Sheep Dog Demo

On Killary Sheep Farm we have three working dogs sweep lassie and fly there is usually a puppy knocking around the farm as well. Training the dogs is hard work and time consuming but its very rewarding when the dog finally gets it right.

Sheep Shearing Demo

July to September We shear all our sheep with the hand shears which is the traditional way of sheep shearing. It is unusual to see hand shearing still in practice as most farmers are using the machine now but I don’t like the machine I think it takes too much wool off and the sheep get cold after.

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Bog cutting

This is a traditional method using the slean, the way it was done in the olden days gone by. If you want to see how it was done then come to our farm and step back in time.

Feeding baby lambs

Bottle feed bottle orphan lambs in Spring and Summer months .

About Us

Welcome to Killary Sheep Farm in Connemara. A traditional working mountain farm with approx 200 ewes and lambs roaming freely in the mountain overlooking Killary Fjord, on the Wild Atlantic Way. On our farm we run mainly blackhead horny sheep which are most suited to survive on the mountains during the harsh winters. At Killary Sheep Farm visitors can view the following demonstrations sheepdog demonstrations, sheep sheeri…
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Testimonials
We stopped in at the sheep farm as we were driving past and were happy to find that no booking was necessary. Tom, the farmer, was extremely friendly and throughout the afternoon we had some really good talks with him about the running of the farm. The dog demonstration was excellent and it was great to see someone using old-fashioned shears on a sheep. It was particularly interesting learning about just how little the fleeces are worth and why. The peat bog was also very interesting and as a natural resource that is much more efficient for burning than wood, ...
“Perfect experience of the west of Ireland & great for kids!”One of the best things we did in Ireland....honestly!The farmer was very down to earth and relaxed and seemed good with people. The dog is very intelligent and amazing to watch at work. Views are stunning and we got the best family photo (with sheep dog 'Sweep') looking down between the mountains and across the gorgeous water inlet. The kids loved wearing gumboots and walking sticks given and they loved the walk up the hill to see the magnificent views. All in all, great value and a lovely way to ...
When you think of a trip to Ireland, visiting a sheep farm may not be on your list of experiences, but it should be! Tom and his dog Roy put on quite a show in rounding up sheep scattered across the landscape. After watching how they work, hike up to experience a true Irish peat bog and learn what goes into creating fuel in a land with few trees. We loved it!
We stopped by Killary Sheep Farm on a day tour of Connemara and Galway. I had never seen sheep herded before and it was amazing to see how the dog could follow commands spoken (not shouted) about 300 meters away! It was also really cool to see how peat (turf) is harvested and get to touch the moss that decomposes into peat over the eons.Tom the farmer was very friendly and provides raincoats, wellies (boots) and walking sticks - all very helpful on a blustery winter day!I highly recommend visiting here, no matter the weather.Visited December 2013