Dr Catherine Keena, Teagasc Countryside Management Specialist
Look out for water mint with purplish leaves and stems, easily identified by the familiar minty smell when crushed. Oval serrated pointed leaves are in opposite pairs on stiff square four-sided stems. It is widely distributed throughout Ireland, growing along watercourses and in wet grassland, creeping along by underground stems or rhizomes.
It is a positive indicator species, meaning higher scores and farmer payments for land in ACRES CP (Co-operation Project) areas and Low Input Grassland in ACRES General. Water mint was collected in the past as an aromatic herb for use in cooking and had many medicinal purposes. Known as mismín mionsach as Gaeilge, water mint is part of our native Irish biodiversity.
![](https://www.farmersjournal.ie/WEBFILES/000/826/972/2219346-826972.jpg)
From left, Sean Cunningham, Tommie Cunningham and Paul Connaughton Snr with ‘Belgium’ the donkey.
Large crowds are expected in east Galway for the annual Mountbellew Vintage Rally, taking place on Sunday, 28 July in the mart grounds, and spreading over 60 acres with the support of local landowners.
A huge display of every conceivable piece of historic farm machinery, vintage tractors, and cars will be on show on the day, along with household equipment from pre-electricity times.
Among the eye-catching features this year are a new lawn mower race, a first-time exhibition of 1940s and 1950s Porsche tractors and cars and Lanz Bull Dog tractors.
In addition, there will be a big hay-making project where a group will build an old-type ‘sheep cock’, once a feature of all sheep farms all over county Galway over 50 years ago.
Compare and Despair: From Bar Stool Notions of Poetry by Jonathan Roth
Do you dare to compare?
We have all been there
It’s that very human trait
But some can’t accept their fate
Max Ehrmann said in Desiderata
“If you compare yourself with others
You may become vain or bitter
For always there will be greater
And lesser persons than yourself”
But sometimes comparisons
make us feel good
As you would expect they could
But sometimes it’s best not to toy
Comparisons can be the thief of joy
Mercedes v Volkswagen
Penneys v BT’s
Dom P v Prosecco
Dublin 4 v Montenotte
Thick hair versus follicle despair
I must I must, increase my bust
Does my bum look big in this
It’s to the gym or else I’ll rust
At the end of the day
We all go the same way
We will all wear a suit of wood
On the day comparisons are no good.
![](https://www.farmersjournal.ie/WEBFILES/000/826/972/2219348-826972.jpg)
Nia and Tegan Faulkner from Sydney are excited to be standing in a field of spring barley in Garra, Co Galway.
\Submitted by Enda Kennedy
That’s the number of complaints about nursing homes listed in the 2023 Ombudsman’s Report. While the complaints only accounted for 2% of the overall total lodged with the Ombudsman, it was a 43% rise on the previous year. Over a third of the nursing home complaints related to care and treatment of patients.
It’s not an easy topic, but we always recommend that succession is considered early and often. We see many hard-working individuals falling short of reliefs as planning wasn’t done prior to the passing of a loved one. Marty Murphy, Head of Tax Ifac.
![](https://www.farmersjournal.ie/WEBFILES/000/826/972/2219347-826972.jpg)
Gertie the cow.
Cork dairy farmer Gerard O’Connell gave neighbouring artist and upcycler Geraldine Noonan the opportunity to let her creative imagination run wild on a larger-than-life concrete cow statue, named Gertie. The statue was gifted to Gerard from Passage West for his 65th birthday.
Dr Catherine Keena, Teagasc Countryside Management Specialist
Look out for water mint with purplish leaves and stems, easily identified by the familiar minty smell when crushed. Oval serrated pointed leaves are in opposite pairs on stiff square four-sided stems. It is widely distributed throughout Ireland, growing along watercourses and in wet grassland, creeping along by underground stems or rhizomes.
It is a positive indicator species, meaning higher scores and farmer payments for land in ACRES CP (Co-operation Project) areas and Low Input Grassland in ACRES General. Water mint was collected in the past as an aromatic herb for use in cooking and had many medicinal purposes. Known as mismín mionsach as Gaeilge, water mint is part of our native Irish biodiversity.
![](https://www.farmersjournal.ie/WEBFILES/000/826/972/2219346-826972.jpg)
From left, Sean Cunningham, Tommie Cunningham and Paul Connaughton Snr with ‘Belgium’ the donkey.
Large crowds are expected in east Galway for the annual Mountbellew Vintage Rally, taking place on Sunday, 28 July in the mart grounds, and spreading over 60 acres with the support of local landowners.
A huge display of every conceivable piece of historic farm machinery, vintage tractors, and cars will be on show on the day, along with household equipment from pre-electricity times.
Among the eye-catching features this year are a new lawn mower race, a first-time exhibition of 1940s and 1950s Porsche tractors and cars and Lanz Bull Dog tractors.
In addition, there will be a big hay-making project where a group will build an old-type ‘sheep cock’, once a feature of all sheep farms all over county Galway over 50 years ago.
Compare and Despair: From Bar Stool Notions of Poetry by Jonathan Roth
Do you dare to compare?
We have all been there
It’s that very human trait
But some can’t accept their fate
Max Ehrmann said in Desiderata
“If you compare yourself with others
You may become vain or bitter
For always there will be greater
And lesser persons than yourself”
But sometimes comparisons
make us feel good
As you would expect they could
But sometimes it’s best not to toy
Comparisons can be the thief of joy
Mercedes v Volkswagen
Penneys v BT’s
Dom P v Prosecco
Dublin 4 v Montenotte
Thick hair versus follicle despair
I must I must, increase my bust
Does my bum look big in this
It’s to the gym or else I’ll rust
At the end of the day
We all go the same way
We will all wear a suit of wood
On the day comparisons are no good.
![](https://www.farmersjournal.ie/WEBFILES/000/826/972/2219348-826972.jpg)
Nia and Tegan Faulkner from Sydney are excited to be standing in a field of spring barley in Garra, Co Galway.
\Submitted by Enda Kennedy
That’s the number of complaints about nursing homes listed in the 2023 Ombudsman’s Report. While the complaints only accounted for 2% of the overall total lodged with the Ombudsman, it was a 43% rise on the previous year. Over a third of the nursing home complaints related to care and treatment of patients.
It’s not an easy topic, but we always recommend that succession is considered early and often. We see many hard-working individuals falling short of reliefs as planning wasn’t done prior to the passing of a loved one. Marty Murphy, Head of Tax Ifac.
![](https://www.farmersjournal.ie/WEBFILES/000/826/972/2219347-826972.jpg)
Gertie the cow.
Cork dairy farmer Gerard O’Connell gave neighbouring artist and upcycler Geraldine Noonan the opportunity to let her creative imagination run wild on a larger-than-life concrete cow statue, named Gertie. The statue was gifted to Gerard from Passage West for his 65th birthday.
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