Rural Life

Minister Michael Ring on why he's 'really sick' of the negativity about rural Ireland 

On the day Leo Varadkar was made Taoiseach, Michael Ring paced his office up and down, waiting, wondering if he'd done enough to get 'the call'.

'He was a lovely, kind, friendly man': Tributes paid to farmer killed in tractor accident 

A man who died in a tragic tractor accident in Sligo last weekend has been named locally as West Sligo farmer Robert 'Sonny' Kilgannon, The Sligo...

Soaring stress levels see farmers turn to Samaritans for guidance 

The stress levels within the farming sector have been described as an "eye opener" as the Samaritans field a flood of calls.

'Quality broadband is essential for young people to remain in rural areas and businesses to thrive' 

If young people are to remain in rural areas and businesses and entrepreneurs to thrive, quality broadband coverage is essential, according to...

Village priest pays tribute at funeral for Northern Ireland man killed working on his family's farm 

The funeral has taken place of a Co Fermanagh man who was killed on his family farm.

'Straw-nado' - Farmer 'upset' as tornado leaves straw in a mess 

A farmer in Hertfordshire in southern England was left after a tornado left his field of rowed up straw in a mess.

'This person needs catching': Police hunt thugs who shot cow in the face with crossbow 

Police in Wales are on the hunt for what they describe as “depraved thugs” who shot a cow in the face with a crossbow.

Watch: The stag party that hired a tractor and trailer to keep things local 

Traveling via tractor and trailer between pubs has to be one of the more unique forms of transportation at a stag party.

Pictures: Farmer makes rare discovery in his hay shed 

Three young owls were uncovered by a farmer recently when he went to move bales in a shed.

Calls for more Garda resources as farm contractor attacked with wheel brace 

Calls have been made for more resources to be given to the Gardai, by Sinn Fein Deputy Peadar Toibin.

'The traditional Irish Sport Horse could be non-existent within a decade' 

The traditional Irish Sport Horse faces extinction, a former US Olympian jumper and leading breeder has warned.

'Players today don't have time to get married, let alone play football while running a farm' 

“Players today don’t have time to get married, let alone play inter-county football while running a farm,” maintains Mick O’Dwyer.

I wouldn't be alive today if I drank and smoked - GAA legend Mick O'Dwyer 

‘The GAA tends to be the only thing that holds rural Ireland together.” These were the first words spoken by Gaelic football dynamo Mick...

Obituary: ICMSA stalwart Donal Murphy 

The death has been announced of the longest serving chief executive in the almost seven decades of the ICMSA with the passing of Donal Murphy, following a short illness.

Lidl recalls mince product that main contain plastic 

Lidl Ireland is recalling all batches of What’s Cooking? Meat Free Mince, due to the possible presence of small pieces of blue plastic, according to a statement from the Food Safety Authority.

Farmer 'drowned' after being 'knocked into a slurry pit by his tractor rolling backwards' 

A farmer has died tragically after a tractor apparently knocked him into a slurry pit.

These emoji faces on bales will definitely bring a smile to your face 

One Donegal woman has raised huge awareness for Crumlin Children's Hospital in recent days, with her creative artistic flair on bales!

Grassroots diary: Macra na Feirme makes history in Croke Park 

"Right, lads and ladies, it's a great privilege to be back here managing a team in Croker but finishing with a win over a Kerryman would be the icing on the cake."

Farmer dies tragically after tractor knocks him into slurry pit 

A farmer in Co Clare died last night in a farming accident.

Now is the right time for Shania’s return 

CANADIAN country star Shania Twain was so distraught when her husband left her for her best friend in 2008, she thought she'd never sing again.

'Loan star' state? Irish banks must drop facade 

I sometimes think 'recovery Ireland' is like one of those fit-up, façade towns used in the making of old Western films. Everything looks real until you open the door of the saloon and you walk back...

New pictures show scale of stolen agri equipment haul in Tipperary 

Gardai have released new pictures showing the full scale of a recent find of hunderds of thousands of euro worth of stolen agricultural and gardening equipment.

Brexit threat to bloodstock sales 

The fluctuation of sterling in recent months has had a negative impact on thoroughbred sales in Ireland, Charles O'Neill of Irish Thoroughbred Marketing has warned.

'We just didn't see the danger' - Farmer on loss of James (6) in tragic accident 

"For others today's news becomes tomorrow's news. But it's still raw for us", says Padraig Higgins who lost his son James, at just six-years-old in a farm...

Government has made 12,000 payments of €1,500 to date for people stop turf cutting 

Some 12,411 payments and 901 deliveries of turf have been made to applicants to the government’s turf cutting compensation scheme for raised bog...

Safety warning for farmers 'making hay' 

Farmers and agri-contractors have been urged to put safety first as many are busy making hay and silage amid soaring temperatures.

Pictures: Golf fanatic creates his own golf course in farmer's silage field WITHOUT permission 

We've all heard of crop circles but beef farmer Pat Shortt couldn't believe his eyes when he found golf greens cut into his silage crop.

Pictures: Farmers making the most of the sunshine before rain returns 

The farming community are making the most of the recent dry spell with tractors on the move across Ireland at hay and silage work.

'I’ve even seen them cry': Vegetarian farmer saves his cattle from abattoir by donating them to animal sanctuary 

A herd of cows from the UK East Midlands will be mooing a sigh of relief thanks the kindness of...

Opinion: Why farmers make great fathers 

Farmers make great fathers.

Savour the nuggets of joy that add up to a good life 

"It is five days, nine hours and four minutes to the end of my Leaving Cert and the start of my summer holidays."

Farmer says he can't understand why 'hobby farmers' should get equal payments 

Diarmuid Murray has just begun working on his uncle Seamus's 95 acre farm at Knockcroghery in Co Roscommon where is hoping to build up his own...

'My parents would be destroyed': Farmer afraid 'cheating' wife will take part of farm in divorce 

Proportion of farmers in the workforce down 85% in last 50 years - CSO 

The number of people which classified themselves as farmers in Census 2016 declined by over 12,000, according to new figures released by the CSO...

Oxford academic trampled to death by cows 'was trying to save dog' 

A former Oxford don who made millions pioneering injection-free vaccines has been trampled to death while out for a morning stroll.

Sisters are doing it for themselves: Meet Waterford's farming nuns 

In June 1980, an All-Ireland winning camoige player and youth worker from Antrim, pulled up outside the gates of St Mary's Abbey, Glencairn, Co Waterford.

Farm women group to host mental health talk 

Tonight the South East Women in Farming group will host an open and honest discussion on emotional well-being and resilience building for rural ladies in the region.

Celebrating Tipperary's equine heritage 

Down through the years the small town of Fethard in Co Tipperary has become a popular tourist destination not only for its association with horses, but also its rich culture and heritage.

Ill farmer whose 13-year-old son had to take over running of the farm overwhelmed after €68k raised for MS treatment 

A father-of-five who is fighting multiple sclerosis has raised more than €68,000 to fund treatment in...

Opinion: Orphan socks and the meaning of life 

Of the big questions we all face, there is one that is strangely unsolved - what happens to socks that get lost in the wash?

WATCH: This barber is going viral with a rather unique hair cutting technique with sheep shears 

The video of a Kildare man cutting hair with a pair of sheep shears has turned the grand master barber into a celebrity.

How agricultural students can win bursaries of €1,000 each, for third level study 

The Irish Hereford Breed Society (IHBS), in collaboration with Slaney Foods International and Lidl Ireland, are to award five bursaries of...

'Every farmer should be able to sell a site on their land with planning permission' 

Galway Co Council has voted unanimously to support a motion which would see farmers given the right to sell a site on their land.

Dairy farmer crushed by tractor 'after dog jumped into the cab and set it moving' 

A tragic tractor accident has claimed the life a well known dairy farmer in the UK.

'Sometimes a farmer needs a nurse' 

Four years ago, the HSE in conjunction with the Irish Heart Foundation (IHF) ran a pilot to provide a free heart health check for farmers in their shared place of work, the mart.

Opinion: Excitement and trepidation as we gear up for show season 

Oil-blackened horse hooves, talced up udders, proud photos of ruddy-faced white-coated handlers and their red rosette-bearing stock. It can only mean one thing - the agricultural show season is...

True cattle enthusiast - George is a real showman 

As the annual agricultural show season gets under way for another year, one man convinced that commercial cattle classes are on the way to becoming the largest sector at the rural events...

Clare's star turn - Lambert eager to repay owners' faith 

Competing at eventing at all levels takes time, effort and a lot of money. Few can boast at being able to survive without producing and selling horses to fund this expensive sport.

Bridging the gap to Moate Mart memories 

There were some serious celebrations in the Westmeath village of Moate at the launch of Moate Mart Memories - a collection of old stories and photographs of what was once one the busiest...

Having to fill out forms and pay €25 to burn some bushes - Is the boom back? 

Is it just me that has a feeling of déjà vu at the moment? Traffic getting worse in the mornings, the lines of builders queuing for breakfast rolls in...

Comment: This obsession of sending all children to college must stop 

Over the years we have all wondered at the German economic miracle and how it continues to be miraculous. There is no magic involved, but there are a number of key elements to the...