New North Mayo initiative celebrates women in farming

A new North Mayo initiative designed to support women in farming through practical solutions, skills development and confidence-building will officially launch with an event on Sunday, June 7.

Making Farms Work for Women will be formally launched during a family-friendly afternoon at the Kennedy Glasgow Centre in Ballina from 2pm to 4pm to celebrate the beginning of the project and explore the future of women in farming.

The initiative is rooted in North Mayo and has been developed by a group of eight local farmers, advisors, educators and community members who share a common goal — ensuring farming works equally well for women.

The project has been created in response to challenges many women continue to face in agriculture, including tools and machinery designed for larger operations, the physical demands of livestock handling, balancing farm responsibilities with family life and the lack of confidence that can come from years spent on the margins of farming decision-making.

Over the next three years, Making Farms Work for Women will work alongside 60 women farmers across North Mayo to better understand the barriers they face and identify practical, sustainable ways to address them.

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Through hands-on workshops, farm visits and practical training, the initiative will focus on improving access to suitable tools and equipment, building confidence in livestock handling and creating a more inclusive and sustainable future for women in agriculture.

Organisers say the initiative is intentionally community-led, with the team behind the project made up of people who understand the realities of farming life in North Mayo and who are committed to developing practical and lasting solutions.

Making Farms Work for Women is funded through the European Innovation Partnership (EIP), co-funded by the European Commission and the Irish Government’s Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

The official launch event on June 7 will feature food, music and family entertainment, including a children’s corner and face painting. Attendees will also hear from project lead Claire Brennan, who will formally launch the initiative and outline its goals, alongside contributions from participant farmers involved in the project.

The event is an opportunity not only to celebrate the beginning of the initiative but also to invite the wider community into a conversation about the future of farming and the important role women play within it.

“Because when farms work for women, they work better for everyone,” organisers said.

Attendance at the event is free and families are welcome. To register, visit Making Farms Work for Women registration page.