My father, Jim Murtagh started farming in the late 1920's in Castlegaddery, 3km from Ballinacarrigy and 20 minutes from Mullingar and Ballymahon. He was a dairy farmer and I started working alongside my Dad in my late teens.  It was in 1984 when I changed the farm to solely organic. I started with supplying high quality organic lambs directly to top restaurants throughout the country along with supplying Marks & Spencer.

 

In 2010, I moved away from livestock and worked with the project "Farming for Nature" where I found my passion in biodiversity, maintaining a natural environment for wildlife and developing the land naturally.  The farm now consists of 124 acres of beautiful organic farmland & forestry located on the banks of the Royal Canal. 

 

On New Year's Eve 2020, myself & Gráinne married and we decided to start our journey to open the farm to the public. We are very passionate about biodiversity and preserving and developing our natural farmland habitat. I have worked many years into preserving our natural wildlife and native woodland.  I have preserved bogland for 15 years which has developed into a wonderland of bog cotton and diverse wildlife, there are 6 acres of birch and 30 acres of untouched forestry. In the last 5 years over 12,000 trees have been planted.​The farm animal rescue was opened in 2021 where we started rescuing farm animals and wildlife. 

 

Our passion is to educate children & adults with all aspects of the nature in our homeland, the stunning wildlife that is on our doorstep and also the importance of biodiversity & renewable energy. We want to do this in the most natural setting as possible, ensuring the landscape of the farm, forestry and the wildlife are not impacted.  In June 2022, we were accepted to work with the National Parks & Wildlife Farming for Nature initiative which will give us more professional insight and tools to develop the farm over the next year to enhance our natural habitats and wildlife with the aim to increase our wildlife population.  

 

Along with our animal farm, l will be holding farm walks also to include the untouched bog for Children, Adults, Groups and Schools for all ages.  Keep an eye on the Website and Social Media sites or to arrange a booking or call us direct.  We look forward to sharing our journey with you!!

 

Chris & Gráinne Murtagh