Karst Farming Network - Regenerating the Rocks

ROCKS TO ROOTS (A Day To Remember).

Sat, Sept 5th was a very special day in South Roscommon.

Rocks To Roots Farm Walk Organiser: Project Co-ordinator Kelsey Daly

Rocks To Roots Afternoon Celebration Event Organiser:Art/Events Manager Nicola Bowes

Walk The Rocks, Feel The Roots.

A day that started at 10am with wellies on and a farm walk across our unique karst landscape filled with sunshine turned into a full day of connection, learning, celebration and we couldn't have asked for a better way to mark the end of Year 1 of our EIP and moving into Year 2.

Thank you to everyone who walked the land with us in the morning and celebrated our karst in the afternoon, to our farmers who shared their knowledge so generously, and to our farm walk guest speakers Therese Kelly (NPWS), Cormac Kelly & Neal Jeuken (ACRES Burren Aran), Tommy from Teemlens Media and Erica from Athlone Radio who captured the morning farm walk & afternoon celebrations.

One of the highlights of the day was introducing our Karst Gardeners, the goats, to all who attended the morning farm walk organised by EIP Farm Project Co-ordinator Kelsey Daly.

The Role of Goats in the Karst Landscape:

Historically, goats were the natural custodians of the karst landscape, playing a vital role in maintaining its balance and preventing scrub encroachment. Once a year, they were gathered from across the country for inspection. In Irish folklore, they were known as the "Devil's Pet." As Ireland's oldest farming animal, goats remain essential for controlling stubborn scrub and preserving this unique habitat.

Liam Kildea, Champion Farmer with the EIP, in collaboration with EIP Ecologist Linda Gilsenan and Project Manager Eoghan Finneran, who introduced the modern collar technology, has carried out extensive research into reintroducing goats to the karst landscape of South Roscommon. Using modern GPS collar technology and regenerative farming practices, they are working to restore this ancient tradition to its former glory.

The Kildea family farm has introduced 12 goats to their farm, and Liam has dedicated himself to learning best practices in sustainable goat management, with support from fellow EIP Operational Group members Kelsey Daly & Ronan Gleeson across various aspects of goat management, including fencing.

Through controlled grazing, documented by our ecologist and enabled by this innovative technology, goats have the capacity to regenerate the EIP landscape in a measured, sustainable way, using technology and tradition in harmony.

On returning from the farm walk, the afternoon event organised by Art/Event Manager Nicola Bowes kicked off with a very tasty, filling lunch of Karststone Stew provided by local Chef Shay Kelly (homefarmfood.ie) using local produce.

From 2pm, the Community Centre doors opened to a full house of soft music, networking, browsing, and the buzz of people meeting old friends and new, with Teemlens Media & Athlone Radio capturing every special moment.

We were delighted to have Dr Brendan Dunford (Burren) to launch our event and take part in the presentation of a Bord Bia Bloom Certificate Award to our five farming groups, followed by a panel discussion led by Kelsey, who was joined by our guests Dr Brendan Dunford, Irish Environmental Network's Catherine O'Toole, Rivers Trust's Katie Smirnova, and our EIP farmers Paddy Meleady & Joe McCarty.

The Clarke family brought a wonderful cultural tone to the afternoon with their array of traditional music & instruments, which was followed by a spellbinding heritage and folklore talk filled with stories of the landscape by well-known author, historian & Uisneach Tour Guide Ruth Illingworth.

Later in the afternoon the Community Centre tempo rose with a very exciting, energetic Sean-nós & Trad session collaboration from Ellie May & Jack McKeown and well-known Sean-nós dancer, musician & storyteller Kevin Cunniffe, who were joined by our amazing Karst Moves dancers Liam Kildea & Louise Whelan. Jack entertained us with his Sean-nós moves while Kevin delighted us with his storytelling.

Our young community members were entertained throughout the day by very talented face painting artist Orla McCormack and our Kids' Corner area filled with karst-themed activities & art by the Celtic Eye Art Group.

Many lucky spot prize winners went home very happy at the end of the day with wonderful prizes donated by our very generous sponsors who were named on the day for our 3 raffles.

The afternoon also provided a great opportunity to connect, network & browse the creative art, craft & nature tables by Woven Posy, Nádúr, Celtic Eye & a wonderful display by Charlie & Bridie Finneran's Local Derryglad Heritage & Folklore Museum. Our Bord Bia Bloom Award-Winning Garden Design 2026 'Yellow Meadow Kingdom' was also on display for those who did not get to see it in June.

Our finale delighted us with a wonderful collaboration of traditional music by the Clarke Family accompanied by Karst Moves by Liam & Louise.

Thank you to the Department of Agriculture, Food & The Marine representative Anne Mcguire, Senator Gareth Scahill, Cllr Tony Ward & Cllr Valerie Duffy who attended on the day, Teemlens Media, Athlone Community Radio, Athlone Topic - James Wims who captured every moment, First Aid & First Responder Louise Reynolds, guests, contributors, sponsors, event helpers (Celtic Eye, the EIP team & Farmers), especially EIP Admin Manager Nicola Auchmuty who was a great support over the weeks leading up to the Rocks to Roots event, Ann Hill who kept us all on schedule throughout the day's event, Theresa Dempsey who managed the raffle, Fiona Moore & Abigail Naughton who kept all our young members busy in the Kids Corner, Rosemary Carty, Kathleen Dempsey, Emel Osman & Paula Sharkey who managed our Craft area's, Shíona Bowes who looked after our Karst Treats, our Farmers who helped with Tea's & Coffee's, Natasha O'Brien who helped out on the Friday & Sunday with set-up & Clean-up, Taughmaconnell Community Centre Committee, newspapers, radio stations, social media platforms, Duggans Bus Company who provided transport on the morning of the walk, and everyone who came through the door to take part in our ROCKS TO ROOTS Karst Event on Sat, Sept 5th.

Regenerating the Rocks is about regenerating community & Team Effort.

From the farm walk to the final song, thank you for being part of Rocks to Roots 2026.

Celebrating Community •Regenerating• Farming • Connection • Learning • Nature • Collaboration • Karst • Heritage • Traditions • Culture • Biodiversity •

Sponsors of ROCKS TO ROOTS :
Finneran Consultancy (Co Roscommon)
Celtic Eye Art Group (Co Roscommon)
Uí Máine Kingdom (Co Roscommon)
Arra Tipp Co-Op (Co Tipperary)
Shearwater Hotel (Ballinasloe )
Salmons ( Ballinasloe )
Jorena's ( Ballinasloe )
Nicola Bowes (Co Galway Artist)
Choill Tigh Gallery (Co Galway)
Woven Posy (Co Galway)
Glessons Hotel & Resraurant (Roscommon)
Duanes Chemist ( Ballinasloe )
The Front Room (Co Galway)
Animal Health Shop ( Ballinasloe )
Karst Farming Network (South Roscommon)

Karstfarming.com

Karst Farming Network

COUNT DOWN " KARST CELEBRATION "
This Sat, Sept 5th, Taughmaconnell.
Morning Farm Walk & Afternoon Event.

All Welcome.
See you on the Day 🌿

Karst Farming Network

Rocks To Roots, Sat, Sept 5th
Thank You to Agriland.ie for this article on our up-coming Karst Celebration.
Link to Article Below :
https://www.agriland.ie/farming-news/from-rocks-to-roots-in-roscommon-as-karst-farming-celebrated/

See you on Saturday !!!

Karst Farming Network 🌿