Women working in farming need to be highlighted more

A GROUP discussion on women in agriculture was chaired by MEP Ciaran Mullooly at Shearfest 2026.

The discussion panel included Dr. Maura Farrell (University of Galway), Teresa Roche (Galway and National IFA), Ursula Kelly (Cormac Tagging), Anne Mitchell (Galway IFA), Katarina Hruskova (The Woolstore), Miriam Walsh (Bank of Ireland Bank Manager of Mountbellew and Ballinasloe), Anne Marie Cunningham (Mountbellew Women’s Shed and Tidy Towns), Ann Kinsella (Teagasc Mellows Campus in Athenry), and Niamh Mockler (Mountbellew Women’s Shed).

Dr. Maura Farrell, a Professor in the School of Geography, Archaeology and Irish Studies at the University of Galway, said that women who are working in agriculture need to be made more visible.

“If young women see other women in agriculture, then they can see it as a career for themselves,” offered Dr. Farrell, who lives in Mountbellew.

“We need to start highlighting and spotlighting them. There is a cohort of young women in the hall here who are on TikTok. They are driving a tractor and everything else. We need to get away from the old patriarchy of the past that farming is just for men.

“It’s very easy to change the culture if they see women who are successful in farming. There are many thousands of women in this country who have farmed all their lives and have no pension.”

The topic of a pension for farmers was also brought up by Anne Mitchell from Menlough, the Galway IFA Farm Family and Social Affairs Committee Representative.

“There are women who will be eligible for a State pension. There are so many women who have dedicated their lives to farming and are not aware of that,” said Anne Mitchell.

Teresa Roche, the National Chair of the IFA Farm Family and Social Affairs Committee, said that the role of the ‘homemaker’ needs to be officially recognised in legislation.

“For years, the homemaker and women have been highly involved in agriculture with discussions about managing the farm happening around the kitchen table,” offered Teresa Roche, who is from Abbey in south Galway.

Succession and handing over the running of the farm to the next generation was also brought up during the discussion. The contributors agreed that incentivising the older farmer to step aside was the main way of making the succession process both easier and more viable.

“The older farmer can’t let go of the farm unless they are going to be financially secure,” said Ursula Kelly from Tuam.

Teresa Roche suggested that an incentivised stepping programme to allow a farmer hand over the reins of the farm could be examined going forward.