We would like to introduce our most recent Ambassador, Kieran Doona from Co.Kerry. We are delighted to include Kieran in our network of Farming For Nature Ambassadors. These individuals have been chosen in acknowledgement of their long-standing commitment and contribution to farming for nature on their land and in their community.
Kieran Doona, comes from a family that have been farming along one of the main access routes to Carrauntoohil for 5 generations. Kieran is a young part-time farmer who is part of the MacGillcuddy Reeks EIP project and works hard to meet their objectives of working with local farmers to maintain and enhance the rare and protected heath and bog through controlled grazing, establishing an active landowner ranger presence, undertaking path maintenance works and treating bracken and rhododendron in the area. He is open to trialling new approaches on his farm. Kieran has significantly reduce sheep numbers on his site to allow the heathers and other heathland vegetation to recover and has also agreed to summer grazing with Droimeann cattle as a long-term management strategy for controlling the total cover of bracken and gorse. Kieran also works with a group of local farmers who carry out path maintenance works in the MacGillycuddy Reeks. This work is vital to the conservation of these upland habitats in terms managing the impacts from the large numbers of people (hillwalkers and other recreational users) that visit the Reeks. Kieran is passionate about raising awareness of upland farming and its long-term viability.
More information on Kieran’s farm here. Ambassador December 2020.
[Due to travel restrictions his plaque will be delivered to him in due course]
See this film on Kieran’s farm below
