'No turkeys this year' for certain Limerick customers as Mary shuts up shop

Mary Breen, who has for over 40 years reared free range turkeys at Cullen, has decided to call it a day

Mary Breen on her farm at Cullen. She said new regulations had made it very difficult to get a slaughterhouse to take in turkeys from outside growers. Picture: Brian Arthur

A special flavour will be missing this Christmas for many households in rural parishes near Oola, Co Limerick. Grandmother, Mary Breen who has for over 40 years reared free range turkeys has decided to call it a day.

Ms Breen often had as many as 45 turkeys for her Christmas customers.

"There was a lot of disappointment when word went out that I would not have any turkeys this year. People would tell you my birds had a flavour all of their own; better than they ever tasted," said Mary, who farms with her husband John at Cullen, just near the Tipperary border.

She said new regulations had made it very difficult to get a slaughterhouse to take in turkeys from outside growers.

"Anyway, at this hour of our lives it was time to cut down and have a more relaxed life. Getting free range turkeys ready for the Christmas customers involves a lot of time and effort. My children used to love looking after the turkeys as they grew up and then the grandchildren had great fun," she said.

Mary started her turkey enterprise over 40 years ago, after she got married.

It would start in August when she would buy in poults aged about five weeks.

Along with regular feed, Mary would let the turkeys roam the area around the farmhouse and yard from morning until late afternoon.

Mary Breen on her farm at Cullen, near the Tipperary border with Limerick. She started her turkey enterprise over 40 years ago, after she got married. Picture: Brian Arthur

She said: "I would keep them in a wired off area to protect them from foxes. When they were out they'd be picking at nettles, cabbage, lettuce, and we have an orchard where they'd wander into and pick away at fallen apples. All this natural feeding was great to get the special flavour my turkeys had. At night we kept them them in a shed where we kept calves earlier in the year."

All Mary's turkeys were hens.

"Hens grow to a nice weight and be about 20lbs when ready for the oven. Cocks get very heavy and their bone is very big. The hen is a much nicer bird and has a better flavour, and there's plenty cutting."

While Christmas is going to be different this year, Mary still intends to keep all the other routines.

"I will bake two porter cakes and some of the family and grandchildren will be over for the dinner. We always have an open house for Christmas day and two bachelor brothers always come for their dinner. Sure isn't that what Christmas is all about. Family and friends being together. Even though I haven't the turkeys, I'll find plenty to do," she sad.

And one very important new mission has to be undertaken: sourcing a good turkey. "I will get a free range turkey from O'Malley butchers in Tipperary. They always have very good meat, said Mary.