Day 16 - The Curtin farm

Curtin farmhouse

Had a fabulous day today as Sean showed me around the Curtin farm. 

We started with a cup of coffee with his Mum, Nora.

Nora Curtin

Notice the peat powered stove in the background... what a ripper!

Peat powered stove

Sean had to pick up some shopping, so I got there before he came home and I had a lovely chat with Nora. She was able to share with me a bit of her family history, which I captured as an audio file. Will share with family members a bit later. She was telling the story of how her husband, Pat, died when he was only 51 and how she had to take over the farm. She's an amazing lady. And the Sean left school to help her and now he runs the farm.

Then Sean showed me around the home area and the different cows. I've learnt he has Galloways, and Limousines and Charolais cows, which are mainly of French origin.

He must be a pretty good breeder because he had won multiple prizes at both the Kilfenora and Ennis shows.... Here are some of his ribbons and trophies.

Red ones are first prize

Blue is second prize

Trophy

Here's a link to his cows being auctioned

(It works with Facebook!) 

Here's a pic of those same cows

Sean's market cows

The Belgian Blue weighed 740kgs and sold for  2600 Euros

The Charolais weighed 990 kgs and sold for 2920 Euros.

Here's a few more pics of the farm - the same farm that our great grandfather migrated from..

Sheds

Farmhouse

Curtin farm

And it is in the most magnificent spot for the views...

View from Curtin farm

View from Curtin farm

View from Curtin farm

A few cow pics from the home paddocks

These cows are ready to calf - and a donkey!

Curtin cows

Curtin cows

Cows still in the shed

Curtin cows

The Sean took me for a drive around and showed me all the extra bits of his farm. His original farm was 32 acres, but he's increased that to 60 acres, with an extra 40 acres leased.

But when we went over to the part of his farm that he leases from a neighbour, there was a big bonus!

On that land was another Holy Well!!! This one was devoted to St Anastasia.

Holy Well

Holy Well

Holy Well and Sean

Sean tells me that the story that goes with it goes like this...

The Well used to be in a different place near some trees further over. And this lady went to get some water to boil the potatoes. But the potatoes just wouldn't boil... And the next day there appeared a well in a different place and that was  holy well.

But people come there to pray and light candles, even though it's in the middle of the field with all the cows.

At the end of July the priest comes from Miltown Malbay and says Mass there.

Holy Well with Candles - pic courtesy of Sean

So I dipped my hand in and blessed my self and prayed for all my sick friends.

So Sean was checking his cows as we went around, because today is another relatively warm day and the cows are not used to the sun being out!!! He had to move the cows to the top of the hill, rather than in the valley, because they could feel the breeze at the top of the hill and that would cool them down a bit.

Curtin cows

Cows with Calves

So that was a fantastic tour of the farm from which my great grand father emigrated. The land is rich and green, and Sean obviously breeds very fat cattle which are auctioned for their meat. And the views are just spectacular as it looks down to Liscannor Bay.

There was a real sense of family and history in today's tour. I think Sean looks like the Curtains we know! It must be in the genes!!!

And tonight we are gathering for a  dinner at Marie's place. What a wonderful way to finish off a day filled with family.

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We had a most delightful dinner at Marie's place. Marie also has some cousins in town from the US who are on her Mum's side and Gary and Karen came to join us as well.

Beautiful meal and  great company, with fantastic after dinner entertainment!!!

Here's few pics from tonight

Family pic 1

Marie's cousins

Family pic 2

Beautiful sunset from out the front

Beautiful sunset from out the front