Inaugural Rare Breeds Conference

THE inaugural Irish Rare Breeds Conference is taking place this Thursday evening (June 15) and all day Friday at Hotel Westport, hosted by the Old Irish Goat Society in association with the Irish Rare Breeds Society.

Ireland's rare breeds are a fundamental part of our farming and food production sector. They are living heritage and an important facet of our biodiversity.

Rare breeds have an important role in sustaining rural communities, through food production, artisan foods, tourism and conservation grazing. Gene variation offers enhanced resistance and adaptation traits in a time of farming intensification and climate and social change.

A number of Irish breeds have slipped into extinction in recent decades, essentially unnoticed and undocumented, such as the Cladoir Sheep and the Tory Cow. It is the aim of this event to promote the conservation and utilisation of our remaining rare breeds and to address challenges such as lack of protection, resources and recognition.

Thursday evening will consist of talks on select Irish rare breeds and the role and importance of creative collaboration, which will be followed by the launch of the Old Irish Goat Art Exhibit.

Friday will consist of talks on international best practice, advances and opportunities presented by genetics and global collaboration. Lunch time includes visits to Lisnolan Rare Breeds Mobile Farm and the pioneering Old Irish Goat captive breeding programme, which will be followed by facilitated afternoon workshops, where delegates can contribute to a 2017/18 action plan for Irish rare breeds.

The conference will be of interest to farmers, livestock breeders, smallholders, organic farmers, heritage and history enthusiasts as well as landscape managers, environmentalists, artisan food purveyors and rural development agencies.

All with an interest are invited to attend the event. The initiative is funded by the Heritage Council and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

For information and booking, visit www.irishrarebreedsconference.ie. Attendance for Thursday evening is free and a charge of €29.83 applies to Friday.

Peter Hynes, chief executive of Mayo County Council, will open Friday's conference proceedings and MEP Marian Harkin will make closing comments.