New north Mayo initiative launched to support future of women in farming

A NEW north Mayo initiative supporting women farmers with practical solutions, skills and confidence was officially launched on Sunday at the Kennedy Glasgow Centre in Ballina, as the local community gathered to celebrate the beginning of Making Farms Work for Women.

The family-focused afternoon brought together farmers, families, project participants, local supporters and invited guests for the launch of the three-year pilot project, which is working alongside 60 women farmers across north Mayo to address real, everyday challenges on the farm.

The event included contributions from Claire Brennan, project lead, MEP Maria Walsh, Councillor Sean Carey, cathaoirleach of Mayo County Council, and all eight members of the project team, each helping to mark the significance of the initiative and the shared belief behind it: That farming should work equally well for women.

Congratulating the operational group on the launch, Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon said: "It's great to see this farmer-led project bringing people together to explore practical solutions to the challenges faced by women farmers. Projects such as this invite everyone to explore what can be done to create an inclusive agricultural sector that provides equal opportunities for women and young girls.

“I’m confident that this innovative EIP project will have positive outcomes into the future, not just for women farmers, but for the wider community in Mayo and beyond."

Guests enjoyed a warm and welcoming afternoon with tea, coffee, home baking, a family corner, face painting, children’s drawing activities and a life-size cow kindly lent by Mayo College. The event was designed not only to officially launch the initiative, but also to reflect its wider focus on community, inclusion and encouraging the next generation of girls and young women to see farming as a space where they belong.

Making Farms Work for Women, which is funded through the European Innovation Partnership (EIP) co-funded by the European Union and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, was created in response to the real barriers many women continue to face in agriculture, from tools and machinery designed for larger frames to the physical demands of livestock handling, the balancing of farm work with family responsibilities and the lack of confidence that can come from years on the margins of agricultural life.

Over the next three years, the project will work with 60 women farmers across north Mayo through farm visits, hands-on workshops and practical training. It will focus on improving access to more suitable tools and equipment, building confidence in livestock handling and creating practical, lasting changes that make farming more workable and inclusive.

Speaking at the launch, Claire Brennan said: “This was a really special day for everyone involved in Making Farms Work for Women. It was wonderful to see such support from the local community and from those who believe in the importance of this work.

“This initiative has grown from real conversations with women in farming here in north Mayo and from a clear need for practical solutions that make farm life more manageable, more inclusive and more sustainable. We also hope it will help inspire more young women and girls to see farming as something they can be part of and thrive in.”

Making Farms Work for Women has been brought to life by a team of farmers, advisors, educators and community members rooted in the area and committed to helping create meaningful, practical change. Organisers say the strong support shown on the day reflects the importance of the project and the appetite for a more inclusive future for farming in the region.

Because when farms work for women, they work better for everyone.

For more information, visit makingfarmsworkforwomen.ie.