PREVIEW

A family of sheep farmers conducted a heroic rescue of their sheep herd after the animals became buried in deep snow in Ireland’s Galtee Mountains following this week’s freezing weather (end12January2025).

Ann Drake, the owner of Ballyhoura Farm Escape Accommodation in Co. Limerick and her brothers, Tom, John, and William were joined by their nephew, Billy Cunningham, and neighbours from the hill sheep farming community in the rescue.
The family have been working tirelessly for days to free their sheep, ably assisted by their skilled sheepdogs Sue, Sally, Hemp, and Ted.

The snow has reached unprecedented depths, completely obscuring gates and fences, forcing farmers to search for sheep by spotting heads emerging from the drifts. The sheepdogs have also proved invaluable helpers - sniffing out sheep beneath the snow.

Once located, the sheep are dug and pulled out and brought down the mountain to waiting quad bikes, then transported home for care.

They are treated for injuries, fed boiled nuts, and nursed back to health at the Drake family home, which has been turned into a makeshift animal hospital under the care of their mother.

Weather like this is unknown in the area since the 1960s when a sheep was miraculously found alive after 15 days buried under snow.

The rescue efforts are taking a toll on local farmers, with many experiencing sleepless nights and high anxiety as they monitor the forecast.

This has resulted in calls for a humanitarian fund to support the hill sheep farming community, due to the impact of the snowstorm on the livelihoods of farmers on the Galtees.