Sheep Farm Visit: Interactive Sheepdog and Shearing Demonstrations in Galway

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: 1 day learn more
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 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
What's Not Included
  • 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.
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.

Customer Ratings
4.7
(46 Ratings)
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Johanneswh3790nb
Aug 2, 2024
an Irish experience in wonderful surroundings - If you want to see sheep, herd and dog in action and get an insight into the daily work of the breeders, this event will inspire you. And who has ever given a lamb the bottle or held it on his arm? Very nice and touching!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Susanssl
Jul 21, 2024
Amazing Experiece - We loved watching this incredibly smart and hard working dog do what he loves. The teamwork between the man calling directions and the dog was amazing to watch. And then our first sheep shearing. We really enjoyed our time here and all the information we learned!
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Margaret_f
Jul 2, 2024
Great time - Very informative and interesting demonstration! Our guide TJ was great, watching the dogs work was incredible
Review provided by Viator
V4363zeerinw
Jun 24, 2024
Awesome tour - The worst weather day of our trip, but well worth standing in the rain for-an awesome experience! Fourth generation working sheep farm (no frills)-Rock demonstrated his impressive sheep herding skills, we fed/held baby lambs and watched/participated in shearing. Tom, the owner, was gracious and informative.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Amelia_r
Jun 7, 2024
Great experience - A fun experience that my family said was the highlight of the trip. Well organized with just the right amount of time. Tom answered all of our questions. We loved the herding demonstration and feeding the lambs!
Review provided by Viator
Debra_w
Jun 6, 2024
So glad we added this to our trip - So fun. Watching the sheep dog herd, shearing the sheep, feeding the lamb. Wonderful experience. A highlight.
Review provided by Viator
Bjcarman
May 28, 2024
Excellent!! Well worth doing! - Awesome experience!! The farmer who did the demonstration and the sheep shearing was very nice, funny, and informative. Both the sheepdog demonstration and the shearing demonstration were excellent. And we also got to hold baby lambs and feed them. It was a totally wonderful experience and well worth doing!! Would highly recommend it!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Tess_k
May 28, 2024
100% worth the money to... - 100% worth the money to feed baby lambs. A one hour drive away from galway. Beautiful scenery every direction you look.
Review provided by Viator
Robb807
May 25, 2024
Like being in heaven - This was absolutely the best part of my Ireland vacation.I went with my husband and it was like entering heaven. The farm is set atop a fjord. It is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been and I have been all around the world. The brothers who run the farm are amazing and ready to answer any questions. They are fourth generation sheep farmers and the reverence they have for their work and quite frankly their gift is palpable. Although other tourists were present it did not feel like a tourist trap. The location and work did not lend itself to hokey tourist tricks. That is saying a lot since you are able to hold and fees the lambs, plus watch one brother demonstrate how his dog listens to his commands to here the sheep. Please ask them about how they train these amazing dogs, how they learned and were born into this profession, the breeding of the dogs, the miles they walk everyday and anything else you can think of. I would visit Ireland again just to visit this farm. Connemara is an amazing, dramatic part of Ireland. If you have a car there is no reason to go on a tourist bus, we drove ourselves there. This is an experience for young and old alike, don't miss it. Oh and we arrived on the first day of shearing, late May. You get to be present for the skill it takes to sheer a sheep and learn all about the wool.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
540annel
Aug 21, 2024
Wonderful experience - Wonderful farm in grand nature. We were welcomed by Patrick, who was used to tourists and gave everyone a fantastic experience. Roy the border collie delivered, and it was fun to cut the wool of a sheep and to hold a lamb.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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up to 15 guests
1 Adult
September 2024
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