It was a moment for all of West Cork when Carbery defeated Muskerry in the McCarthy Insurance Group Premier SFC Divisions/Colleges seeded section final at Páirc Uí Rinn and claimed the Derry Gowen Cup. The divisional side was made up of clubs stretched across the region, and it was O’Donovan Rossa’s Gene O’Donovan who put all the pieces together and got the win on a sun soaked evening. Carbery had to do it the hard way, as their semi-final appearance involved a thrilling victory over Duhallow on a night decided by St. Mary’s Olan Corcoran fisting over the bar in the dying seconds. Muskerry proved to be a more straight forward affair, as O’Donovan’s players’ outscored their near rivals 2-23 to 2-15 with nine different purple and yellow jerseys finding the target. Their reward is a place in the preliminary quarter finals of the Cork Premier Senior Football Championship in August, with University College Cork lined up for the West Cork divisional side. O’Donovan isn’t thinking that far ahead. He is simply celebrating what has already been achieved by Carbery in 2026, the coach tells Dylan O’Connell.

“I’m feeling good…. I’m feeling very good,” Gene O’Donovan says.

“Look, the boys, the boys, we didn’t challenge them. They challenged themselves. I say very little in the dressing room. I just thank them for coming and things like that.

“You know, Haulie O’Sullivan does a lot of the work. Haulie does a lot of the work there with the coaching side of things.

“Normally I just coach, but this is a manager’s job I took on this year when I was asked. I was with Carbery just pre-COVID. There’s just too much history in Carbery not to want to be in this job.

“I had been in with Tim Buckley a few years ago and Tim kind of persuaded me. I’m involved with a lot of teams as well but I love this bunch.”

Carbery is a special operation, as the divisional team pulls in players from across the West Cork and the goal is to build a winning team in a very short window. The complete unit only plays a handful of games a year, with the goal to qualify for the knockout stages of the Cork Premier Senior Football Championship where there is a chance to win the Andy Scannell Cup.

The stakes of their operation get bigger and bigger with every game, and there’s absolutely no room for error.

Divisional sides’ recent record in football is a testament to that as Duhallow from North Cork in 2019 are the last team of its kind to reach the final, and Carbery were the last to claim the county champions title after a victory over Bishopstown in 2004.

O’Donovan knows full well what goes into running and managing a divisional team, the hardest part of the job is the balancing act as they try to fit in training and matches around club activity.

Fortunately for Carbery, they have a coach in charge that knows exactly what to do those situations.

“It just comes together,” O’Donovan explained.

“Believe it or not, there are no phone calls. There is none, and people won’t believe that.

“The first thing we said when we spoke to the clubs was that we’re not bringing the lads in to flah them out, for the simple reason that they’re doing enough strength and conditioning and fitness in their own clubs.

“And you can see they are a fit group, you know, and we put that challenge to the clubs to keep them fit so that they’d be playing at the higher level as, you know, a lot of these players are coming from Junior A and Intermediate, like, so this is senior A level as far as I’m concerned. The next one would be, you’re going up to senior premier if you beat UCC.

“So yeah, there is not a lot of organising. WhatsApp, text them. Are you available? If they say yes, you bring them out. Give us 25 players and we’ll put a team together.”

The star attraction in their run to lift the Derry Gowen Cup was Bantry Blues and Cork star Ruairi Deane, who featured in the Duhallow game just days after losing to Mayo in the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship quarter finals at Croke Park.

The 35-year-old appeared and almost ran the show at Páirc Uí Rinn against Duhallow, he even got a much needed goal for Carbery to give the divisional side a 3-16 to 0-16 advantage in the 54th minute.

The 10-year veteran of intercounty football repeated this against Muskerry, on a night where his team stormed in front and comfortable held their northern rivals at arm’s length.

To O’Donovan, Deane is a model professional that has plenty left to offer for his club, division, and county.

“That only took one message,” he explained and smiled.

“That only took one message to Ruairi from one of our selectors, John Dineen, and Ruairi did not turn us down. John was a bit confused about it and he asked him, was he coming with his gear? And he said ‘yes, I am playing.’ 

“It only took one message, to see was Ruairi okay for the Muskerry game. ‘Yeah, I’ll be there’ That’s it, and that’s the man he is. He’s in great shape. Do you know what I mean? After a long season with Cork, I think there’s another couple of days left in Ruairi Deane.”

O’Donovan, Deane, and Carbery are now preparing to play UCC in the preliminary quarter finals of the Cork Premier Senior Football Championship.

That’s their next objective as a group, and it is well known around the panel and West Cork clubs.

Anything can happen now, with the championship in full swing and games coming thick and fast as summer turns to autumn.

Whatever comes their way, Carbery are winners with a trophy to show for it and that’s the most important thing.

August is one of the most rewarding months in the gardening calendar, with borders, containers and vegetable plots all reaching their peak. This year, we have experienced some of the warmest weather on record over the past few weeks, making careful attention to watering more important than ever.

Water thoroughly and regularly during prolonged dry spells, aiming to water early in the morning or later in the evening when temperatures are cooler. Avoid watering during the hottest part of the day, as much of the moisture will simply evaporate before reaching the roots. Direct water to the base of plants rather than onto flowers and foliage, helping to reduce the risk of disease while ensuring the moisture reaches where it is needed most.

Plants growing in containers dry out particularly quickly during warm weather and should continue to receive regular liquid feeds throughout the month. An organic seaweed-based fertiliser is an excellent choice, promoting healthy growth, strong root development and prolonged flowering.

Regular deadheading remains one of the most important summer maintenance jobs. Removing faded flowers keeps plants looking tidy and encourages them to direct their energy into producing fresh blooms, ensuring colourful displays continue well into the autumn.

Dahlias are undoubtedly among the stars of the August garden. With regular watering, feeding and deadheading they will continue producing magnificent flowers until the arrival of the first autumn frosts. Few plants can rival dahlias for the sheer diversity of colour, flower shape and size available.

Gardeners can choose from elegant single-flowered varieties as well as richly double blooms, while the different groups include dinner plate, cactus, pompon, decorative and bedding dahlias. One particularly outstanding variety is ‘Bishop of Llandaff’, whose rich copper-coloured foliage provides a striking contrast to its vivid scarlet-red flowers.

Birds: During prolonged periods of hot, dry weather it is essential to provide birds with an adequate supply of fresh, clean water for both drinking and bathing. Refill bird baths regularly to ensure the water remains cool and hygienic.

Roses: Rambling roses should be pruned immediately after flowering to encourage healthy new growth for next season. Continue deadheading repeat-flowering roses throughout the garden and remove unwanted side shoots as soon as they appear. Container-grown roses benefit greatly from a weekly liquid feed, while recently planted roses should receive generous watering during dry spells. As with all plants, keep water away from the flowers and foliage wherever possible.

Take cuttings: August is an excellent month for propagating many tender perennials. Healthy cuttings can be taken from pelargoniums, fuchsias, salvias and lemon verbena to provide beautiful plants for next year’s garden. Keep the young plants in a frost-free greenhouse throughout the winter and inspect them regularly for signs of pest damage.

Collect seed: Many annuals and perennials will now be producing ripening seed. Collect seed from your favourite plants while it is fully mature and dry, storing it in clearly labelled packets or containers with waterproof labels for future sowing.

Fruit garden: Plant new strawberry runners into clean ground that has not recently grown strawberries, helping to minimise the build-up of soil-borne pests and diseases. Complete the summer pruning of apples and pears during the month to maintain healthy trees and encourage quality fruit production.

Weeding: Keeping on top of weeds is essential throughout August. Weeds compete with ornamental and edible plants for both moisture and nutrients at a time when water is already in short supply. Hoeing remains one of the most effective methods of control, particularly during long periods of settled weather. Choose a warm, dry day – ideally with a drying breeze – and hoe early in the morning, allowing uprooted weeds every opportunity to wither in the sunshine.

Bulbs for autumn planting and spring colour: Autumn is not far away, making this the perfect time to begin planning next spring’s displays. Autumn and spring flowering cyclamen, together with colchicums, should be planted without delay as bulbs left unplanted for too long can begin to shrivel.

Garden centres will soon be well stocked with spring-flowering bulbs including dwarf iris, narcissi, crocus, hyacinths, anemones, fritillarias and ornamental alliums.

Hyacinths can also be planted now for colourful Christmas displays indoors. For the most effective results, plant a single variety and colour in each container, placing the bulbs close together, almost shoulder to shoulder. Where containers lack drainage holes, use bulb fibre, which provides excellent drainage while keeping the growing medium fresh and healthy. Other excellent bulbs for early indoor colour include amaryllis, freesias and fragrant narcissi such as ‘Paperwhite’ and ‘Grand Soleil d’Or’.

Tulip bulbs will also begin appearing in garden centres this month. It is well worth choosing your favourites early while the widest selection is available. However, tulips are best planted later, during November or December, so store them in a cool, dry place in wooden slatted trays until planting time.

Wisteria can be pruned during August to keep vigorous growth under control and encourage better flowering next spring.

Vegetable garden: Sweetcorn should be harvested as the cobs ripen, while courgettes are at their very best when picked young at around 15 centimetres in length. Allowing them to become oversized reduces both flavour and tenderness.

Continue harvesting cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli and kohlrabi as they mature. Keep a careful watch for caterpillar damage and treat promptly where necessary. Rabbits and pigeons can also cause considerable damage, particularly to brassicas, so effective protection should remain in place.

Providing colour now: August gardens can be filled with colour from an outstanding range of reliable flowering plants.

Cosmos produces masses of delicate flowers in shades of white and pink above attractive feathery foliage and continues flowering for many weeks.

Osteospermum is an excellent sun-loving perennial, thriving in warm, well-drained positions and performing particularly well in coastal gardens.

Hydrangeas continue flowering from late summer into autumn. During prolonged dry weather they require deep, thorough watering followed by a generous mulch to help conserve soil moisture.

Begonias provide continuous displays of vibrant flowers well into autumn and are particularly valuable in containers and bedding displays.

Penstemon ‘Garnet’ remains one of the finest penstemons available, combining exceptional flowering with excellent winter hardiness.

Salvias are available in an impressive range of colours and flower continuously into autumn, performing equally well in borders and containers.

Sweet peas remain one of the garden’s finest cut flowers, offering a wonderful fragrance together with a remarkable range of colours. Regular cutting encourages continuous flowering throughout the season. Weekly feeding with a seaweed-based liquid fertiliser will help maintain vigorous growth and abundant blooms.

‘Euryops pectinatus’ is a cheerful, sun-loving half-hardy perennial producing bright yellow daisy flowers almost continuously from April until November. It is especially well suited to coastal gardens.

Fuchsias are invaluable for beds and borders, often flowering from May until late November. Continue monitoring plants for signs of rust and downy mildew throughout the season.

Pelargoniums, often referred to as geraniums, also provide a remarkably long flowering season. Gardeners looking for something a little different should consider the beautiful rosebud varieties.

Verbena offers attractive shades of pink, red, white and lavender, making it one of the finest choices for containers and hanging baskets, with flowers continuing well into autumn.

With regular maintenance, careful watering and timely feeding, August rewards gardeners with some of the finest displays of the entire gardening year while also providing the opportunity to prepare for the seasons ahead.

by Liz O’Mahony

The question of whether or not dogs feel guilt is a very interesting premise and one that has been researched at length by many people including a 2009 study by dog cognition expert, Dr Alexandra Horowitz. All have concluded – probably not!

“Not true,” I hear you say. “If I come home to find something torn to shreds, my dog looks really guilty!” Let me refute this argument. Dogs live in the moment. They get excited or frenetic while tearing something apart and enjoy the adrenalin rush that it generates. Once that arousal is over, they forget the action including the pleasure, and possibly curl up and go to sleep. The point is that dogs don’t actually relate to past historic actions unless that history is repeated or they imagine it could be replicated – such as the horror of an aggressive dog attacking them. That fear or feeling the need to retaliate manifests itself each time they encounter a strange dog or the culprit reappears to threaten their personal space. But, that is something entirely different.

So why does my dog look so guilty when I return to find the results of his destruction laid before me you ask? It’s not guilt. It’s because your dog is reading your body language, your face, even your thoughts. You return home to find a cloud of stuffing, paper, whatever, littered across the room from a canine riot! On being faced with this disaster, your body language changes immediately. Your face registers surprise, shock, horror, swiftly followed by anger and consternation. Your whole body stiffens with outrage. Your normal soft vocal tones are replaced by shouting, possibly even expletives!

These are all natural reactions to the situation. However, your dog registers all of this but has no idea why. He doesn’t connect your reaction to his earlier errant behaviour. All he notes is that you’ve turned into a monster who must be appeased. And appeasement is what you interpret as guilt for his actions. So he makes himself as small as possible to indicate that he’s no threat. You interpret this as him cowering with remorse for his misdemeanour under the might of your wrath. His ears flatten on his head; his head lowers, and he avoids eye contact. All of these actions are submissive and an act of appeasement to counteract your anger. It’s easy to interpret that as the human emotion of guilt.

However, you need to take a reality check here. First of all, as already explained, you need to understand that there’s absolutely no point in scolding your dog for a past action because he’s no idea why you’re irate. All you are doing is making your dog nervous around you fearing you might explode at any time in the future. Therefore, you’re undermining any trust that might have been building in your relationship with him.

Here are a few positive pointers to better manage this situation:

If your dog is destructive by nature, use a crate for the times that you are absent. Or place him behind a child gate in a room that has nothing ‘chewable’ except for his own toys but these should be indestructible. Think of it as “avoiding the occasion of sin!” If he can’t get access to items that can be destroyed, he may simply grow out of or forget this unwanted behaviour.

Only intervene if your dog is actually making a beeline to chew something he shouldn’t. But that obviously means you have to be present to do this. And ensure you preempt his actions rather than attempting to stop him when his adrenalin is aroused, as he’ll be less inclined to listen to you.

Remember to reward all good behaviour with praise and treats. Dogs get to enjoy those words of praise from you. They’re a guideline that you’re happy with what they are doing. Therefore, your silence when your dog starts doing something bold will speak volumes.

If you do come home to destruction, take a deep breath and try to stay calm. It’s important for you to control your emotions as an example to your dog. But again, maintaining silence and ignoring your dog will help get the right message across that you’re not impressed with his behaviour. Ranting and raving in front of your dog teaches him nothing except that you’re scary! And as dogs copy our behaviour, you don’t want him mirroring your lack of self control in canine terms.

If your dog persists in destructive behaviour despite your best efforts in training, you may need to call in an expert who can give you advice and methods as to how to deal with this.

Some breeds of dogs are more inclined to chew than others. But, if you start teaching them from the moment they come to live with you, you will have success.

This month Natalie Webb is showing us how to make a rocking boat.

Materials: 

•  Four different coloured pieces of card – I used red, yellow, black and blue.

•  Scissors  •  Glue  •  Marker  

•  Googly eye (optional)

Choose a colour that you want your boat to be (I chose red) and draw a circle approx 17cm diameter on it (I drew around a saucer). Cut out your circle, then fold it in half and you will have your rocking shape.

With a different colour card (I used yellow) draw out a rectangle 4cm x 10cm. Cut it out and put glue along the edge before sticking it onto the top of your rocking shape.

Now cut out another rectangle from the same colour card as your main rocking shape, glue along the edge and stick it behind your first rectangle so that the top edge is showing.

Cut out three black circles and stick them onto the larger rectangle.

With the same colour card as the large rectangle, cut out a small circle approx 5cm diameter. Then cut a circle in the middle to make a ring. 

With the same card cut out two funnel shapes 1cm wide, with one slightly taller than the other.

Stick the ring on the bottom left of the boat and glue the funnels on the back of the boat, at the top so that they are sticking up.

Using a red marker draw stripes on your funnels and lines on your rubber ring.

To finish off I thought it would be fun to stick a little fish on, so with your last colour card draw and cut out a little fish. Draw on scales and if you have a googly eye, stick it on… you can also draw on an eye. Glue your fish on to your boat and there you have it, a cute little boat that rocks. Now make a few more in different colours!

by Galyna Zaitseva

When I first met Saeeda, I was struck by her quiet presence. She speaks softly, listens carefully and has no natural desire to be the centre of attention. At first, she seems shy and reserved. Yet the more time you spend with her, the more clearly you begin to notice the strength beneath that gentleness. I saw the same quiet strength in her studio.

I had imagined a busy creative space filled with fabrics, threads, patterns and unfinished ideas. Instead, everything was carefully organised in containers, with every object in its place. Only the sewing machine and a painting still in progress revealed that this was an artist’s workspace.

Then Saeeda began opening the containers.

One by one, she brought out dresses, blouses, jewellery and embroidered fabrics. She showed me the details she had made by hand and explained the techniques behind them. With each new piece, another part of her creative world appeared.

I had come to select outfits for the photoshoot, but very quickly I stopped choosing and simply began admiring her work. Every garment felt different. Some pieces were delicate and understated, while others were full of colour, embroidery and painted detail. Choosing only three looks was far more difficult than I had expected. I wanted to show everything.

For Saeeda, fashion has always been closely connected to art.

“As an artist, I have always dreamed of seeing people wear my art,” she says. “I love working with my hands, exploring crafts, textures and traditional techniques. Fashion has given me a beautiful way to turn my creativity into something people can wear and enjoy in their everyday lives.”

Saeeda has lived in Clonakilty since June 2024, having come directly to West Cork from Pakistan with her four children. Arriving in Ireland meant leaving behind her home, familiar surroundings and the life she had built.

At a time when almost everything around her was already changing, she also faced breast cancer, surgery and treatment.

“My battle with breast cancer came at a time when my whole life had already changed,” she says. “Facing cancer, surgery and treatment in a new country, largely on my own, was one of the biggest challenges of my life.”

She speaks about this period openly, but without allowing it to become the only story she tells about herself. During our conversation, her thoughts continually returned to the future: to fabrics she would like to try, techniques she wants to explore and ideas she hopes to develop.

“I have never believed in giving up,” she says. “I try not to spend too much time mourning what I have lost or what has been left behind. Instead, I think about what I can create, improve and build next.”

That way of thinking seems to shape both her life and her work.

Today, Saeeda creates clothing under the name S.fusion. The brand reflects her desire to bring different ideas, cultures, artistic traditions and styles together, while keeping comfort and individuality at the heart of every design.

“It is about creating a fusion while keeping comfort and individuality at the centre of everything I do,” she explains.

She currently works mainly with 100 per cent cotton and traditional hand block-printing techniques. Her next step is to explore eco-printing on cotton, and she hopes to work more with organic materials and handwoven textiles in the future.

For Saeeda, the way clothing feels is just as important as the way it looks.

“My purpose is not only to create beautiful and stylish clothing,” she says. “I want to think about people’s comfort and wellbeing too. Clothes can be artistic and stylish while still being breathable, comfortable and kind to the skin.”

What she loves most is beginning with a simple piece of fabric and gradually giving it a character of its own.

“For me, fashion is another form of art. I love taking a simple piece of fabric and giving it its own story. My dream is to let people wear that art.”

Saeeda does not believe personal style should be shaped by every passing trend. For her, clothing is a way of expressing personality, confidence and even mood.

She is especially passionate about reminding women that style does not disappear with age. Bodies change and the clothes that once felt right may no longer suit who we have become. Saeeda sees this not as a reason to withdraw from fashion, but as an opportunity to discover something new.

“Never believe that beauty or style has an age limit. We should never stop expressing ourselves or taking care of how we feel.”

Her advice is to look beyond perfection and pay attention to the way clothes make us feel.

Experimentation is an important part of Saeeda’s own work. She enjoys bringing traditional techniques into modern, uncomplicated silhouettes and exploring unfamiliar combinations of colour and texture.

“Sometimes stepping outside your comfort zone can help you discover a completely new and beautiful side of yourself,” she says.

The photoshoot asked Saeeda to step outside her own comfort zone. For most of her creative life, she had worked behind the scenes, designing clothes and creating looks. This time, she was the one wearing the designs and standing in front of the camera.

“I am quite camera-shy, so it was something completely new for me,” she says. “The photographer made me feel very comfortable, and wearing my own designs gave me a new connection with my work.”

At the beginning of the shoot, Saeeda was understandably reserved. She was more accustomed to adjusting a garment or considering how a look should be presented than thinking about her own position in front of the lens.

Gradually, she began to relax.

“I was very tired by the end and definitely realised that modelling is not as easy as it looks,” she says with humour. “But overall, it was a really beautiful and positive experience.”

During the day, she also experienced a quieter and more personal realisation.

“I suddenly realised that I had almost forgotten to smile. It reminded me that I need to find my smile again.” Those words stayed with me.

By the end of the shoot, Saeeda was no longer thinking so carefully about the camera. She was laughing freely and naturally, surrounded by the clothes she had designed and made with her own hands.

The photoshoot did not turn her into somebody new. It allowed her to see herself – and her work – from another side. For a little while, she was not only the artist behind the clothes, but also the woman wearing them, enjoying them and allowing herself to be seen.

“Cancer changed many things in my life, but it did not take away my creativity or my desire to move forward,” she says. “I am still creating, learning and building new dreams for myself and my children.”

Look One

This look brings together soft shades of green, natural texture and detailed handwork.

Relaxed olive-green trousers create an uncomplicated foundation, while the pistachio-green top, made from artisan-woven natural fabric, introduces texture and delicate hand embroidery. Its easy silhouette allows the beauty of the material to remain visible without making the outfit feel formal.

The long handmade overlayer is the focal point of the look. It has been carefully tailored and embroidered, while the back features a hand-painted floral design. This painted detail makes the garment unmistakably individual – a piece shaped not only by technique, but also by Saeeda’s hand as an artist.

The floral elements on the top and overlayer create a gentle connection between the pieces. They do not match exactly, but they seem to belong to the same story.

Minimal jewellery allows the woven fabric, embroidery and painting to remain at the centre of the outfit. The finished look feels calm and considered, with each handmade detail given space to be noticed.

Stylist’s tip: When wearing a detailed handcrafted piece, pair it with simple shapes and restrained accessories. Let the embroidery, texture or painted detail become the part of the outfit that draws the eye.

Look Two

The second look is light, joyful and full of summer colour.

At its centre is a yellow dress made from natural fabric and decorated with a traditional hand-block print. The warm shade brings brightness and energy, while the relaxed shape keeps the look comfortable and easy to wear.

Underneath, Saeeda wears a powder-blue blouse with full sleeves, hand embroidery at the shoulder and decorative inserts running along the arms. These details give the blouse its own identity rather than allowing it to disappear beneath the dress.

The combination of yellow and pale blue feels fresh and slightly unexpected. Small yellow elements within the embroidery connect the blouse to the dress, making the layering feel natural and balanced.

A caramel-toned handbag adds warmth and complements the earthy quality of the printed cotton. Together, the colours create an outfit that feels expressive without becoming overwhelming.

Stylist’s tip: When layering two contrasting garments, look for one small detail that connects them. A repeated colour in embroidery, print or trim can bring the whole outfit together.

Look Three

The third look is built around shades of blue and a gentle contrast between delicate fabrics and relaxed denim.

The flowing handmade overlayer moves lightly around the body, while fine bead embroidery catches the light with each step. Beneath it, a handmade blouse finished with lace adds another layer of softness and detail.

Wide-leg pale-blue jeans give the outfit a more grounded, contemporary feeling. Their simple structure provides an effective contrast to the sheer fabric, lace and beadwork above.

Because the colours remain within the same family, the different textures become the most interesting part of the look. Denim, transparency, lace and small areas of shimmer each contribute something different while preserving the calmness of the blue palette.

The result is relaxed but distinctive – an outfit that allows handcrafted pieces to become part of everyday dressing rather than reserving them only for special occasions.

Stylist’s tip: A monochromatic outfit becomes more interesting when you combine different fabrics. Denim, lace, sheer layers and beadwork can add depth and movement even when the colours are closely related.

For enquiries or commissions contact Saeeda through instagram (saeedamakeupartist) or Facebook (Saeeda Naeem)

It sounds like a small shift, but it changes everything. As parents, we naturally notice behaviour first. The slammed bedroom door. The eye roll. The silence after school. The argument over homework. The refusal to come to dinner. The endless hours spent behind a bedroom door or scrolling through a phone.

Behaviour is visible. It demands our attention. And because it often disrupts family life, our instinct is usually to stop it as quickly as possible.

But what if behaviour isn’t the problem? What if behaviour is the language our teenagers use when they don’t yet have the words to explain what is happening inside them?

Teenagers rarely wake up deciding to be difficult. They don’t choose anxiety, loneliness, shame or overwhelm. Yet they often don’t have the emotional vocabulary or confidence to say, “I’m struggling,” “I’m scared,” or “I don’t feel good enough.” Instead, those feelings leak out through behaviour.

Imagine trying to read a book by opening it to the very last page. You would know how the story ends, but you would have no understanding of everything that came before it. Behaviour is often like that last page. We see the ending, but we miss the chapters that explain it.

A teenager who snaps over something small may have spent the entire day feeling criticised or excluded. The teenager who refuses to go to school may not be lazy at all. They may be carrying anxiety that feels impossible to describe.The teenager who seems constantly angry may actually be frightened, disappointed or deeply hurt. And sometimes, the teenager who appears perfectly fine is the one quietly struggling the most.

This doesn’t mean that every difficult behaviour should be accepted without boundaries. Boundaries remain one of the greatest gifts we can offer our children. They provide safety, predictability and security. However, boundaries become much more effective when they are paired with curiosity.

Instead of asking, “How do I stop this?” we might ask, “What happened before this?” or “What could my teenager be finding difficult right now?” Curiosity doesn’t remove accountability. It simply helps us understand what we are responding to.

Think about how we respond to a physical symptom. If someone develops a persistent cough, we don’t simply tell them to stop coughing. We become curious. We ask what might be causing it. Behaviour deserves the same level of curiosity.

One of the biggest misconceptions about adolescence is that teenagers stop needing connection. Because they become more independent, spend more time with friends and seek greater privacy, it’s easy to assume they no longer want us involved.

The opposite is often true. Many teenagers desperately want connection. They simply don’t always know how to ask for it without risking rejection or embarrassment.

Sometimes connection looks nothing like the warm conversations parents hope for.

It might look like sitting beside you while you’re watching television. It might be asking for a lift somewhere. It might even look like an argument that started over something insignificant but was really an attempt to be noticed.

Not every behaviour carries a deep hidden meaning, of course. Teenagers are learning, testing limits and making mistakes, just as every generation before them has done.

But when difficult behaviours become repeated patterns, it’s worth wondering whether they are pointing towards an unmet emotional need.

This perspective can be surprisingly freeing for parents. Instead of feeling they have failed because their teenager is struggling, they begin to see themselves as detectives rather than judges and start collecting clues instead of building cases. They begin listening. Noticing that behind the anger there may be fear. Behind the withdrawal there may be shame. Behind the defiance there may be uncertainty. Behind the constant joking there may be sadness.

This doesn’t make parenting easier overnight. Teenagers will still test boundaries and family disagreements will still happen. But when we remember that behaviour is communication, we respond differently.

And perhaps most importantly, our teenagers begin to experience something every young person needs: the feeling of being understood before being corrected. Behaviour may be the loudest thing our teenagers show us, but it is rarely the whole story.

If we can learn to listen beyond the behaviour, we may get to understand the message and discover that what looked like defiance was really distress, what looked like laziness was exhaustion, and what looked like indifference was simply a young person who didn’t yet know how to ask for help.

Ironically, these are also the years when our fertility is at its highest. Then, when the time finally feels right to start trying for a baby, many couples are surprised to find that conception takes longer than they expected. It can be an emotional and lonely experience, especially when it seems as though everyone else is having children with ease.

There are several factors that can influence fertility, and being aware of them can help you make informed choices while also reminding you to be kind to yourself.

One of the biggest changes we have seen is that many women are choosing to start trying for a family later in life. While 30 is still young, female fertility does gradually decline with age, becoming more noticeable from around 35 years onwards. This doesn’t mean pregnancy isn’t possible but it can sometimes take longer or need assistance.

Our overall health and lifestyle also play an important role. Chronic stress, poor sleep, smoking, excessive alcohol, recreational drugs, environmental toxins, and some long-term health conditions can all contribute to oxidative stress. This occurs when there is an imbalance between free radicals and the body’s natural defences. Oxidative stress can damage both egg and sperm cells, reduce fertilisation rates, and it affects healthy embryo development.

Many women also accept monthly pelvic pain as something they simply have to live with. While period pain is common, it is not normal and ongoing or severe pain every month is not something to ignore. Conditions such as polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and endometriosis can sometimes go undiagnosed for years because symptoms are dismissed as ‘normal’. Seeking medical advice early can make a real difference.

Other health conditions, including diabetes, hypothyroidism and autoimmune disorders may also affect fertility because they can influence hormone balance and the immune system. Managing these conditions well is an important part of supporting reproductive health.

When pregnancy doesn’t happen as quickly as hoped, many women instinctively place enormous pressure on themselves. However, fertility is not solely a woman’s responsibility. Around a third of unexplained infertility cases involve female factors, another third is impacted by male only factors. With a further third affected by a combination of both male and female factors.

Research has highlighted concerns about declining sperm quality. Lower sperm counts, reduced sperm movement and DNA fragmentation can all affect the chances of conception.

Perhaps the most important advice is this: face the journey together. Open, honest conversations with your partner can ease the emotional burden and encourage both of you to make positive lifestyle changes and seek support when needed. Fertility is a shared journey, and no one should feel they have to carry it alone. Looking after your physical health, prioritising rest, reducing stress where possible, and asking for help early are all positive steps that can support both your wellbeing and your hopes for the future.

by Amanda Roe, a Clinical Hypnotherapist, Acupuncturist, Chinese herbalist, Life and Health coach specialising in Women’s Health. She offers a range of services including acupuncture for fertility, pelvic floor dysfunction, scar’s and pain. She combines this with clinical hypnotherapy to help people suffering with trauma, fears, phobias and eating disorders. For more information or to book a consultation visit www.roehealth.ie or call/text Amanda on: 087 633 1898

by Niamh Cooper, Melissa Byrne & Gillian Hegarty

The weather in July has been nothing short of spectacular, and many of us have lived outside for the last few weeks. Even when the weather decides to take a turn – and it will, eventually, because this is Ireland – this is the season for food you can eat with your fingers. And nothing on any picnic blanket, or kitchen table, will be as spectacularly pink as this beetroot dip. It looks like something a unicorn might eat. And it tastes even better.

If you haven’t tried beetroot yet, zapping it into a dip might be one of the best things you’ve done this summer. You can buy beetroot in a packet, or fresh – and you can eat it, leaves and all! Just a note though: don’t use the pickled beetroot as it won’t work in this recipe!

First, a word about the leaves. When you buy fresh beetroot between June and October, it comes with its beautiful stalks and leaves attached, and they are delicious too. Strip the leaves from the stalks and wash everything. Cut the stalks into roughly 2cm pieces and cook in boiling salted water for two minutes, then add the leaves and cook for one minute more. You can also steam them. Lift out with a slotted spoon and drizzle with olive oil, salt and pepper.

Ingredients

• 250g cooked beetroot

• 50g feta cheese

• 2 tbsp roughly chopped fresh mint

• 2 tbsp olive oil

• 1 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice

• Salt and freshly ground pepper

If using fresh beetroot, cut off the stalks, leaving about an inch on the beetroot. Wash gently without damaging the skin, place in a saucepan of cold water, and then ask an adult to help you: Bring to the boil and simmer for 1 to 2 hours, depending on size. The beetroot is cooked when the skin comes off easily and a skewer slides through with no resistance. Remove the skin and stalk, roughly chop, and place in a food processor with all the other ingredients. Blitz until smooth. Taste and adjust the seasoning; you may like more lemon, salt, pepper or mint. The dip looks beautiful, garnished with marigold petals. One warning: beetroot juice stains everything it touches, including you, so wear old clothes. 

A few ways to eat it:

Serve it on bread, with crackers or on toasted pitta; eat with a rainbow of raw vegetables such as carrot sticks, cucumber and peppers; dollop onto a hot baked potato instead of butter; spread inside a wrap; have on a burger instead of ketchup, or whatever way you fancy eating it.

Turn it into a salad. Cut the cooked beetroot into wedges and place in a bowl, season with salt and pepper, add a few rocket leaves and tear in some mint. Mix the oil and lemon juice together and pour over the beetroot. Transfer to a serving bowl and crumble over the feta. Garnish with edible flowers from the garden if you have them, such as violas, marigolds, borage or cornflowers. Broad beans are a lovely addition as well, and they are fantastic right now – if you can get your hands on them.

So there you have it: a dip (or salad!) that is bursting with goodness, looks amazing and is totally delicious. Make a batch, share it with someone, and see if you can convince them it came from a unicorn. 

Did You Know?

• Beetroot has one of the highest amounts of antioxidants of any vegetable? They help protect the cells in your body.

• The amazing colour comes from natural pigments called ‘betalains’, which scientists are researching for their cancer-protective and other effects.

• Beetroot is packed with nitrates, which widen your blood vessels and help oxygen move around your body more efficiently. That is why athletes drink beetroot juice before races. Scientists are also studying whether it may help lower blood pressure, improve breathing and keep our brains healthy.

• The ancient Greeks ate only the leaves. It took hundreds of years before anyone thought of eating the root!

There’s a story about wildland firefighters from David Epstein’s book ‘Range’. The firefighters train to fight wildfires. Their protocol states that when they are in danger, they have to drop everything: their heavy tools, their uniform, and run.

But what has been recorded again and again since the ‘90s is the surprising reality that, even when the command is clear and their lives are on the line, many firefighters choose to hold on to their tools and uniforms. This choice often costs them their lives.

Why don’t they save their lives? Epstein draws on the work of Karl Weick, an organisational psychologist who found that firefighting tools define firefighters’ identities and give them a sense of belonging. The fire axe, the saw, the shovel become extensions of their bodies. One firefighter shared that only after running a good few kilometres uphill did he realise he was still holding his heavy axe. Firefighters practise fighting fires; their identity is around running towards the fire, not running away from it. They weren’t able to follow the command because it brought an existential crisis, asking them to drop their singular identity associated with their tools and uniforms.

And they are not alone. Many of us spend years building a narrow identity that holds our life together. And when it stops serving us, we hold onto it anyway, telling ourselves the same story about who we are, even when all evidence says we’d be better off dropping it. We hope for the best; we tell ourselves: “it will be grand”; we ignore any signals or advice that following the familiar path would result in a crisis.

I shared this story with my clients and asked: “What are you holding onto that, if you dropped, would let you move forward with more ease?”

And people shared with me the ‘tools’ they wished to drop. The tools were different, and yet familiar. The examples below are based on the conversations I’ve had. Names and details changed.

Alex, a musician, would like to drop his people-pleasing habit and the expectation to be only a musician. Without these, “I’d feel freer, curious, malleable. I’d be willing to make mistakes, I’d be childlike, in a really good way.”

Sam, a business owner, wished to let go of the fear of what other people think; fear of being judged as having ‘notions’ was a common thread of many of the answers I heard. Sam said, “I stop myself from dreaming big because I think I’ll be regarded as big-headed.” Without the fear, she would be free to “sing from the rooftops!”

Gwen, who sold two successful businesses and is in the process of starting a third, wished to drop always chasing the hardest, most disruptive version of everything, the need to be “the cutting edge” – instead she’d want to feel more connected, and enjoy the simple things.

My own answer is “doing.” I come from generations of doers. My great-grandmother ran a farm and raised twelve children alone while her husband was stranded abroad for seven years during the war. My grandmother and my mother continue her legacy, never taking a relaxing holiday. I built a career as a communication consultant on the same instinct: bring me the chaos, I’ll organise it, I’ll hold it, I’ll do it. By expanding beyond the doer identity, I found a base for my coaching career. As a coach, I don’t need to “do,” but hold space for my clients to find their own path. And unlike my ancestors, I now can enjoy a lazy day on the beach.

The need to change and expand our identity comes to all of us in so many ways: from starting a business, giving birth or losing a loved one, to advancements in technology and AI that are forcing many to rethink their careers overnight. Whatever the shape of it, the same inner judge tends to show up with “what’s wrong with you?” or “It’s easier for everyone else!”. The firefighter’s story helped me to remember that dropping the familiar and trusted “tools” is never easily done, and I don’t even have blazing fire to force my hand.

So if you feel stuck in business or life, answer the same question I asked my clients: what are you holding onto that, if you dropped, would let you move forward with more ease? And how would you know you dropped it? What would be different?

Before answering the question, ground yourself. Take a deep breath and let it out slowly. Tune into your body. This will help you tap into a deeper sense of knowing. Feel your feet touching the ground, the clothes touching your skin. Pay attention to any words or images that come to mind. Stay open and curious.

Set a five-minute timer and write or draw. Let yourself be surprised by what emerges on the page.

Did you resonate with the article and feel ready to expand your identity and business? I’d love to work with you. Coaching sessions run for 75 minutes and cost €95.

Visit www.thinkvisual.ie/letschat to book a free discovery call or email me naomi@thinkvisual.ie.

By Nicholas Mitchell

If you visit one of West Cork’s estuaries during July and August, you may notice something puzzling. Two Black-tailed Godwits standing side by side can look remarkably different, even though they belong to the same subspecies, ‘Limosa limosa icelandica’, which breeds in Iceland.

I photographed the two birds in the first photograph on Rosscarbery estuary in early July. One has a bright orange bill and rich chestnut breeding plumage, while the other is much duller with a pink bill and patchy grey feathers. So why the difference?

The plumage of the bird on the left indicates that it almost certainly remained in Iceland long enough to breed successfully. Females often leave the breeding grounds first, immediately after the chicks hatch, leaving the males to finish raising the young. This is why brightly-coloured adults in breeding-plumage start appearing in Ireland from late June onwards on their return migration, and why this is more likely to be a female. She is also just beginning her moult and transition into winter plumage. Over the coming weeks, the bright orange bill will fade to a dull pink, and its rusty feathers will be replaced by grey ones, providing a more suitable camouflage for muddy estuaries.

The bird on the right tells a different story. With its pink bill It could either be an adult that failed to breed successfully or an immature bird spending its second summer in Ireland. How can we tell?

Failed breeders have patches of rich chestnut-orange feathers on the neck, breast, and belly. Because they were in breeding condition only a few weeks before, they are actively shedding their bright feathers, creating a somewhat messy, patchy mix of bright orange and new grey winter feathers. They will also be hungry and feed intensely on the mudflats.

On the other hand, immature (non-breeding) birds never developed the rich chestnut breeding plumage in the first place. Their feathers are uniformly dull grey-brown, heavily worn and faded after a year without moulting. They have remained in Ireland throughout the summer instead of migrating to Iceland, and generally spend much more time roosting than feeding.

The bird that I photographed was feeding actively and still showed a patchy orange chest with distinct dark horizontal bars and a lower belly that looked ‘dirty’ and mottled, as it moults out of its summer coat. This is strong evidence that it was an adult failed breeder rather than an immature non-breeder.

By the time you read this, a new generation of Black-tailed Godwits will be arriving in Ireland on their first migration, south to their over-wintering grounds. Juveniles are particularly attractive birds. They have a lovely bright plain peachy breast and dark grey-brown upper feathers with neat, pale buff edges, that gives them a scaly pattern (see the second photograph, kindly provided by Ciarán Cronin).

Next time you visit one of West Cork’s estuaries, take a closer look at the Black-tailed Godwits. With a little practice, you may be able to distinguish between newly arrived juveniles, second-year birds that never migrated, and adults returning from their breeding grounds. While you are out watching the waders, also keep an eye out for birds with colour leg-rings. Recording and reporting these rings allows scientists to track migration routes, survival rates and breeding success. All that information helps to improve conservation measures for these remarkable birds. The third photograph, taken in August 2019 on Clonakilty Estuary, shows a colour-ringed Black-Tailed Godwit. This bird was ringed as an adult in Portugal in November 2011. it has since been recorded in Portugal, the Netherlands and Ireland, illustrating the extraordinary journeys these birds make each year.

If this has sparked your interest, and you would like to learn more about the birds that are on the estuaries near you, then why not join us in August, either in Timoleague or Rosscarbery (details below)? Families and beginners are especially welcome.

BirdWatch Ireland
West Cork Branch News

Upcoming outings being held by the Branch are:

Sunday, August 9:
Timoleague Educational Garden

Sunday, August 16:
Heritage Week – Rosscarbery

Sunday, August 23:
Pelagic boat trip
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.

f@BirdWatchIrelandWestCork

c@birdwatch_ireland_west_cork

For generations, building a home on family land has been a familiar route to home ownership, particularly in rural Ireland. With house prices continuing to rise and housing supply remaining tight, more people than ever are now considering buying a site and building their own home as a practical way of entering the property market. For many families, this can also provide an opportunity for adult children to gain independence without moving far from home, or to install a modular unit where there is suitable space on an existing family property.

The Government is now proposing changes to planning policy aimed at creating a more consistent approach across all local authorities, replacing the current ‘location lottery’ with a unified national planning framework that provides greater certainty for applicants. The proposed amendments would ease local housing need restrictions by expanding eligibility to include economic need as well as those working in farming, forestry and essential public services such as teaching and nursing. They would also remove blanket bans on ribbon development and eliminate limits on the number of homes that can be built on a family farm. In addition, under exceptional personal or health circumstances, elderly people wishing to downsize and families caring for a person with a disability could build a home of up to 90 square metres within the site boundary of the original family home. These homes would be subject to conditions, including that they must be used as the owner’s primary residence for a minimum of 10 years and cannot be used as short-term rental accommodation.

The shift has brought renewed attention to self-build mortgages, planning rules and government supports, It has also made the process more complicated, as the cost of construction, land, and professional fees can push many projects beyond what families can afford.

Over the past few years, the cost of building a home has increased significantly. As a result, some people who had planned to self-build are now being told they can no longer afford to do so and should consider buying an existing property instead. In some cases, the total cost of a self-build has even exceeded the market value of the completed home.

Anyone considering building a home should begin by setting a realistic budget. The first step is to speak with a mortgage broker to establish your borrowing capacity before engaging with an architect or engineer. Understanding how much you can borrow, together with your total available budget, allows you to work backwards and plan a home that is financially achievable.

Having a clear budget from the outset helps shape the house design around what is realistically affordable rather than what is aspirational. It is also worth asking your architect or engineer to prepare a ‘gold-plated’ design that includes all of your desired features, with each item individually costed. This allows you to identify where savings can be made during the initial build while ensuring the design can accommodate those features in the future if your budget allows.

Planning permission remains a key step in most self-build projects. A mortgage application generally cannot proceed until conditional planning permission has been granted, and lenders will also want to review the specific conditions attached to that permission.

One of the most significant recent changes to Ireland’s planning system is the introduction of new exemptions for modular homes, which came into effect on July 27, 2026. The measures are designed to make it easier for homeowners to create additional living space by allowing standalone modular homes in back gardens, larger home extensions and, in certain circumstances, the subdivision of existing homes.

Under the new rules, detached garden units, often referred to as ‘granny flats’, of between 32 and 45 square metres can now be built for family use without planning permission, provided they do not have a separate utility connection and are not used for short-term letting. The maximum size of exempt rear house extensions has also increased from 40 square metres to 45 square metres, with any previous extensions taken into account when calculating the total floor area.

The changes also allow an existing home to be divided into two self-contained units, each with a minimum floor area of 32 square metres, provided the development meets the specified criteria. In addition, the exemption threshold for general garden structures, such as home offices and outbuildings, has increased to 30 square metres.

The new exemptions are subject to a number of conditions. They apply only to construction carried out between July 27, 2026 and December 31, 2030. The main house must retain at least 25 square metres of private outdoor space, although there is ongoing debate about how this requirement will be interpreted, as the total includes both front and rear outdoor areas. Other requirements, including minimum distances from septic tanks where applicable, must also be met. Detached garden units must maintain a minimum 0.6-metre setback from walls and property boundaries.

Government supports are available for some self-build projects, although qualifying has become more challenging. The Help to Buy Scheme can be used for self-builds, but applicants must still meet the scheme’s lending criteria. In practice, this means the loan-to-value calculations must align with the valuation of the completed property. Borrowers must take out a mortgage of at least 70 per cent of the completed property’s value, and the completed home cannot be valued at more than €500,000.

The First Home Scheme may also be available for some self-builds, although it is subject to property value limits and other eligibility criteria. For applicants who are unable to borrow enough through the main pillar banks, a Local Authority Home Loan may provide an alternative, depending on the borrower’s circumstances and the value of the property. Maximum property value limits vary between local authority areas.

For anyone considering a self-build, the key message is that it remains an achievable route to home ownership, but it requires more careful planning than ever before. Rising construction costs, stricter lending criteria and planning considerations mean prospective builders need to do far more research before committing to a site or finalising a design.

Modular homes may offer a faster solution in some cases, particularly in light of the recent planning changes. However, buyers should not assume they are exempt from planning rules or other regulations. The best approach is to have your budget, planning position and finance fully in place before construction begins.

Whether you are planning to build your forever home, create a garden home for an adult child or develop additional accommodation to generate rental income, Moneytree can help you identify the lender best suited to your circumstances. Whatever your project, we can guide you through the available lending options and help you find the mortgage solution that best fits your needs.

If you have any questions, please contact the Moneytree team on 023 881 0001.

Himself works off farm but when it comes to the farm machinery side of things, he does most of the operating and maintenance on the gear we have. Much to his disappointment we don’t have a fleet of tractors and machinery so a phone call to our contractor is necessary when silage time comes around. 

When the first fleet of silage contractors passes by our gate, it’s as if some sort of fever takes hold of him. I am immediately pestered to check the fertiliser dates and take grass samples to Teagasc or the Co-op to test the nitrogen and sugar levels, so that all-important phone call can be made. For a couple of hours, we have all the gear on the farm, and this is when he beams with pure joy.

Over 30 years ago, I did my stint drawing silage for the farm family I worked for. I was given a Massey 165 and a dinky little trailer, and all was going well until something metal cracked on the trailer. They replaced it with one twice the size. Three loads later, I was flying it. I backed up, tipped the trailer and pulled away, not noticing that the load had stuck. As I drove over a raised section of the yard, the trailer came off the tractor and beached itself on its side like a stranded whale. I can still clearly remember the swearing and the hands on heads that followed. Needless to say, my nerves were shot, and I was promptly relegated back to milking cows, a skill I went on to perfect instead.

On the morning of the West Cork Harvest Day in Ballinascarthy, himself excitedly suggested we head over for a look at the vintage tractors and harvesters. How could I possibly refuse such an exciting offer?

We made it into the field just as the vintage machinery was lining up for the first harvesting demonstration and, much to my surprise, I actually enjoyed watching it (no PTSD!). All of the tractors were in great fettle and were clearly the pride and joy of their owners. We even got notions about restoring our well-aged little David Brown at home, which these days either scrapes the yard or has the power hose attached to it.

That, of course, led to him reminding me that we need a higher-horsepower tractor to pull the LESS tanker up the road to the silage ground. It’s a regular conversation in our house because when the LESS tanker was being bought, the chief financial officer (me) said, “We can buy that tanker, but the tractor you have must be able to pull it.” Technically, it can, but hauling full loads of slurry uphill to the silage ground seems to be taking its toll on our 15-year-old tractor, which definitely wasn’t built to stand the test of time like those vintage machines.

The conversation ended abruptly, as it usually does, with me saying, “Have you seen the price of tractors? It had better keep going for another few years.” I took out a five-year loan and applied for a TAMS grant to buy the LESS tanker, and with all the volatility in global milk prices, the thought of taking out another loan for a tractor gives me chills. Deep down, though, I know that day is coming, and when it does, we’ll need a tractor that’s capable of seeing us through the next 15 years.

A quick Google AI search tells me that a new 140-150hp tractor would set us back somewhere between €120,000 and €165,000 (plus VAT), so a spanking new tractor is definitely off the cards. The only realistic option for us is to go down the second-hand route, where a 2022-24 model would still cost between €85,000 and €115,000 plus VAT. It’s crazy money for a farm our size and highlights one of the major expenses many farmers eventually have to face.

It’s important to remember that every farming enterprise is different, whether it’s the scale of the operation, the level of debt from previous investments, labour requirements, whether it’s run on a full-time or part-time basis, the stage the business is at, or the year-to-year price volatility that affects every sector. Farmers are price takers, and regardless of the enterprise, there are countless challenges to securing a steady income that allows you to confidently approach a financial institution for a loan.

According to the recently published Teagasc National Farm Survey, 2025 was an exceptional year, with welcome increases in incomes across all farming systems. The average farm size nationally is 45 hectares, and average family farm income rose to just over €53,800 in 2025, an increase of 49 per cent compared with the previous year. These results highlight the positive impact that a period of strong milk, cattle and sheep prices can have on farm viability.

Thirty hectares is the average size of cattle rearing farms, which typically focus on suckler beef production. In 2025, average family farm income rose by 74 per cent to almost €24,100, an unprecedented level for this sector. Significantly higher young cattle prices contributed to a 22 per cent increase in gross output, while costs changed only marginally, allowing much of the additional output value to flow directly into higher farm incomes.

Other Cattle farms, including beef finishing and store cattle enterprises, recorded an 81 per cent increase in average income to €32,800, based on an average farm size of 34 hectares. Much stronger prices for finished and store cattle drove a 31 per cent increase in gross output, more than offsetting a 12 per cent rise in direct costs associated with higher feed and fertiliser expenditure. Farms operating dairy-beef systems also performed particularly well in 2025.

Average income also increased on Sheep farms in 2025, although the rise was more modest. Based on an average farm size of 53 hectares, family farm income increased by 7 per cent to just over €29,300. Gross output remained broadly unchanged, reflecting higher lamb prices alongside a reduction in output volume. However, a 9 per cent reduction in direct costs, combined with stable overhead costs, supported a further improvement in income compared with 2024.

Tillage farms (with secondary cattle enterprises) saw incomes rise by 33 per cent in 2025, reaching €54,900 (70 ha). Due to a substantial global grain harvest, grain prices were lower in 2025, but this was offset by a significant improvement in Irish cereal yields. This led to a seven per cent increase in gross output in 2025. Costs rose only slightly, allowing the improvement in output value to feed through to additional farm income. Data from specialist tillage farms (without livestock) will be reported in the final NFS report for 2025 due to be published later this year. 

Dairy farm incomes increased by 41 per cent in 2025, rising to an average of €153,300 (69 hectares). The improvement in 2025 was driven primarily by stronger milk prices, an increase in milk output due to good weather, and higher prices from calves and cull cows, which contributed to an increase in gross output on the average dairy farm of 13 per cent. While the average income on dairy farms considerably exceeds that of other farm systems, the intensive, full-time nature of dairy farming means that they require a higher level of labour input than any of the other farm systems.

An outsider looking in might think that this is reflective of what farmers make every year, however the reality is very different. Go back to the 2023 NFS and you’ll see the average dairy farmer’s income dropped by 69 per cent, sheep by 22% per cent, cattle rearing by 15 per cent and tillage by a whopping 71 per cent in one year. 

Will there be a loan taken out for a tractor? Himself is living in hope and has great faith in the magic wand waved by this farm’s chief financial officer. So he has been given the go-ahead to start the search. Perhaps we’ll make an offer to buy one of those big old vintage tractors that have stood the test of time?