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Sheep Farm Visit: Interactive Sheepdog and Shearing Demonstrations in Galway
4.8
60 Ratings
Leenaun
Come and see a classic, operational sheep farm in the mountains of Connemara;
Get familiar with the farm owner and his excellently skilled sheepdogs;
Observe a demonstration of a sheepdog rounding up sheep;
During the summer, you can watch a demonstration of sheep being sheared;
Experience bog-cutting using the slean (a type of turf spade).
Come and see a classic, operational sheep farm in the mountains of Connemara;
Get familiar with the farm owner and his excellently skilled sheepdogs;
Observe a demonstration of a sheepdog rounding up sheep;
During the summer, you can watch a demonstration of sheep being sheared;
Experience bog-cutting using the slean (a type of turf spade).
Duration:
1 hour, 15 minutes
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Killary Sheep Farm - Come take an authentic look at farm life in Ireland. This sheep farm is a traditional working Connemara mountain farm which has been in the same family for generations. It has approximately 200 ewes and lambs who roam freely in the mountains overlooking Killary Fjord. On arrival visitors are met by Tom the farmer and have the…
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Killary Sheep Farm - Come take an authentic look at farm life in Ireland. This sheep farm is a traditional working Connemara mountain farm which has been in the same family for generations. It has approximately 200 ewes and lambs who roam freely in the mountains overlooking Killary Fjord. On arrival visitors are met by Tom the farmer and have the option to be outfitted with outdoor footwear and rainwear supplied by the farm.
Tom starts off the farm tour with a sheepdog herding demonstration. These extremely smart dogs are trained from puppies and it is incredible to watch them in action! In the summer months, Tom shears the sheep by traditional methods with hand shears. It is an old farm tradition not often seen anymore. The tour also includes a picturesque country walk through the farm grounds, with sweeping views of Killary Fjord and the mountain ranges beyond. Try your hand at bog-cutting using the slean (turf spade), a centuries-old practice of harvesting peat to heat homes.
If there are lambs about (and there usually are), you can count on a few needing bottle-feeding. You’re welcome to lend a hand!
What's Included
- Sheepdog demonstration
- Sheep shearing demonstration (summer months only)
- Traditional turf cutting demonstration
- Meet the farmer
- Sheepdog demonstration
- Sheep shearing demonstration (summer months only)
- Traditional turf cutting demonstration
- Meet the farmer
What's Not Included
- Gratuities
- Gratuities
Additional Information
- Children 3 years old and under go free!
- Please note this farm is located 1 ½ hours drive from Galway City. You will need own transport to meet point.
- Children 3 years old and under go free!
- Please note this farm is located 1 ½ hours drive from Galway City. You will need own transport to meet point.
Location
Killary Sheep Farm
Please arrive at least 15 minutes before the start time.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.8
(60 Ratings)
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Christen_c
Apr 14, 2025
Magical Experience - The sheep herding with Rock the Border Collie was so delightful to watch, and the farmer was welcoming of all questions after the demonstration. We also then got to bottle feed baby lambs and pick them up to carry back to their pens. The setting was awe inspiring as well. The experience was about an hour total, and both of us felt it was worth the 1 1/2 hour scenic drive each way (we were staying in Galway). We stopped at a pub on the way back for lunch and felt it was one of the best experiences we had on our visit to Ireland.
Review provided by Viator
Amanda_t
Apr 9, 2025
Fabulous Experience - Fabulous experience with a friendly and informative guide. The dog demonstration was our favorite. It was also fun to feed the babies. Would definitely recommend to anyone interested.
Review provided by Viator
Kayla_b
Apr 6, 2025
Great experience! The... - Great experience! The travel to get there was not bad at all. The sheepdog and lamb feeding were amazing. A great highlight of our trip.
Review provided by Viator
Ayesha_m
Apr 4, 2025
Great time with friends and fam - Such an unforgettable experience. Breathtaking views and such sweet sheep! Shoutout to Tom for keeping up a fabulous farm.
Review provided by Viator
Debbie_l
Apr 4, 2025
Great experience!! - The herding demo was amazing. The dog was so excited to “work” and Rex did an amazing job! The farmer PJ was also passionate about his work and gave great information and answered questions. We were able to bottle feed and hold the baby sheep! The property is gorgeous! Very fun experience
Review provided by Viator
Dennis_w
Apr 2, 2025
Great - Watch a highly disciplined dog herd sheep, feed and hold lambs. Enjoy a beautiful view. Listen to the man that works the sheep and learn a lot. Very friendly people. No beer though. Heh heh
Review provided by Viator
Amanda_a
Mar 27, 2025
It was cool to learn... - It was cool to learn about the sheep and the dog training. The drive to get to the farm can be a bit difficult at times.
Review provided by Viator
N3664ycmelanieb
Mar 14, 2025
Rex the sheep dog is amazing! - Super friendly host and family farm! Amazing demonstration of sheep herding. Rex was the 5 yr old sheep dog for our time and impressive to watch. You will learn about training, different types of sheep, and anything else you want to know…just ask.
You will get to hold a lamb, so be prepared (maybe don’t dress your best). We also got to feed them (yet that may be time specific).
Road is narrow going up to the farm and be careful to not pull over too far on the side of the road if letting someone pass. There are spots to pull over…May need to reverse. We had to return to ask our host to help a car that got stuck and he did so without hesitation (and was rewarded with a front full of mud unfortunately…which he took in stride).
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Darkow4
Sep 30, 2024
Fun activity with a beautiful view! - This was such a fun activity! It was interesting to learn about how the dog was trained and to watch the demonstration. The drive up to the farm is beautiful, as is the setting for the demonstration. Get a spot in the very corner of the fenced area for great views of all the action! My only criticism would be that our group was very large. Thankfully I had a great viewing spot so I could see all the action.
Review provided by Viator
Julie_h
Oct 1, 2024
A long way for a 20 minute demo - The demonstration was very interesting to watch. This was NOT 1.5 hrs. At most it took 30 minutes for the demonstration with questions and answers. It was a very long drive out in the mountains for a very short demo. I wish he had taken more time to talk about it and show us around. A bit disappointed in the lack of discussion
Review provided by Viator
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