A week in the country

With Dr Catherine Keena, Teagasc Countryside Management Specialist

Look out for anthills in grassland which are the home of the yellow meadow ant. They are yellowy brown in colour and live underground.

These remarkable ‘farmer’ ants have influenced soil structure and composition over the millennia. Their digging creates mounds of earth beneath which are cities full of worker ants and a queen.

Anthills are an indicator of unimproved grassland which has not been disturbed for generations. The hills are sure to have a diverse range of flora associated with grassland which has not been fertilised or limed.

Grazing of this grassland is essential to prevent scrub encroachment and the loss of biodiversity including anthills. The yellow meadow ant is part of our native Irish biodiversity.

Forget Me Not By Paddy Egan

From Rambles in Kilcommock

For years on end the same old song

I always seem to get things wrong

Especially on a simple task

To be excused is all I ask

From time to time a fool or sage

But judge me not with passing age

A simple chore I can forget

Mental block or constant threat

Items forgotten when I go to town

I make a note, I write them down

But then I’m in a woeful twist

I search and search, I’ve lost the list

I meet a friend, it’s all the same

I’m in a fix, I forget her name

I know them well, I know the face

I might recall in a different place

I make a list of jobs to do

But rarely ever see them through

So much to do, I’m in a sweat

But thank the Lord, the day comes wet

Now don’t forget, that’s what I’m told

But the message goes from hot to cold

I think aloud when I’m on my own

Then someone rings

me on the phone

Things dawn on me, I see the light

I take my pen and begin to write

But come what may, life goes on

So I think I’ll get out

and mow the lawn.

Looking for a great day out before school returns?

Well, EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum, and The Jeanie Johnston are offering free entry to children aged 17 and under, when accompanied by a paying adult (maximum three children per paying adult) for the full month of August.

Tickets must be booked in advance online.

Voted Europe’s leading tourist attraction three times in a row at the World Travel Awards, EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum is only a short walk from O’Connell Bridge, the city centre and the Luas red line.

For more, check out epicchq.com

"It’s a lovely honour to president of the show and the first female.” - Mary Gaynor, president of Virginia Show.

67 is the number of new employees which have come on stream from the Empower programmes encouraging female entrepreneurs from 2020 to 2022.

Farming life is the focus of a new children’s audio book as Gaeilge by Meath author, Richard MacLiam.

Fuamineanna na Feirme offers a rich vocabulary for children of all ages and supports parents and educators by introducing them to the wonders of farmyard life, through the medium of Irish. It features illustrations by Ukrainian artist, Anna Shabaltii.