At 11 years of age Joe Ó Murchú is a busy young farmer. Most weekends he can be found on his grandad Michael McCormack’s farm in Kildare where he farms with his aunt Ger.

“I like working with the sheep and I try to get there as much as I can,” he says.

There are over 150 sheep to keep an eye on, with Joe explaining that there’s a good mix of breeds – Texels, Belclares, Cheviots and Suffolks.

“I like the Texel lambs. They’re always big blocky lambs. I got to lamb a ewe or two this year. There’s always a lot to do or a ewe to look at.”

There’s cattle as well to look after – a mix of Charolais and Limousins.

Then there’s the crops on the 350ac farm. “Winter and spring barley, wheat, corn and silage as well. We get a contractor in to do the harvest.

“There’s always big machines coming up and down the farm. We make pit silage. I help cover the pit – all the grandkids do it.”

Machinery

Joe also likes looking at machinery. “I like to look at engines and have an understanding of how they work.”

They don’t breakdown much, he says, but there is a bit of greasing to be done.

Joe usually heads to the farm before 8.30am on a Saturday morning.

“We’ve to bring hot water for the milk replacer for the three pet lambs and then we get in the jeep and go down to the fields to check the sheep and the cattle to make sure they’re OK. Then we go up to Nanny’s house for tea,” he says.

“Tea is accompanied by biscuits and Joe’s favourite is a plain digestive.

Afternoon jobs depend on what time of year it is. “We could dose sheep or move cattle, there’s not really a schedule to it,” he says.

When he’s not farming, he’s at home with his parents, Sheelagh and Jason, twin sister Emma, older sister Ali, his mini-German schnauzer Bear and cat Tiger. He also plays football with the local under-12s football team.

Joe Ó Murchú would like to be a farmer when he grows up. \ Claire Nash

Would he like to be a farmer when he grows up?

“I probably would, I think I’ve a good understanding of it. There’s a lot of skills you can use and you get a better understanding of how everything works on a farm.”

Croí don Ghaeilge

Joe has a grá for Gaeilge and has been speaking Irish since he was four. He attends a Gaelscoil and, as he says, he has a good grasp of the language.

“Is breá liom bheith ag obair ar feirm mo Dhaideo.

“Tá an fheirm in aice le mo theach. Téim ann gach deireadh seachtaine agus ar na laethanta saoire. Bailíonn m’aintín Ger mé ag 8.15 nó 8.30 ar maidin.

“Bíonn a lán obair le déanamh. Is maith liom na caoraigh, na huain agus na tarracóir.”

Cupán tea

“Ar an bhfeirm bíonn seans agam scileanna nua a fhoghlaim agus am a chaitheamh le mo Dhaideo, m’aintín agus mo cholcheathracha. Déanann mo Mhamó cupán tae dom.

“Is maith liom bheith gnóthach agus úsáideach. Fuair mé mo chuid Gaeilge ó mo scoil – Gaelscoil Mhic Aodha i gCill Dara.

“Tá mé i rang a cúig. Is é mo sheanfhocal is fear ná: Tír gan teanga, tír gan anam.”