17 June 2016
Twenty three farms across Northern Ireland will open their doors to the public for free this weekend as part of Bank of Ireland Open Farm Weekend 2016.
Nine new farms will open their doors to the public including star of UTV Rare Breed series, James Alexander in Randalstown. Previous hosts are kindly opening their gates once again and making a return will be Forthill Farm near Tandragee run by Kenny Gracey, whose animals have featured on the small screen including hit TV shows HBO’s Game of Thrones, BBC series Blandings and BAFTA winning short film Boogaloo.
The Year of Food and Drink theme of Love Dairy will be celebrated in particular at CAFRE Greenmount, Tickety Moo and new host, Donagh Cottage Farm in County Down. As part of the Year of Food and Drink celebrations, there will be a free competition at each farm to win a hamper of local food produce for one lucky family to take home with them.
Bank of Ireland Open Farm Weekend Chairman and UFU President Barclay Bell said, “From Limavady to Lisnavoe in Fermanagh, Ballycastle to Ballyroney in County Down and from Portadown to Randalstown we have a wide range of farms opening up this weekend giving free access to the public. All our farmers have been working hard for a couple of weeks to get their yards looking their best for the public to visit – all we need now is some good weather!”
Bank of Ireland UK Head of Agriculture NI William Thompson added, “If you have never had the chance to visit a working farm before – this is the perfect opportunity. Each farm event is unique and there is a lot to see and do, with activities to keep children entertained and also learn more about where their food comes from. It is a great, free day out for all the family which Bank of Ireland is proud to support.”
On Saturday 18th June, 23 farms will be open whilst on Sunday 19th June, which is also Father’s Day, 15 farms will take part. Visitors are asked to wear appropriate clothing and footwear to the farms that they visit and to also note that dogs are not permitted.
Bank of Ireland Open Farm Weekend is delivered by Ulster Farmers’ Union and is sponsored by Bank of Ireland UK and supported by Tesco, The Prince’s Countryside Fund, NFU Mutual and ASDA. The weekend would not be possible without the help and resources of Young Farmers’ Clubs of Ulster, CAFRE, DEARA, the Northern Ireland Food and Drink Association, Food NI and the Northern Ireland Regional Food Programme.
The event, in its fifth year has attracted almost 60,000 people throughout that time.
For more information, visit the website www.openfarmweekend.com where you can find details on the activities available at each farm and the unique opening hours. You can also follow on Twitter @BOIopenfarm and like Open Farm Weekend on Facebook.
For media enquiries, contact Rebecca McConnell, Purple Rain PR, via rebecca@purple-rain.co.uk or telephone 07729965231
List of participating farms and their opening days/times and addresses:
Acton House Farm, Acton Road, Poyntzpass, Newry, Co Armagh, BT35 6TB
Saturday 18th June 11am-4pm
Armagh Apple Farm, Ballinteggart House, 73 Drumnasoo Road, Portadown, Co Armagh, BT62 4EX
Saturday 18th & Sunday 19th June 10am-5pm
Blackberry Hill Farm, Ballymacanallen Road, Gilford, Co Armagh, BT63 6AE
Saturday 18th & Sunday 19th June 11am-4pm
Broughgammon Farm, 50 Straid Road, Ballycastle, Co Antrim, BT54 6NP
Saturday 18th & Sunday 19th June 10am-6pm
Buchanan Farm, 107 Curley Hill Road, Strabane, Co Tyrone, BT82 8LS
Saturday 18th 11am-6pm & Sunday 19th June 2pm-6pm
Buchanan Turkeys, Ballynian Lane, Upperlands, Maghera, Co Londonderry, BT46 5SZ
Saturday 18th June 10am-5pm
CAFRE Greenmount Campus, 45 Tirgracy Rd, Muckamore, Co Antrim, BT41 4PS
Saturday 18th 11am-5pm & Sunday 19th June 12pm-5pm
Cavanagh Free Range Eggs 58 Clonkee Road, Cavanagh, Newtownbutler, Co Fermanagh, BT92 8FH
Saturday 18th June 11am-5pm
Cochrane’s Potatoes, 188 Drumrane Road, Limavady, Co Londonderry, BT49 9LJ
Saturday 18th June 11am-4pm
C&L Mushrooms, 34 Crossan Road, Mayobridge, Newry, Co Down, BT34 2HY
Saturday 18th June 10am-4pm
Donagh Cottage Farm, 15 Lisnasure Road, Donacloney, Co Down, BT66 7NN
Saturday 18th 11am-4pm & Sunday 19th June 12pm-4pm
Drumhirk Farm, 14 Lisnamonaghan Road, Castlecaulfield, Co Tyrone, BT70 1RN
Saturday 18th & Sunday 19th June 10am-4.30pm
Egerton Farm, 108 Inver Road, Lisnavoe, Co Fermanagh, BT92 7ND
Saturday 18th 2pm-6pm & Sunday 19th June 2pm-7pm
Forthill Farm, 80 Ballymore Road, Tandragee,Co Armagh, BT62 2JY
Saturday 18th 10am-5pm & Sunday 19th June 12noon-5pm
Hillstown Farm, 128 Glebe Road, Randalstown, Co Antrim, BT41 3DT
Saturday 18th June 10am-5pm
Jalex Herd, 88 Gloverstown Rd, Randalstown, Co. Antrim, BT41 3HY
Saturday 18th June 11am-4.30pm
Laurelview Farm, 18 Knowehead Road, Templepatrick, Co Antrim, BT39 0BX
Saturday 18th & Sunday 19th June 12.30pm-4.30pm
Long Meadow Farm, 87 Loughgall Road, Portadown, Co Armagh, BT62 4EG
Saturday 18th 11am-4pm & Sunday 19th June 2pm-5pm
William Orr & Son Home Farm, 134 Carrickmannon Road, Crossgar, Co Down, BT30 9NL
Saturday 18th June 10am-4pm
Rathmourne Farm, 19 Lacken Road, Rathfriland, Co Down, BT32 5JA
Saturday 18th 11am-4pm & Sunday 19th June 12pm-4pm
The Parks Farm, 134 Whitepark Road, Ballycastle, Co Antrim, BT54 6ND
Saturday 18th & Sunday 19th June 11am-5pm
Tickety-Moo Farm, Killadeas, Irvinestown, Co Fermanagh, BT94 1RG
Saturday 18th & Sunday 19th June 11am-6pm
Walls Farm, 27 Bryansford Road, Hilltown, Co Down, BT34 5XY
Saturday 18th 11am-4pm & Sunday 19th June 2pm-5pm