RUBIZMO Virtual Visit #06 - Virtual Visit to the Glenkeen Farm, Ireland
Channel: Rubizmo Rural Business Models
Date: 14/10/2021

The GlenKeen Sheep farm is a family run farm passed down from generations. Catherine - a direct descendant of the O´Malley family together with her husband Jim Powers took over the farm in 1999. The farm is situated on the Wild Atlantic Way route along the west coast of Ireland. Catherine saw an opportunity to open up the farm to visitors following tourists in the area stopping to take pictures. Since 2014 they  opened a state of the art tourism facility with the support of South West Mayo Development Company. After applying for LEADER Funding they also developed a visitor centre. This happened at the Wild Atlantic Way was being marketed as a holiday destination.
 
Nowadays the farm is a working sheep farm but they also provide tourists with sheep herding experience with trained sheep dogs. They also hold sheep shearing displays, and walks through the commonage to take in the surrounding scenery. The visitor centre also has a shop where local produce and crafts are sold.

The session was the first of two Virtual Visits of the sixth live RUBIZMO Café Talk Cycle about "New Business Values in Agriculture" taking part in May 2021. The second Virtual Visit during this Cycle brings you to Wanczykówka Cheese Factory in Poland. Follow the Playlist "RUBIZMO Café Talks" and discover even more opportunities for rural development.