Mayo farmer helping to revive ancient coopering craft to appear on Ear to the Ground

The dying craft of coopering is set to be highlighted on next week's Ear to the Ground. 

A job as a cooper - a craftsperson who makes wooden barrels - was once one of the most sought after careers in Ireland, with over five hundred coopers working in Dublin alone at its peak.  

The skills needed to make and repair casks or barrels were at the very heart of Ireland’s drinks industry, and were often passed down in families. 

However, the craft has all but died out in the decades since, and now there are only a handful of active coopers left.

However, a small cooperage in Foxford, Co Mayo is hoping to change all that; Dair Nua was established to once again meet the needs of an Irish whiskey revival.

In the upcoming episode, co-presenter Ella visits one of the craftsmen, Eoin Mangan, who divides his day between working at the cooperage and helping to run his family's sheep farm. 

Meanwhile, co-presenter Maeve Dineen will travel to Dunderry in Co Meath to meet sheep farmer, John Keeley, who has halved his workload and increased his income with a breed of sheep that is new to Ireland. 

And a 47-year-old beef farmer from Millstreet, Co Cork who suffered a suspected stroke due to exhaustion will also appear on the show to discuss the sale of his dairy herd and his new hobby of breeding famed Japanese cattle. 

The episode airs on Thursday January 25 on RTÉ One at 7pm, and will be repeated on Sunday January 28 at 1.09pm.