This month I’m excited to introduce you to someone who is a real life superwoman. A woman I’ve been so grateful to know over the past couple years, who is always inspiring me to keep at it no matter what. She is a hard-working, strong and passionate woman. She is a leader and I would even call her a business owner.
Alison Irwin was born and bred in Sligo. She is a sheep farmer I had the pleasure to meet during my first year of vet school through a lambing placement. As I got to know her during this placement, I learned she did so much more than a sheep farming. She is a woman who holds multiple other job titles. Alison is a mum & wife, a scout leader, voluntary secretary at the Nepal Ireland Society, and a fundraiser for local charities. As if that isn’t enough, she is also an AirBnB hostess!
Alison grew up on a sheep farm. So after college, and working in accounting and retail, she followed in her dad’s footsteps and took over the family farm. It was originally a flock of Suffolk crossbreds and Black-faced Mountain ewes, but back in 2011, her husband developed a keen interest in pedigree Suffolks. Needless to say, they have been building the pedigree flock ever since! And though it was her husband, Garth, who originally had the passion for pedigrees, Alison says, “I have to admit they have started to become mine too!”
Her favorite part of farming is when the lambs start arriving every year. “There is a real buzz in getting prepared for their arrival. The day we scan the ewes is full of anticipation. An excitement, waiting to see how our numbers will be – how many single, twins, triplets and quads will be arriving.” Scanning the ewes also gives them an indication of how healthy their ewes are. “The day the first lamb arrives in the new lambing season is just wonderful, especially when you hear the mum and new baby chatting to each other and bonding within 5 minutes of the birth.” I can totally vouch for how beautiful this moment is!!
However, being a sheep farmer goes beyond the excitement of pregnant ewes and their lambing. It’s extremely hard work. Alison’s least favourite part is the pure exhaustion she feels at the end of lambing. “Especially when you have to face outside on a cold, wet day to feed the livestock outside.” This is certainly no exaggeration. Raising livestock is no easy task and doing it all on your own without ‘staff’ is a full time job demanding overtime hours each week. I experienced this first-hand when I did my lambing placement with Alison – her and her husband work endlessly to provide the best care for their sheep.
When lambing season isn’t demanding all of Alison’s focus, she enjoys spending her free time hiking and backpacking. In fact, she has ventured to Nepal multiple times and hiked the Himalayas! What an amazing and accomplished woman!!
“I was always sporty as a teenager and in my early 20s, with success in athletics and rowing, but my earliest memory of being out on a mountain was with my mum, dad and brother. We went for a picnic one sunny Sunday on a mountain behind our house and I never forgot it.”
When she was in her twenties, Alison joined the local Mountaineering Club. It was through this club that she became challenged to go on longer and more difficult walks. “At the time, I was also a member of Civil Defence, a national organization which helps in Search and Rescue operations [among other things]. As part of my training there, I joined the heights rescue team which involved cliff rescues and a lot of rope work and climbing. I was totally bitten by the bug.”
From there, Alison was offered an opportunity to travel to Nepal to trek to the Everest Base camp, and to climb a 6000 meter mountain, Lobuje East, which is often used as a training peak for aspiring Everest summiteers. She always had a huge interest in Everest and visiting Nepal, so she jumped at the chance without hesitancy, and the rest is history!
With so many passions and a demanding work lifestyle, I asked Alison how she possible finds the time to do it all! “There are some days when I feel that I am absolutely run ragged and chasing my tail, but generally, things usually balance out reasonably well. Organisation is key!”
She gives a shout out to her husband, Garth, whom she says couldn’t do it all without. They have a great relationship where if important things need to get done, they can fill in for each other whenever needed. “I wouldn’t be able to do half the things I do without his support at home with our two boys and the sheep.”
Luckily, the busy lambing season and busy AirBnb season are opposite. So when Alison is busy focusing on one of these, the other is quieter. “Thankfully, my other volunteering interests usually happen outside my really busy times at home so they work in well with my schedule.”
The only major thing which Alison wishes she could have more time for is her hillwalking. “When we go out it is usually for at least 5 hours and it’s hard to get that time away when you are busy with the lambing or in the AirBnB.”
Nepal is definitely one of Alison’s favorite things, and she also loves cooking, photography, socializing with friends, hillwalking, travelling and of course spending quality time with her family. When she is actually able to have time to sit down and watch TV, she enjoys a good murder/mystery. She also enjoys a good period drama like Poldark or Downtown Abbey. “A good documentary will always catch my interest, too – especially if it’s to do with the outdoors, travel, mountains, and of course, country life & farming.”
Alison absolutely loves to travel. She has already visited over 40 countries to date. So when things are tough, she thinks about where she might like to visit next and starts to plan her next trip away. “I usually try to include the boys in any trip we do too as I feel it is a real education to learn about other countries and cultures.” Definitely sounds like the perfect stress relief!
Alison’s advice to all women out there is to be strong and be your own woman. “All too often people worry about what others might think of them in certain situations. If you are unhappy or in a situation you feel is not right then do something about it. Don’t worry what others think. As long as you live your life well and don’t hurt anyone in the process then do what is right for you. All too often we put others first, and while at times it is the right thing to do, it shouldn’t make you unhappy. Life is short. Life is for living. Take every opportunity you are given and grab it with both hands.”
I think we all need to take this advice. Get out. Explore & see the world. And don’t let anyone stop you from chasing your wildest dreams.
Want to know what the craic is with Alison’s sheep farm? Go follow her Facebook pages: Kirriemuir Farm & Kirriemuir Suffolks. And if you’re ever making your way through Sligo, you definitely should stay in her beautiful AirBnB, The Old Schoolhouse!