Terry and Mags.
A DAY IN A LIFE AT THE FARM
Mags and Terry are a farmer couple living in East Clare. Their farm consists of thirty hectares of land, twenty cows and an apple orchard. Land is rough West Ireland turf. Trees and wild bushes surround the pastures, guarded by a gigantic lonely oak tree. Cows are mainly of Galloway origin which is accustomed to life on rough terrain and breezy climate. Curly double layered coat is thick and rugged. Cows are curious but cautious, unsure about the intentions of a strange photographer approaching them.
The farm is divided into two sections. Cow barn and sheds lie opposite the old derelict farm house that was once inhabited by Mags’ relatives. A tractor path connects the old farmyard to the new farm house. The new beam house is surrounded by a vegetable garden. Modest but functional building utilises solar energy to heat water and a heat retaining stove.
Farm and cows are the epicenter of their world, but it is not their only existence. The couple divides their time between academic work and farming. Mags teaches ecological tourism and gender studies nearby Dublin. Terry works as a civil servant in the capital, and while not farming or working, immerses himself in historical research. During my visits I learn that he is currently preoccupied with land seizures and cattle raids. Every old house and acre seems to tell a story to him.
Mags and Terry strive to live an ecological life. Farm is organic. Cattle breeds are traditional. The farm work is not just about feeding, nursing, herding and transporting cows (which are in any case more independent than their conventional cousins) but also includes countless other errands and voluntary developments. Fire wood is sawed from the fallen trees. Tree saplings are re-planted. Garden plants are sowed, weeded and gathered. Hay needs to be harvested too. And that old farm house awaits refurbishing, contingent on a renovation grant.
Life is far from romantic but when surrounded by all the natural rural beauty of East Clare, I wonder if Mags and Terry have managed to solve that perennial puzzle of living two or more lives at once.
The pictures were taken during two daytrips to Mag’s and Terry’s farm. I had a privilege to document the life on the farm while Terry and Mags did the toiling and were generously hospitable. The project is ongoing.
Terry starts the day by checking the herd.
Terry and Angie, the Matriarch.
Cows are highly curious but cautious animals.
Holly bundles are placed in barns to repel the spreading of ring worm among cows.
The cows spend most of their days on the pasture.
Belted Galloway breed has a distinctive white belt.
Puddles enters the old farmyard.
Terry contemplating.
Old barn is used as a temporary hay shed.
The work horse.
The hay bales are moved to open hay barn.
During the winter hay supplements the diet of the cows while pastures are recovering.
A staring competition.
Mags and Puddles.
Galloway cows are attuned to rougher terrain.
Practical recycling, or cow’s watering trough.
Terry explains the history of local land seizures and cattle raids.
The watering trough is surrounded by shrubs.
The Sacred Heart and greetings from New York. Inside the old farm house.
View from the shed.
The last calendar of the previous occupiers.
Terry turns the power off from the electric fences before the cattle is moved to a shelter.
Cows are relocated to the shelter before storm Éowyn arrives.
Mags is heading to the pastures.
The farm has everything one needs.
No head nor tail.
The new farm house is heated with wood, sawed from fallen trees.
The farmers.
Day’s work is done.
At home inside the new farm house.
Terry and the oak tree. Storm Éowyn felled over fifteen trees on the farm. The oak tree was also damaged.