On a mild September afternoon in County Kerry, Ireland, I knelt on the ground at Kissane Sheep Farm and found myself enveloped in a tornado. Of Border Collies. They swarmed around me—jumping on my lap, lashing their tails against my sides, and trying to lick my face. There were only three dogs, yet it felt like a whole horde with their tails whirling as they wiggled their entire bodies in greeting.
These friendly and excitable dogs act like any household pet, but they are also some of the most hardworking puppers you will ever meet. Many Border Collies across Ireland have full-time jobs on farms like Kissane. Want to know how you can meet these sheep herding dogs for yourself? Want to learn more about their lives and work? If so, read on!
Kissane Sheep Farm
Kissane Sheep Farm lies on a scenic driving route from Killarney to Kenmare and is situated near Moll’s Gap. After winding through the gorgeous Killarney National Park, you find yourself at a quick turnoff that leads to this longstanding sheep farm where the same family has raised sheep and lambs for nearly 200 years.
Kissane is still a working farm today, which means they only open the farm to the public during one of their scheduled demonstrations. So be sure to call ahead to reserve your spot so they can expect you and plan accordingly.
In the springtime, visitors can see baby lambs that have been born on the farm. In the summer, visitors also have the opportunity to see a sheep-shearing demonstration after watching the herding demonstration. Both are excellent times to visit and learn more about the profession of raising sheep!
[one_half]
[/one_half]
[one_half_last padding=”0 0 0 20px”]
Sheep Dog Demonstrations
One of the highlights of visiting the farm—besides being enveloped in a puppy tornado—is watching the dogs herd the sheep. They are highly trained and respond immediately to commands (often whistled rather than spoken) and it is impressive to see the way they group the sheep together and help guide them to where they are supposed to go.
Shortly after arriving at Kissane, visitors visit an enclosure where the sheep are huddled together in a group. There are multiple levels of platforms near this enclosure where visitors can stand so that everyone can see what happens with the sheep and with the dogs.
After introducing the dogs who will be working (or trained) on the day of the herding presentation, the farm workers let the herd of sheep out and begin demonstrating how they use voice commands or whistles to communicate with the dogs.
Some dogs are old hands at the work and others are new to the trade, but it is amazing to see how eager they are to obey the commands and to help with the job of herding sheep. This profession is bred into their blood and they love it and are truly skilled at it as well. As the saying goes, if you love your work you’ll never work a day in your life. These lucky dogs get to live out the embodiment of that saying as they spend their days herding sheep!
There is also an adorable bookshop where they sell cute sheep-themed things as well as products from their farm! Overall, visiting Kissane Sheep Farm is a lovely way to learn about this profession, get to see and pet some cute dogs, and enjoy a day in Ireland!
Kissane Sheep Farm: Website | Location | Visitor Information
Liked this post? Pin it!
