Sheep

Several different estimates place the number of sheep in Ireland at around eight million.  That's nearly twice the human population, which was four and a half million in the 2011 census.

Fabulous grass and a mild climate make Ireland a great place for farming; nevertheless, as in the United States family farms are disappearing and being replaced by ever larger farms.

The Kissane family have been sheep farmers in Ireland for 150 years.   The current generation, father and son John and Sean Kissane, opened their farm to visitors in 2005 in an attempt to educate the public about sheep farming.

John Kissane with Jane

Tours of the farm include a sheepherding demonstration and sheep shearing. 

The Kissanes also started the "Adopt-a-Sheep" program in an attempt to "preserve the Irish heritage of mountain sheep".

We'll stop at the farm on our way back from the Ring of Kerry.  You can read more about the farm here and about the Adopt-a-Sheep program here.

Some videos here:

http://youtu.be/HcZQPuW6Ga8

http://youtu.be/n3OvrLMZWYQ