Mayo social farming event strengthens links between Ireland and the Netherlands

Social Farming Ireland has celebrated its longstanding partnership with the Netherlands at an event in Mayo highlighting how farms can provide valuable support for people facing a range of social, health and personal challenges.

The event, held on Wednesday, October 21 at the Great National Hotel in Ballina, marked Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union and brought together Irish and Dutch representatives to share experiences of social farming and care farming.

Guests included Ann Derwin, Ireland’s Ambassador to the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and Maaike van Koldam, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Ireland.

Speakers discussed the development of social farming in Ireland and care farming in the Netherlands, highlighting the benefits of connecting people with nature through everyday farm activities.

Local social farmers Emer Quinn and Kelly Doherty shared their experiences on the everyday activities they offer participants and the benefits social farming brings to both participants and farm businesses.

Both described social farming as an opportunity to diversify their farms while improving their health and safety practices. However, they emphasised that making a positive difference in people’s lives remained their main motivation.

One example shared at the event illustrated the potential impact of the approach. A 14-year-old girl who initially would not leave the car unless a family member stayed with her gradually gained the confidence to spend a full three-and-a-half-hour session on the farm with the farmer and other participants. The girl has since returned to full-time education after an absence of 18 months.

Researchers from Maastricht University also outlined the role of Dutch green care farms in supporting people living with dementia, offering insights into how similar approaches could be developed in Ireland.

In the afternoon, the ambassadors visited The Shore Farm, operated by Emer Quinn, where they heard more about social farming in practice.

Ambassador Derwin, a qualified vet, spoke about her early involvement in promoting social farming within the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. Her support helped lead to the establishment of the Social Farming Ireland Network.

Ambassador van Koldam highlighted the profound impact social and care farming can have on individuals and expressed her hopes for continued cooperation between Ireland and the Netherlands.

The event reinforced the shared commitment of both countries to exploring new ways of supporting people, strengthening rural communities and creating more inclusive opportunities through farming.

The initiative was funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs’ Communicating Europe Initiative.

Further information is available on the Social Farming Ireland website or by emailing [email protected] or calling 071 964 1772.