Are you familiar with Bó Riabhach and Droimeann cattle? Well this farm is home to two rather interesting rare breeds!

Qualified Archaeologists Darren McLoughlin, a native of Lavey, Co. Cavan and his partner Rose Lewtas, from Dunlewy, Co. Donegal may initially appear to be unlikely farmers.

The duo, based in Gurteen, Carrigallen, Co. Leitrim have by no means plunged into large-scaled farming, but it’s safe to say that they have entered into the farming circles with a rather unique perspective, considering their backgrounds.

The Agricultural and Horticultural Fields

“I was half-reared by my grandmother and uncle Dessie on a small dairy farm in Monaghan. That is where I spent a very happy childhood and my love for the independence of the faming lifestyle grew. The different personalities of each dairy cow made me realise that cows deserved to be treated ethically.” Darren told That’s Farming.

Following the celebration of his 13th birthday, the family no longer continued dairy farming and Darren later went the other side of the farm gate to complete his Archaeology degree at I.T. Sligo.

During the degree programme, Darren met Rose his partner and they decided to establish a small holding in 2013, due to their experience in the livestock and horticultural disciplines.

“Together we embarked on the organic ethical path. We started restoring the traditional farmhouse and added our standard poodle "Geansaí", a few hens and the farm was born. We got our herd number and the rest is now history.”Darren added.

A passion for rare breeds

Due to the nature of their profession as archaeologists keen to preserve and investigate all parts of our history, it is no wonder that Darren and his partner Rose have turned their attention to two rather unique cattle breeds.

“We started our career as Archaeologists and after excavating countless cattle bones from the ditches of ringforts and wondering what these early Medieval cattle looked like, our love for native Irish rare breeds was born.” Darren said.

The duo crossed paths with the famous conservationist and rare breeder Mr. Noel Kiernan which stands out as a major milestone.

Mr. Keirnan encouraged Darren to join the Irish Droimeann Cattle Society and his interest in rare breeds continued to snowball.

Shortly afterwards he discovered Bó Riabhach cattle.

With reports suggesting that they are a few as 15-20 Bó Riabhach cattle now remaining on Irish soil meant that Mr. McLoughlin didn’t have to think twice when it came to a possible farming venture.

“These two traditional native rare breeds are steeped in folklore, and as archaeologists, captured our imagination.” Darren said.

Both cattle breeds are set to be officially recognised as native rare breeds.

The Farm- Sourcing the foundational stock of the herd

The current farm sits on a small acreage and is now home to one Bó Riabhach cow and one Droimeann cow.

As both cattle breeds are not to be found in their numbers in Ireland, sourcing the foundational females of the herd became a rather difficult journey for the rare cattle breeds enthusiast.

“We bought a Droimeann with calf at foot and a Bó riabhach. Together with "Mabel" and her heifer "Bullet" our small holding became a farm. All are now in-calf to a Bó Riabhach bull. This would not be possible without the dedication of rare breeders Noel Keirnan, who bred both our Droimeann and Bó riabhach cows and Liam Byrne, who bred the Bó riabhach bull. I cannot stress enough the importance of these men who have kept these breeds alive out of pure love for preserving traditional Ireland. ” Darren said.

Bó Riabhach

Translated as ‘‘The Brindled Cow’’ from Irish to English, the breed has acquired this particular name because of their distinct brindled coat colour.

The breed is steeped in Irish history and has had many associations with old folk tales.

"The brindle cow complained to the month of March about the harshness of the weather so the month of March borrowed a few days from the month of April continuing the harsh weather and killing the brindle cow". Darren explained.

Droimeann

As a well-respected traditional cattle breed renowned for ease of calving, high fertility, high longevity and good docility for example, a Droimeann cow seemed like yet another ideal addition to the farm.

Records suggest that one of the best known Droimeann was probably "Big Bertha", a cow that is significantly renowned on an international stage for being a holder of not one, but two Guinness World Records.

The first was for her exceptional longevity, as she lived for a whopping forty-nine years and then of course, she most certainly wasn’t left idle throughout the duration of her lifetime.

She earned her keep delivering a total of 39 calves and also raised a significant amount of money for charity.

The Bright Future

Aside from their Agricultural and Horticultural commitments, the couple, Darren and Rose also supply organic salad mix, grown in traditional drills, to both the Kilbracken Arms, Carrigallen, Co. Leitrim and Dillon’s of Ballinamuck, Co. Longford.

As Darren’s efforts of rare cattle breed conservation continues, his sheer passion for Droimeann and Bó Riabhach cattle continues.

“If, on my next excavation, I find early Medieval skeletal remains that may be the ancestors of modern rare breeds then those remains will be selected for genetic research and we can definitively prove there antiquity.” Darren said.

Plans for herd expansion are also stirring in the pipeline.

“We are dedicated to the conservation and preservation of traditional rural Ireland. We hope to identify these rare breeds in the archaeological record. We intend on showing other young couples that it is possible to make a living a life and a home in rural Ireland.” Darren concluded.

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