'Farmers' Yards' to promote social inclusion

The pilot project, which will be led by a group of farmers in north-east Galway, is due to be rolled out in January 2023

The emotional and social wellbeing of older farmers is 'more important than ever' in the context of increased levels of social isolation and loneliness in rural communities as a result of the  Covid-19 pandemic.

A new project is working to establish a dedicated social organisation for older farmers.

With over one-third of Irish farmers now aged over 65, Shane Conway and Maura Farrell in the Rural Studies Centre at NUI Galway are working on setting up ‘Farmers' Yards’.