INSIDE IRELAND

Among the many interesting and unusual requests we receive over the years here at INSIDE IRELAND, the lady who wanted to find out about 'Sponsoring a Sheep' stands out..and now she's got a whole flock! We asked her to tell us about it.

An advertisement in an Irish magazine caught more than my eye. It was soliciting potential investors in Irish race horses from one of Ireland's big stud farms. For some people, the ultimate investment is owning a share in one of these handsome animals. It can mean a glamorous connection to a country of ancient beauty and culture but the cost of such an investment seemed out of the question. Right about the same time I had begun making stuffed toy sheep as gifts. They were a big hit and I took great delight in other people's enthusiasm for these fleecy little creatures. I began to conjure bucolic visions of the real thing, bounding madly through Ireland's hills of gorse and heather, blithely ignoring boundaries, craning their necks and pushing their woolly heads up into the winds while guarding their lambs, contentedly munching on forty shades of green. Feeling very adventurous and not a little sentimental, I looked at that ad. again and thought SHEEP, instead of race horses.

Fostering from a distance
Not being a landowner, importing Irish sheep to raise here in our beautiful Connecticut countryside was clearly out of the question. I knew I'd have to find out if outside sheep investment was an ongoing practice in Ireland. The most logical and best source for me was "Inside Ireland." I wrote to "Inside Ireland," telling them about my interest in owning sheep over there, and half jokingly about becoming a foster parent to these little animals, inquiring if there was such a program already active there. It wasn't long before I received a delightful response from Vivienne at "Inside" not only expressing interest in this concept, but also putting me in contact with a farmer who might be the answer to my needs. I quickly wrote to the farmer, who soon returned the courtesy. Since I had already planned to spend a couple of weeks at Trinity College in Dublin on a study tour that summer, I decided to make a visit to the farm and the flock as part of my stay.

Family Friends
That first visit and the subsequent arrangements for owning the sheep really formed a bond for me with Ireland, her land, her people, and in particular a wonderful family. This tie has brought me a unique satisfaction. For the past four years I have been the proud foster-mother and owner of a small but productive flock of sheep in the lush mountainous region of southeastern Ireland. My flock averages abut 60 sheep a year, which includes ewes and lambs, and the all-important ram. They are freely mixed in with the rest of the farmer's flock, which numbers closer to 300 head. My sheep are distinguishable by a special dye marker usually placed over the left hind area. They are bred for the European meat market as spring lamb, and no, I do not get any of the wool. The shearer who comes by the farm to clip the sheep owns the fleece he cuts.

Cost
The cost of the initial investment depends on what you negotiate with the farmer, the going rate per lamb, and the value of the dollar at the time of the transaction. Generally one ewe will cost about $200. If you inquire of American sheep breeders you may find them lower. But those prices really don't take into account the cost of shearing, dipping (preventative measure against infections), shots, visits by government inspectors, feed and other expenses that a farmer will incur over a year such as heating, housing etc. And of course you have to take into consideration the farmer's skill and experience in sheep husbandry. It is the farmer who does all the paperwork and keeps track of any sick animals, any diseases affecting the flock, and the correct balance of feed they must consume to fatten up for the market. And it is the farmer who is there when your ewes are delivering your new lambs into this world, while you are several thousand miles away.

Visiting my flock
Since my initial venture into the sheep business, I have visited my "family" three times. Showing their disdain for their absentee mother, the sheep invariably run away from me as I announce my homecoming! They end up staring at me from the safety of walls and hedges, while I gawk back from behind a zoom camera lens. Much of my flock consists of the Suffolk breed, easily recognizable by their black faces and legs, and creamy white bodies. A few others are Cheviots, a hardy mountain stock and basically pure white. Wanting to learn more about sheep rearing in general I have begun a collection of books on that subject from New Zealand, Ireland, England, and the United States. Going to farms and agricultural fairs adds to the fun and fascination of it all.

Why sheep?
Several times I've been asked why I prefer sheep to other, more popular animals like bears, ducks, hens or cows. After all, these animals have long been popular as decorative motifs, in household items, clothing, and other memorabilia. Preferring sheep is visceral, and my interest in them probably started when my parents gave me miniature stuffed lambs as Easter gifts. I still have those Steiff lambs (antiques by now) and have widened my collection to include a variety of sheep Christmas ornaments, jewelry, sweaters, a candy mold, other stuffed animals, and even rubber stamps. For many people sheep represent peace and spiritual quietude, warmth, a pastoral countryside and old ways, gentleness and perhaps even the romance of a shepherd's solitude. In actuality, raising sheep, or any livestock for that matter, is a job that requires management skills and physical stamina. It is hard and back-breaking dirty work. And it can be a risky business as well: Animals are not immune to diseases, faulty births, accidents, or other problems brought on by bad weather conditions. Sometimes the market can be overwhelmed by sharp increases in the number of livestock, so profitability on your investment could decrease. A total return on your investment may take several years depending on the above conditions and the size of your flock. It is important to consider these factors, but if you enjoy doing things a little differently as well as having your own private connection to Ireland, it is worth the wait.

Something to talk about
Foster parenting is an ancient Irish custom which finally died out when the old Irish order was crushed by Elizabeth I and Cromwell over 300 years ago. Fostering sheep in Ireland, however, is one small way of establishing a tie with a country and culture you love, making an economic contribution, and developing contacts with Ireland's greatest asset, her people. It's also a great topic of conversation at social events! When people pull out pictures of their loved ones, and start to brag, you can whip out photos of your little loved ones, and brag, or bleat "Here's my Rory, and Tomas and Deirdre, and Peadar and Nuala. And look how fat and woolly Sean, and Maire, and Brendan have become." The possibilities for conversation are endless, as there you stand - the only one on the block with a flock of sheep in Ireland.