Rural Ireland : The Young Farmers Holding On - Aidan O'Boyle

My short audio piece Rural Ireland: The Young Farmers Holding On, shares the opinions of Shane McGuinness and Luke O’Boyle, two young farmers from rural Ireland. It shares their opinions on the lack of young people getting into farming and the recent fuel protests across the country. To watch the full short documentary, click the link below: The documentary offers a more in-depth look into the lives of Shane and Luke. It focuses on their love for farming while also exploring the hardships they face. According to the Central Statistics Office, just 4.3% of farm holders in Ireland are under the age of 35, with the average age of farm holders aged 59. It’s a stark figure that shows the lack of young people pursuing the career. Luke and Shane share the highs and lows of farm life, their first memories on the farm and why they believe young farmers are becoming a rare sight. During the editing process, Irelands farmers and hauliers took to roads across the country to protest the rising fuel prices. This led me back to Shane and Luke’s farms to hear their thoughts and the effects the fuel costs were having on their farms. Working on this documentary opened my eyes to what life is like for the people who work our land. I hope you take the time to watch it and get a better understanding of what it means to be a young farmer in Ireland today.