Help welcomed on a smallholding in Swinford, Mayo, Ireland

Details

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  Description

  *️️️*️️️*️️️Help welcome in July / August*️️️*️️️*️️️
  
  We are a family of 5 with 3 active teenagers, living on ten acres, four miles from a small town. It's a very busy house with after school and weekend hobbies and activities. We have a varied collection of animals and pets and a small veg/fruit garden which I would like to be more productive and maybe expand with help. I keep sheep, goats, pigs, hens, ducks, Turkey's. All for meat, milk and eggs. We also have 5 dogs and 3 cats. We've been developing the smallholding, the land, garden, buildings, trees, animals, etc. gradually over the last ten years and are well placed to share a wealth of knowledge about all the above. I believe there is so much more I can learn too and welcome any advice or knowledge you may have to offer. I hope to learn cheese making and soap making from the goats milk.

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Gardening

  DIY and building projects

  Animal Care

  Farmstay help

  General Maintenance
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  We are a traditional Irish family. All 3 children and my husband play a variety of types of music. There is no shortage of musical instruments in our house from drums to tin whistles should you wish to learn how to play. We also like to play music occasionally in the local pubs which is a great social outing and you are more than welcome to come along and experience an evening of traditional music and dance. I am also a member of a smallholder group who meet up and exchange knowledge and seeds etc which is another great opportunity to explore other areas of Mayo and meet people. There are plenty of scenic walks and walking groups in the area and of course the River Moy is close if you like fishing. Turlough house is only 20mins drive and has a wonderful museum of Irish country life and beautiful gardens and walks. Hennigan's heritage farm and museum is a must to visit and is only 20mins drive which I am happy to take you to. We can share our knowledge of living a simple, happy life caring for animals and growing veg. You may also get to experience a trip to the bog! Where we save the turf and bring home to burn in the stove in winter.This is in the summer months only but is very enjoyable.

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  Projects involving children

  This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.

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  Help

  Ideally we would like help with the following types of projects. Looking after the farm animals, fencing, planting trees, drainage, weeding, strimming, stone wall construction and maintenance. In the garden... Making beds, planting veg, weeding, harvesting. In the yard... General maintenance, painting, power hosing, erecting and maintaining small buildings, laying paths and concrete.
  No experience necessary. However, we require people who are honest and genuine in wanting to help us and are not afraid of a day's work.

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  Languages spoken

  English: Fluent
  Irish: Beginner

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  Accommodation

  We have a separate 2 bed mobile home adjacent to the main house, with all modern conveniences - cooking facilities, TV, WiFi, large living room, bathroom etc. Breakfast and lunch are self catering (food supplied). We are into water conservation and this is very important to us so we ask you not to waste water. There is the option to join the family for daily dinner of traditional Irish food including meat reared on our own farm. This may not be suitable for vegetarians.
  Laundry can be done in the main house.

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  What else ...

  There are daily buses to the larger local towns ( Castlebar and Ballina) all less than 30mins away. There are local activities weekly such as ceilis, music sessions , bingo, farmers markets. We have cinema and bowling alley near if you prefer a night out to relax and unwind or go karting if you want something exciting and fun! County Mayo is full of heritage sites eg the ceide fields and turlough house and museum and much more, stunning landscapes around wesport and achill has amazing beaches. Also, Croagh Patrick and Nephin are ideal if you are into hill walking or Mountain climbing. Galway and Sligo are easily accessible too by bus daily. I am happy to take you and collect you from bus/train station at weekends should you wish to travel further on your days off.

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  A little more information

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    Internet access

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    Limited internet access

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    We have pets

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    We are smokers

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    Can host families

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  Space for parking camper vans

  This host can provide space for campervans.

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  Two

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  My animals / pets

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