By Mia Gooch
Beyond Ireland's famous attractions, farm stays allow people to participate in work experiences that sustain rural communities and Irish culture.
Cows in an open pasture near an Irish cottage. Bryan Pocius. CC0.
While envisioning a trip to Ireland, travelers may imagine booking medieval castle tours and hotels in Dublin, ending busy days in chatter-filled pubs over pints of Guinness. But beyond these city lanes stretch rolling pastures and gentle ridges of green, grazed over by sheep and cows. Warmed by soft rays of sun poking through low-hanging clouds, Irish soil and farmland offer a wealth of culture and experience.
For the traveler who is searching for a productive yet peaceful Irish experience, farm stays in the countryside offer a unique way to become involved in Irish tradition.
Ireland’s mild climate is influenced by the ocean currents of the Gulf Stream, with the North Atlantic Drift heating the country’s coasts and plains. This lush greenery of Ireland’s southern farms, including those in Counties Cork and Wexford, is where many visitors work alongside Irish farmers. Across the country, people also find their way to Ireland’s northwestern regions, where the grounds are rugged and windblown, with sheep occupying pockets of meadow within the mountains. Throughout these diverse landscapes, visitors find lodging and hospitality in farm homes and kitchens.
With work being included in these trips, many volunteers find their experience rewarding. Rather than seeing the greenery from a roadside lookout or train ride, travelers can spend time moving through it on foot, crossing the fields and hillsides documented in Irish history. Through programs such as Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF), people have the option to connect with local farmers, receiving free food and board in exchange for their hands-on help in farming activities. Recalling her experience on Irish farms, WWOOFer Pattie Baker described longingly, "Foals followed me, a bag of feed over my shoulder, through the dewy pasture.” Depending on the farm at hand, some travelers have opportunities to accompany farmers as they tend to their herds, an experience that most people only glimpse from scenic viewpoints.
Woman petting a horse along a rural road in the Irish countryside. Anastasiia Lopushynska. Pexels.
Irish farming is shaped by steady labor that varies as the seasons pass, dependent on each farm’s specialty and geography. As Irish farmer Charlie Murphy of County Longford explains, "No two days are the same, and you are always moving from job to job and from season to season." Visitors may assist with tasks such as feeding livestock, collecting eggs and helping with basic farm upkeep. These chores often begin early in the morning, with the sounds of animals stirring and cool dew settled over the fields. Whether the activities are centered around milking routines and cattle care or tending to gardening and agricultural needs, travelers can develop skills and techniques as they navigate new fields of work.
Two farmers working in a greenhouse in Galway, Ireland. Joao Jesus. Pexels.
There is more to farm stays than physical work, as it also involves participating in Irish rural home life. Tea is a cornerstone of Irish hospitality, so travelers may become incredibly familiar with the warmth of teatime gatherings in farm kitchens between their chores and meals. Visitors become engaged in local life that is difficult to find through conventional city and castle tours: boots left by the doorframes, conversations around the kitchen table and mugs of tea on a daily basis.
Two traditional farmhouses in Kinvarra, Ireland. Fabian Wiktor. Pexels.
Beyond providing accommodation, Irish farm stays offer visitors a chance to immerse themselves in rural life and connect with local communities. Reflecting on six weeks spent WWOOFing across Ireland, Pattie Baker declared that "...three different farms, on three different corners of Ireland, gifted [her] with hundreds of memories.” Developing one’s understanding of linguistics and history comes hand-in-hand with the physical labor of Irish farm stays. Whether visitors are farm hopping or remaining in a familiar region throughout their stay, interacting with rural regions and locals allows travelers to experience authentic Irish culture.
FARM STAYS IN IRELAND:
Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms: WWOOF Ireland is a global work exchange program through which people can explore different regions of the world by volunteering on organic farms in exchange for food and accommodations.
Workaway: Workaway postings connect travelers with local hosts. For Ireland-specific travel, Workaway has many options for unique cultural exchanges on Irish farms and volunteer-based work, including a variety of experiences outside of farm work.
B&B Ireland: Travelers seeking a taste of rural Ireland without committing to a volunteer program can stay at one of the many farmhouses featured by B&B Ireland. These family-run accommodations offer guests the chance to experience working farms and connect with local hosts while exploring Ireland’s countryside and cuisine.
Mia Gooch
Mia a student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, majoring in Media & Journalism with a double minor in Education and Social & Economic Justice. She’s passionate about informal education and creating fun experiences where people of all ages can explore new perspectives and develop new skills. When she’s not in the classroom, she loves contemporary dance classes, spending time with friends and family, baking, and being outdoors!