Young entrepreneurs, listen up because this is where you could be in a few short years. Andrew McPhillimy knows a thing or two about farm diversification. The 19-year-old works full-time on the 300ac family farm in Newtownstewart in Co Tyrone; and on top of managing 130 milk cows, 40 beef cattle and 40 sheep, he is also the brains behind their newest venture into ice cream.
The ice cream business on Oldtown Farm, which is appropriately named Oldtown Creameries, makes fresh ice cream from the milk produced by the cows grazing on the farm. It operates out of an ice cream van stationed at the Meadows Camping Field, which is the camping and caravan site built on the family farm and yet another area into which the McPhillimy family have diversified.
Andrew, who has just completed his Level 3 Extended Diploma at Greenmount College, tells Irish Country Living that he was “always going to farm”.
“I honestly think it’s the best job in the world,” Andrew confesses. “I would never think of doing anything else. I think I’m addicted to farming a wee bit,” he laughs. “I’m worse than a lot of people. I’m obsessed.”
What does he love about it? “You can see your progress,” Andrew replies, “you see how much you’re doing better from the year before. It’s so progressive and rewarding, and I love the whole business aspect. Obviously, there’s a lot of financial stuff in it.”
As much as Andrew likes the commercial side of farming and balancing the books, he says he wouldn’t like to be doing that full-time or in an office setting.
“I couldn’t stand an office job at all. There are days I have to go into the office for about one hour and just sit down and make phone calls and organise stuff.” But he far prefers being outside. “Every day is completely different [on the farm], it’s always a challenge, a task, and you’re working for yourself.”
Rural star Andrew McPhillimey manages some of 130 milk cows and 40 beef cattle. \ Clive Wasson
Andrew is in the middle of taking over the reins from his father [Robert] who is semi-retired. He also helps his mum [Helena] with the campsite, Meadows Camping Field, which she set up about seven years ago. “It’s got everything you need and it does really well,” says Andrew.
The caravan site has water, electric hookup, waste bins, awning space and wooden seats. There is also an outdoor wash area with toilet and shower facilities. Resting beside ancient woodland walks and the Sperrin Mountain range, Andrew says that the site attracts active campers, like hikers, walkers and cyclists. It is also close to tourist hotspots: Gortin Glen Forest Park and the American Folk and Transport Museum – which attracts visitors from all around the world.
When it’s full, the campsite accommodates 35 people, and Andrew says there are plans for further expansion on another area of the farm. “About two years ago, we got planning permission to put in six glamping pods,” he says. “We put in two and they’re doing well. There’s no hot tub in them yet, but if we were to put in more, we’ll probably have to put in a hot tub,” he says.
Diversifying into ice cream
The McPhillimy family have been making and selling ice cream at the farm for about two years. When asked how the idea came to Andrew to start an ice cream business, he pauses: “I just took a notion, I suppose.” All the brightest ideas start with notions.
During lockdown, Andrew says that he started to research milk vending machines – “we looked at a whole pile but there’s a big cost with them too” – so he eventually settled on ice cream. It made sense from a business perspective and also suited the countryside setting of Oldtown Farm.
“It’s a good area for ice cream, there’s walkways and all here, so whenever people come for ice cream, they can go for a walk,” says Andrew. “And now, it’s great during good weather, sure, everyone wants ice cream.”
A birds eye view of Oldtown farm, Newtownstewart in Co Tyrone. \ Clive Wasson
The last two years have been about perfecting the process and operations of the ice cream business. “We take the cream out on a Monday morning before we start milking in the morning, and then it’s put into two containers. We give it to a local chef, she makes it for us, and then we get it back in the wee tubs, straight into the freezer,” says Andrew.
Until this year, Andrew was just selling ice cream to the campers down at the campsite; however, recently Oldtown Creameries opened to the public. Now, anyone can drop by to Meadows Camping Field and enjoy an ice cream in the outdoor seating area, followed by a scenic walk.
This year, they have also experimented in some collaborations with other local businesses. In June, they had Chez Manu Crepe Van, a food stall in Omagh that sells French crepes from a vintage 1976 vintage Renault Estafette, down on the campsite and the crepes made the perfect pairing with the fresh ice cream.
Andrew says that the flavours of ice cream will vary every few weeks but usually they stock around seven flavours. The range includes family favourites like Kinder Bueno and Biscoff, and staple classics like Raspberry Ripple, Vanilla, Honeycomb and Strawberry.
Away from the farm, Andrew is kept busy in his Young Farmers club in Newtownstewart. His advice to other young farmers is to: “join young farmer groups as soon as you can. It gets you out there and you meet all your friends. There are events like tug of war, tractor handling, rugby, shows, there’s always stuff on. You just meet a whole pile of people,” he says.
Andrew served as the assistant club leader for his club for two years, but he just stepped down as he is going to New Zealand in October. The plan is to come back and fully take over the farm after he returns in 2026.
“I’m going to a big contracting business on a beef and sheep farm for six months,” Andrew says. “My dad’s in for a tough six months without me,” he jokes.
Find out more Oldtown Creameries on Facebook and meadowscamping.co.uk.
Young entrepreneurs, listen up because this is where you could be in a few short years. Andrew McPhillimy knows a thing or two about farm diversification. The 19-year-old works full-time on the 300ac family farm in Newtownstewart in Co Tyrone; and on top of managing 130 milk cows, 40 beef cattle and 40 sheep, he is also the brains behind their newest venture into ice cream.
The ice cream business on Oldtown Farm, which is appropriately named Oldtown Creameries, makes fresh ice cream from the milk produced by the cows grazing on the farm. It operates out of an ice cream van stationed at the Meadows Camping Field, which is the camping and caravan site built on the family farm and yet another area into which the McPhillimy family have diversified.
Andrew, who has just completed his Level 3 Extended Diploma at Greenmount College, tells Irish Country Living that he was “always going to farm”.
“I honestly think it’s the best job in the world,” Andrew confesses. “I would never think of doing anything else. I think I’m addicted to farming a wee bit,” he laughs. “I’m worse than a lot of people. I’m obsessed.”
What does he love about it? “You can see your progress,” Andrew replies, “you see how much you’re doing better from the year before. It’s so progressive and rewarding, and I love the whole business aspect. Obviously, there’s a lot of financial stuff in it.”
As much as Andrew likes the commercial side of farming and balancing the books, he says he wouldn’t like to be doing that full-time or in an office setting.
“I couldn’t stand an office job at all. There are days I have to go into the office for about one hour and just sit down and make phone calls and organise stuff.” But he far prefers being outside. “Every day is completely different [on the farm], it’s always a challenge, a task, and you’re working for yourself.”
Rural star Andrew McPhillimey manages some of 130 milk cows and 40 beef cattle. \ Clive Wasson
Andrew is in the middle of taking over the reins from his father [Robert] who is semi-retired. He also helps his mum [Helena] with the campsite, Meadows Camping Field, which she set up about seven years ago. “It’s got everything you need and it does really well,” says Andrew.
The caravan site has water, electric hookup, waste bins, awning space and wooden seats. There is also an outdoor wash area with toilet and shower facilities. Resting beside ancient woodland walks and the Sperrin Mountain range, Andrew says that the site attracts active campers, like hikers, walkers and cyclists. It is also close to tourist hotspots: Gortin Glen Forest Park and the American Folk and Transport Museum – which attracts visitors from all around the world.
When it’s full, the campsite accommodates 35 people, and Andrew says there are plans for further expansion on another area of the farm. “About two years ago, we got planning permission to put in six glamping pods,” he says. “We put in two and they’re doing well. There’s no hot tub in them yet, but if we were to put in more, we’ll probably have to put in a hot tub,” he says.
Diversifying into ice cream
The McPhillimy family have been making and selling ice cream at the farm for about two years. When asked how the idea came to Andrew to start an ice cream business, he pauses: “I just took a notion, I suppose.” All the brightest ideas start with notions.
During lockdown, Andrew says that he started to research milk vending machines – “we looked at a whole pile but there’s a big cost with them too” – so he eventually settled on ice cream. It made sense from a business perspective and also suited the countryside setting of Oldtown Farm.
“It’s a good area for ice cream, there’s walkways and all here, so whenever people come for ice cream, they can go for a walk,” says Andrew. “And now, it’s great during good weather, sure, everyone wants ice cream.”
A birds eye view of Oldtown farm, Newtownstewart in Co Tyrone. \ Clive Wasson
The last two years have been about perfecting the process and operations of the ice cream business. “We take the cream out on a Monday morning before we start milking in the morning, and then it’s put into two containers. We give it to a local chef, she makes it for us, and then we get it back in the wee tubs, straight into the freezer,” says Andrew.
Until this year, Andrew was just selling ice cream to the campers down at the campsite; however, recently Oldtown Creameries opened to the public. Now, anyone can drop by to Meadows Camping Field and enjoy an ice cream in the outdoor seating area, followed by a scenic walk.
This year, they have also experimented in some collaborations with other local businesses. In June, they had Chez Manu Crepe Van, a food stall in Omagh that sells French crepes from a vintage 1976 vintage Renault Estafette, down on the campsite and the crepes made the perfect pairing with the fresh ice cream.
Andrew says that the flavours of ice cream will vary every few weeks but usually they stock around seven flavours. The range includes family favourites like Kinder Bueno and Biscoff, and staple classics like Raspberry Ripple, Vanilla, Honeycomb and Strawberry.
Away from the farm, Andrew is kept busy in his Young Farmers club in Newtownstewart. His advice to other young farmers is to: “join young farmer groups as soon as you can. It gets you out there and you meet all your friends. There are events like tug of war, tractor handling, rugby, shows, there’s always stuff on. You just meet a whole pile of people,” he says.
Andrew served as the assistant club leader for his club for two years, but he just stepped down as he is going to New Zealand in October. The plan is to come back and fully take over the farm after he returns in 2026.
“I’m going to a big contracting business on a beef and sheep farm for six months,” Andrew says. “My dad’s in for a tough six months without me,” he jokes.
Find out more Oldtown Creameries on Facebook and meadowscamping.co.uk.
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