Runagh Drake (10) is a sixth-generation farmer living in Kilfinane, Co Limerick.
Come September, she’ll be starting fourth class, but much of her focus during the summer was on her dad’s dairy farm.
“There’s a lot of cows, I love being around them and being on the farm. In the good weather, I want to go out farming with my dad and my brother, we go off feeding the calves and the heifers,” says Runagh.
Along with her siblings Liam Óg (14), Jim (12), and Neasa (8), Runagh’s life on the Limerick farm is mainly focused around her father’s herd of 90 cows. Her father, Liam, is a full-time farmer, while her mum, Aoife, works for the ISPCC.
Aoife says, “The farm has been in the family on Liam’s side for years, so we’d love for it to continue with the kids in some capacity, but we know that it’s very difficult now, like you’d need another income or role too. In fact, right now Runagh wants to be a garda, but I’d love if she kept an interest in the farm and was farming at the weekend with a few cows.
“We haven’t put much pressure on any of the kids to get stuck in with the farming, it’s been a really natural development for Runagh and it’s been lovely to see that in her.
“In school, she’s always talking to the lads who farm about the animals and they exchange toy cows, talk about their play farms, that sort of stuff. It’s helping her connect with them too, as well as the animals and the outdoors. Our other daughter has no interest, but Runagh really got stuck in off her own back – she’ll try anything, she’s a great girl.”
Helping out
Aoife says that the growth she’s seen in Runagh as she learns more has been brilliant. Acknowledging that farming can be difficult, both physically and mentally, she says that seeing Runagh learn what has to be done through the yearly cycle of the farm has been very gratifying. The more her daughter understands the importance of the work, the more she wants to get involved.
In terms of getting stuck in, Runagh says that she helps out on the farm whenever she can, as much as she can during the summer or around school hours during term time.
I really enjoy helping out. My main job with my brother would be to go out and check on the calves and heifers, then feed them. I love being around the cows, but sometimes I can get a little bit scared because I’m worried they’re going to run on top of me, they’re pretty big, so I think the calves are a bit more fun to be around
“I really enjoy helping out. My main job with my brother would be to go out and check on the calves and heifers, then feed them. I love being around the cows, but sometimes I can get a little bit scared because I’m worried they’re going to run on top of me, they’re pretty big, so I think the calves are a bit more fun to be around,” says Runagh.
“Spring is my favourite time of year because that’s calving season and I love when the new calves are born. I usually go off and help feed them with my brother and Dad, then sometimes I go out to check if it’s time for the cows to have their calves. Sometimes I get to be there when they’re having their calves too, it’s cool.”
At 10-years-old, Runagh’s young life has been shaped by the farm. Her mother recalls how her daughter would get stuck in from a very early age, showing interest`in all things farm-related as soon as she could.
As for Runagh, sharing her experience of learning about the farm and rural life with her family has been very special.
“I started heading out to help on the farm when I was really little, so I don’t really remember anything from the very beginning.
“I remember going out to the cows and cycling around the farm. That’s how it started for me,” says Runagh. “It’s usually me and my brother helping my dad because we like it, my other siblings aren’t really as interested.”
Return to school
While on her summer break, amidst helping with the heifers, Runagh has been keeping herself very busy elsewhere with her other hobbies.
“I play lots of sports. I do rugby, soccer, hurling and football, so I’m very busy.This summer, I did some summer camps and the Cúl Camps too. I’m very into my sports but I try to get farming during the week too,” she explains.
“Dad teaches me stuff around the farm like how to to feed a calf. I love learning about the cows and what we can do to help them, how they produce milk, and how that can be made into butter and cheese. We just produce milk, but it’s great to know all about the connection.”
As summer starts to wind down, Runagh is looking forward to heading to Legoland with her family before she returns to school, but it’s clear her heart is at home on the farm.
She’s open about how she’s a little afraid of the cows, but explains that she’s determined to keep learning.
“Cows are really big and they’re super fast as well, so that kind of scares me sometimes. When I’m out on the farm with my dad though, I know that I’m safe, much safer than I am on my own, so that’s how I like it to be.
“We have a lot of fun and it’s hard work, but it’s not a chore for me,” explains Runagh.
“There are a lot of farms near us, and there’s a girl in my class who works on her dad’s farm too.
“We’re friends so it’s really fun to be able to talk about how we farm with our dads and what we’re both doing. I really love it.”
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