secretary@birdwatchirelandwestcork.ie.

Facebook @BirdWatchIrelandWestCork

Instagram @birdwatch_ireland_west_cork

A dry backend to 2024 and the lovely Spring of 2025 allowed stock on most farms to graze from March onward up to late Autumn before any weather upset to what was a lovely farming year. 

Unfortunately, Spring 2026 has not been so kind: While weather has started to improve at last, work is well behind time. Heavy rainfall and wet soil conditions have delayed the planting of tillage crops, potatoes and grass reseeding; and the on-off grazing of livestock has resulted in the ground getting poached with the addition of fertiliser going out late likely to delay silage cutting. 

No year is ever the same but farmers sometimes forget that the Springs of 2023 and 2024 were nearly just as bad as this Spring. Three of the last four springs have had elevated levels of rainfall from January to April. Is it perhaps time for beef farmers to reflect and accept that this may happen more often in the future? Beef farmers will always aim to get stock out if a spring allows, but oftentimes they are left with their hands hanging after a series of rain deluges when their stock should already be out in the fields. Those blessed to have drier, free-draining soils don’t have as much of an issue but the farmers on heavier soils have not been able to take advantage of the odd dry day, as it can take anything from four to seven days for those soils to drain. 

Teagasc Beef specialists have suggested that heavier soil farms and more typical beef farms should try to prioritise some farm management decisions in 2026 to help mitigate against these weather effects, which are more common than not.

This spring, beef farmers with six months of slurry storage spent less time worrying about slurry appearing up through the slats and trying to find dry ground to spread. Investment is worth it if it is a pressure that is happening annually. A new slatted tank may not end up costing as much as anticipated. There are grants of up to 60 per cent available subject to DAFM terms and conditions, with a two-year tax write-off for farmers in the high tax bracket. 

Similarly, suckler herds that depend on straw-bedded housing had little or no livestock turned out by mid-April. Investing in adequate lie-back areas and calving pens is therefore worthwhile, as it can help reduce veterinary costs when issues like calf scours or pneumonia arise.

Silage quality is always important, but if wetter years become more common, prioritising the harvest of high-quality leafy grass in mid-May – followed by strong second cuts – becomes even more critical. Silage cut in early to mid-June is generally suitable for dry cows up to calving. However, after calving, silage should exceed 70 per cent Dry Matter Digestibility (DMD) and have a high protein content to prevent loss of body condition before the breeding season. High-quality silage is equally important for weanlings and finishing cattle, with a target of around 75 per cent DMD being even more beneficial.

To produce high-quality grass, farmers need to understand their soil fertility and maintain a strong proportion of perennial ryegrass, which can efficiently use nutrients from fertiliser to maximise growth. It’s also worth remembering what happened in 2022, when rising fertiliser prices led many farmers to cut back on fertiliser. The result was lighter crops, poorer-quality silage, and a negative impact on soil fertility.

Improving soil fertility through reseeding is another investment that can deliver strong returns for the farm business. One of the most cost-effective ways to boost soil health is by correcting acidity with lime, which helps unlock key nutrients and supports grass growth. Lime is a cornerstone of soil fertility and was widely used by previous generations of farmers, long before modern fertilisers – but somewhere along the line farmers stopped using it!

If we have finally turned the corner with the weather, this could be great opportunity to reseed old and poor-quality fields. Over the past three years there has been good results coming from farms that have reseeded silage ground with red clover swards. 

Identifying what is putting pressure on the farm system this spring and taking measures against it now will help mitigate against the stress of what will happen if mother nature decides to repeat the heavy rainfall next year!

Talking about a repeat of last year, calf prices were high again this spring, with dairy farmers scratching their heads wondering how beef farmers can make a margin with the price of calves being sold at the mart. 

According to Teagasc beef specialist David Argue, it is important for farmers to complete a budget now to understand their total cost of production. On Teagasc’s Beef podcast, he gave an example of an Angus or Hereford calf bought in February costing €460 plus the input costs, killing out at two-years-old, with Teagasc approximating costs to equal €1400, coming to a breakeven price of €1860. 

An expected target of 310/312 kg carcase weight divided into €1860, means a farmer would need to make approximately €5.98 a kilo to just cover the costs of the system. So, for a farmer to earn a €100 margin on the carcase, 32c per kilo would be required on top of the €5.98. 

Assuming a calf has had a good healthy start to life, calves that have a higher CBV value and good genetics, will return value.

We would need a crystal ball to know what way prices will go but what is known is that input prices for 2026 are already going up. Nitrogen fertiliser is up €200/250 per tonne with meal and contractor prices looking likely to go up as well. Getting grassland and animal health right to reduce costs should be a priority. Aim to graze correct covers and take out strong paddocks to maximise daily weight gain and monitor animal performance throughout the year. 

A date for your diary: The BEEF2026 open day takes place on Wednesday, July 1 at Teagasc Grange, Dunsany County Meath. It will showcase systems and technological advances that can be utilised by cattle farmers to increase production and drive income in a sustainable way.

And rightly so: unless you are fortunate enough to be a cash buyer, getting AIP’d by a mortgage lender is a crucial step on the road to home ownership, and one that should be celebrated. However, it is only that – a step! – and to be frank, perhaps the most important words in the term Approval in Principle are the last two: ‘in principle’. 

Indeed, while it sounds very official, and looks quite fancy when printed neatly on the bank’s headed paper, the AIP does not actually commit the potential lender to anything, nor does it mean that the prospective borrower can suddenly relax and start spending without a care in the world, or stop that carefully-planned savings regime, which has been in place for the last six months. All the AIP really means is that a bank has looked at an applicant’s income and savings at a specific point in time, and agreed that for a particular period (typically six months or a year, depending on the lender) they would in theory … all else being equal … but only if nothing significant changes, and the cost of living stays broadly the same … and the house being purchased is up to their standards, be willing to consider lending the money required to buy it. 

This last qualification is an important one and emphasises that the mortgage assessments conducted by banks have two main targets: the applicants themselves and the property they are hoping to purchase. Bank of Ireland, for example, may think that recent applicant John, with his strong income, consistent savings, and absence of short-term debt, is the ideal candidate for a mortgage, but if he returns two months post-approval, having gone sale agreed on a ‘doer-upper’ which sits in an area prone to flooding and on land whose boundary is disputed by neighbours, his AIP won’t be worth the paper it’s printed on. Bank of Ireland, along with any other Irish mortgage lender, will be incredibly wary of this house because if they ever need to repossess it, they themselves won’t be able to easily sell it on and thus get their money back. Getting paid is ultimately what matters to the banks, understandably enough. 

What an AIP ‘will’ do, however, is allow recipients to go house hunting, meaning they can view homes in their preferred area, engage with estate agents, and crucially place bids. Should they then go sale agreed on a house that the bank approves of (a valuer will be sent by the bank to assess the property), and no significant changes to the applicant’s circumstances have occurred (such as a marriage, the birth of a child, a promotion or demotion at work, or a change of employment altogether), they will be well placed to receive a Loan Offer from the bank, which is a much more meaningful document than the AIP. Also known as a Letter of Offer, this is a formal, legally binding document from a lender outlining all the mortgage’s important details, such as the term-length and interest rate, and it will also list the requirements/conditions which need to be met in order to eventually draw down the funds. 

While Loan Offers do sometimes include ‘special conditions’ specific to more complicated cases, many of them will simply include the requirements typical for any mortgage, such as the need to have both home and life insurance in place for the term of the loan. Of course, even this standard small print can sometimes cause issues, namely when people belatedly discover they cannot get either home or life insurance for one reason or another. Both scenarios can be very difficult for prospective borrowers to navigate, and banks are rarely, ‘if ever’, willing to waive this condition or compromise on it. The house insurance, for example, really needs to have all the main perils — fire, flood, subsidence — covered to satisfy the bank, and there are parts of West Cork and the wider county where both flooding and subsidence have caused issues in the past. Subsidence, where there is movement of a building’s foundation caused by the loss of support from the soil beneath it, tends to be more of an issue in Cork City, but flooding has historically occurred in West Cork towns such as Skibbereen and Bandon, so if house hunting in these areas it’s worth asking yourself “will I be able to insure this home to the bank’s satisfaction?” Getting ahead of potential pitfalls like this can prevent heartbreak down the line and ease the drawdown process for all involved. 

Issues with life insurance (known in broker-speak as ‘mortgage protection’) can be even harder to navigate. Once upon a time, banks were sometimes willing, in certain cases, to waive the requirement for life cover, but since the 2008 financial crisis they have become much stricter about this, as they have about many other things. Essentially, if your income is being used as part of the mortgage assessment, either as a single or joint applicant, you will ‘need’ to have life cover in place to draw down the funds, without exception. The policy will be legally assigned to the bank, meaning they essentially own a policy on your life, and this is designed to protect the lender should a mortgage holder pass away or become unable to work during the term of the mortgage. 

In sum, if you are hoping to apply for a mortgage at any point in the future but also have reason to believe you may struggle to get life cover, perhaps due to an ongoing medical condition, it is worth investigating your options now, even prior to getting AIP’d. This can be done in numerous ways, but one is to speak with a life insurance expert at somewhere like Moneytree Finance – (We don’t just do mortgages you know!)  — who will be advise you on the best way forward. 

If you are a potential mortgage borrower and you have questions about any of the topics discussed above, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with Moneytree Finance today.  

by Naomi Fein

I know that feeling. You’re talking about something you care deeply about – something you’ve built, something that matters – and you can feel the other person closing off. Their eyes shift. Their shoulders soften in a way that isn’t quite listening anymore. Your story never connected with their heart. And the more you talk, the more they retreat. Tony from Daylight.ie knows that feeling too.

Tony’s product – the E’Window – uses LED Sky Panel technology to mimic natural daylight from sunrise to sunset, delivering its health benefits to any enclosed or windowless space. 

Tony has done his research: gathering learning from Professor Russell Foster at Oxford on sleep and circadian rhythm, and from Professor Glen Jeffreys at UCL on the importance of morning daylight, and he has stories about daylight for every industry that could benefit from it. When he came to me, his challenge was getting his message across. He has an excellent product, real expertise, solid science – but his pitch wasn’t landing.

Looking at his work together, the problem became clear. Tony, like most of us, assumed that if you give people enough good information, they’ll make the right decision. 

This challenge calls for the ‘Elephant, the Rider, and the Path’ – a model popularised by Chip and Dan Heath’s book: ‘Switch’. I’ve used it with clients again and again for over a decade. It shifts how people understand their own communication. And once they see it, they can’t unsee it.

The Elephant, the Rider,
and the Path
Jonathan Haidt described it first: we’re not one unified self. We’re a rider on an elephant. The Rider is the rational mind – it wants facts, proof, logic. The Elephant is the heart – it needs to feel that something matters, to have a reason to move. Most of us, when we’re passionate, flood the Rider with information and hope the Elephant follows. It doesn’t work that way.

Chip and Dan Heath built on Haidt’s idea in their book ‘Switch’, adding a third element: the Path. Even when the Elephant is moved, and the Rider is convinced, if the next step is unclear or feels too hard, nothing happens. The door stays closed.

And, it’s important to also remember, every Elephant is different, and every Elephant already has a direction it’s heading. Trying to redirect one that’s committed elsewhere takes enormous energy – and usually fails. The smarter question is: whose Elephant is already moving in the direction I’m heading?

Back to Tony. He identified care homes and hospitals as sectors that would most benefit from his product, with two key entry points: the Director of Nursing and the facility manager. Two completely different Elephants. The Director of Nursing’s Elephant moves toward healing and patient wellbeing – research shows that patients in daylight-filled rooms recover faster and go home sooner. The facility manager’s Elephant is heading toward cost control and efficiency – shorter patient stays mean lower costs. Same product. Two different stories. Two different conversations.

In Tony’s own words: “Before our session, I thought if I gave people enough information, they’d understand how good this is. Now I see I was flooding the room. Naomi’s visuals made it click: I need to find the person whose elephant is already moving in the right direction, and tell them the story that speaks to their heart first. Once they’re engaged, I can share the information that will help them make an informed decision.”

Engage the Elephant, inform the Rider, clear the Path
So before your next meeting, pitch, or work on any communication material, ask yourself:

How can I engage the Elephant? This means starting with what they care about and what motivates them – not what you care about. Ask, what does your audience care about? Can you connect your story to what they already value? Do your passion and motivation align? 

How can I inform the Rider? Direct the rider using relevant information. Ask: What information would support your audience’s motivation? Is the information short enough to actually land? Are the key facts there without drowning everything else? Edit ruthlessly – keep only what serves the outcome you’re trying to achieve.

How can I clear the Path? Ensure you shape the path to the results you want. Ask: Is the next step obvious? Have you removed the blocks and made yes easier than no? If saying yes still requires effort or guesswork, most people won’t take it.

Why is this hard to do alone?

Once you know something deeply, it becomes almost impossible to see it the way someone encountering it for the first time would. Chip and Dan Heath call it “the curse of knowledge”. That’s not a personal failing – it’s the nature of expertise.

If what you’ve read here resonated, and you notice a touch of that curse, feel free to reach out – we can explore a better way forward together.

Book your free conversation at thinkvisual.ie/letschat or call me on 086 3743132.

And if you’re curious about Tony’s E’Window, reach him at tony@daylight.ie.

Gerard Shannon, author of ‘Rory O’Connor: To Defend the Republic’, writes on the connection between Dick Barrett and the subject of his new book, Rory O’Connor

The public memory of the Irish republican and revolutionary Dick Barrett looms large over Cork, especially the west of the county, during the revolutionary period of the early 20th century. Born in 1889, in Hollyhill, Ballineen, Co. Cork, Barrett, by the time of the Irish War of Independence, would emerge as a prominent leadership figure in the Cork No. 3 Brigade that encompassed West Cork. He would be the brigade’s quartermaster and later would ascend to the staff of the First Southern Division under General Liam Lynch. His comrade Peader O’Donnell later remarked how Barrett had once been close to Michael Collins, on the pro-Treaty side, and recalled Barrett as “a keen, searching mind with strong conspiratorial genius.”

Barrett remains best known for the circumstances of his death at the height of the Irish Civil War, when Barrett was opposed to the Anglo-Irish Treaty, regarding it as a betrayal of the Irish Republic as declared in 1916. On December 8, 1922, Barrett was executed before a firing squad along three other prominent republicans and anti-Treaty IRA leaders: Joe McKelvey, Liam Mellows and Rory O’Connor. All four had publicly opposed the Treaty and creation of the Irish Free State, a British dominion consisting of twenty-six counties of Ireland (the remaining six counties encompassing Northern Ireland). The National Army had imprisoned all four shortly after the defeat at the anti-Treaty IRA’s Four Courts garrison, of which Barrett was part, at the beginning of the Civil War. 

Their execution was an illegal reprisal, and on the instruction of the Irish government at the time headed by WT Cosgrave. Of particular cruelty was the fact the four men were put to death for an incident none of them had a part in: The assassination of pro-Treaty TD, Seán Hales, by members of the anti-Treaty IRA, the day before. Hales, in a great irony had been a close friend and comrade of Dick Barrett in the West Cork Brigade prior to the split over the Treaty. Hales’ family would even publicly condemn the executions of Barrett and the other three men.

Hales had been shot on Dublin’s quays because of orders issued by the anti-Treaty IRA leader, Liam Lynch. Lynch strongly opposed new government legislation that had allowed for the executions of republican prisoners, which had included the leading figure Erskine Childers. However, the executions of Barrett and his three comrades were illegal and outside the parameters of this. Their deaths were intended to demoralise the anti-Treaty members still fighting and prevent further shootings of pro-government TDs. In one of his last letters, addressed to his fellow prisoners in Mountjoy, Barrett wrote: “I hope you will all live through to the Faith of our National Fathers and when called on to do a great thing for Ireland, you will face it manfully. Do not bear ill will or dream of reprisals, the cause is too holy for ignoble deeds.”

Among the men executed with Barrett, most ambiguous today is undoubtedly the popular memory of Rory O’Connor. Ironically, at the time of his death at the age of 39, O’Connor was perhaps the best known of the four men. His background suggested an unlikely revolutionary, the son of a wealthy, prominent, Dublin-based solicitor. O’Connor had risen in the ranks of the Volunteers and became the IRA’s Director of Engineering. He also masterminded several high-profile prison escapes of republicans and IRA operations in Great Britain. O’Connor was also the first of the IRA’s General Headquarters Staff to oppose the Treaty. In April 1922, O’Connor would direct members of the IRA’s Dublin Brigade to seize the Four Courts complex on Dublin’s quays in defiance of the new pro-Treaty government. The Four Courts would be where Mellows and O’Connor would be arrested several days after the fall of the garrison at the start of the Irish Civil War on 28 June 1922. 

Most poignantly, one of those ministers that approved their executions months later was Kevin O’Higgins, then Minister for Home Affairs. Only over a year before, Rory O’Connor was the best man at O’Higgins wedding – several weeks before the signing of the Treaty. Both men shared a genuinely warm and close friendship. Days after O’Higgins wedding, he wrote to O’Connor and referred to him as “the bestest best man that ever rounded up a bridegroom”.

Over a year later, O’Higgins agonised over the decision to execute the four men. There was no signing of a death warrant as persists in popular lore, but O’Higgins was without question part of the collective cabinet decision, and the death of the four men became a central component of his legacy. Nearly five years later, and four years after the end of the civil war, O’Higgins was assassinated by members of the IRA’s Dublin Brigade while walking the streets of south Dublin – a particularly violent result of the executions on December 8, 1922. 

Gerard Shannon is the author of ‘Rory O’Connor: To Defend the Republic’, now available from Merrion Press.

Kinsale is preparing to mark a historic milestone on Saturday, May 23, as the community gathers at the Kinsale Campus for ‘A Thriving Future’, a mini-festival celebrating the 21st birthday of Transition Town Kinsale.

While now a global phenomenon with thousands of initiatives worldwide, the Transition movement traces its roots back to 2005 at this very campus. It was here that the first ‘Energy Descent Action Plan’ was authored, sparking a practical, community-led response to climate change that soon spread across the globe through the efforts of figures like Rob Hopkins.

The festival invites attendees to connect offline and explore the essential pillars of a resilient community such as local food systems, renewable energy, zero-waste living, and the restoration of nature.

The event promises a rich programme of experiences, from hands-on skill-sharing workshops to live music and local cuisine and brings together a distinguished group of visionaries who have shaped the sustainability landscape, led by Rob Hopkins, the co-founder of the Transition Network. Joining him is Mary Reynolds, the acclaimed “reformed” landscape designer and founder of ‘We Are The Ark’, a movement urging people to return their gardens to the wild.

The speaker line-up also features Thomas O’Connor, a regenerative farmer and community activist from Transition Kerry, and artist, filmmaker and environmental activist Lisa Fingleton. Local expertise will be represented by Donal Chambers, the Chairperson of Transition Town Kinsale and also a teacher of permaculture and horticulture in the Kinsale Campus, as well as specialist in renewable energy, agroforestry and rewilding, alongside Maria Young, a coordinator with Green Spaces for Health.

Whether you are a long-time sustainability advocate or simply curious about building a more resilient future, this unique celebration offers a welcoming space to learn and grow. Tickets are currently available on Eventbrite, and the community looks forward to sharing this landmark day in the birthplace of the Transition movement.

In keeping with the movement’s core values, this is a strictly zero-waste event, and organisers kindly ask all visitors to bring their own reusable cup, plate, and cutlery.