Animal farm in Mountbellew
AT A TIME when too many people are time-poor, it is comforting to see an Enid Blyton type of animal farm being run by Franciscan Brother Joseph Beirne in the Mountbellew Franciscan Monastery. By this I mean a relaxed place where dogs, cockerels, hens, chickens, ducks and donkeys coexist happily, writes Mary Ryan.
A few weeks ago, the street photographer in me saw my car reversing back to where I’d seen a herd of donkeys in a field. I walked down a long, open avenue and was photographing the donkeys when along came Br Joe. I was on Franciscan land.
A few weeks ago, the street photographer in me saw my car reversing back to where I’d seen a herd of donkeys in a field. I walked down a long, open avenue and was photographing the donkeys when along came Br Joe. I was on Franciscan land.
I told him how taken I was with the donkeys. He had just purchased the herd and was awaiting local Farrier Tom Dooley to pare their hooves. I peered over the wall to see the most awful curled up hooves on all the poor donkeys.
Br Joe told me they were all in various degrees of discomfort and in bringing them to the Franciscan farm, he’d “rescued” them. And they were about to have their hoof agony ended. I could stay and watch if I liked, which I did and thoroughly enjoyed the experience.
Br Joe told me they were all in various degrees of discomfort and in bringing them to the Franciscan farm, he’d “rescued” them. And they were about to have their hoof agony ended. I could stay and watch if I liked, which I did and thoroughly enjoyed the experience.