Young people in agri: Darragh Gormley
From milking cows at the age of eight to planning his future in farming, Darragh has remained loyal to the industry he has grown up in. Helping to run the family’s mixed dairy enterprise alongside studying full-time and working part-time, the 17-year-old is rarely short of something to keep him busy.
The Gormley farm has a long history behind it, with the family having milked cows there for more than a century. Today, Darragh and his father Shane run a herd of 65 Holstein Friesians, alongside beef cattle and around 25 breeding ewes. While he plays an active role in the family enterprise, Darragh is also beginning to build an enterprise of his own.
“I personally have 10-12 head of cattle myself including a small herd of pedigree Simmentals. I also have a selection of breeding heifers coming along, which I plan to calf down in 2027. To add to the problems, I have around 25 breeding ewes that I lamb in January to February. Many don't like sheep but I don't mind. You have to have an open mind to be a shepherd in my opinion.”
Darragh's farming life doesn't stop at the farm gate. He also works part-time in WM Stockdales and Sons in Clogher and carries out contracting work for neighbours.
“I enjoy farming because of the flexibility. I enjoy the variation of work that has to be done every day. It is very seldom the same day twice.”
That passion for livestock and farming is something Darragh has had from an early age. As a child, Darragh would go farming with his granda instead of going to the babysitter, but it was the milking parlour that really sparked his interest.
“What really got me bitten by the farming bug was the milk parlour. I used to sit on my bucket and watch Granda and Dad milk the cows, and I was chopping at the bit to get at it.
“Whenever I could reach the cows' udder I began my milking career. I must have been 8 whenever I could first milk on my own, of course with supervision.”
More than a decade later, that enthusiasm has never left him, “I just loved working with my cows and really enjoyed miking, and still really do enjoy it. I like morning milkings, because of the peacefulness of it.”
Farming is not simply a career he has chosen, but a family tradition he hopes to carry forward.
“Farming most definitely runs strong in my family. I am the Fifth Generation of my family to farm our land and I most certainly don't intend on being the last either.”
While farming is clearly where Darragh sees his future, he is conscious of the uncertainties that can come with agriculture. Currently studying Business, RE and Engineering at St Ciaran's Ballygawley, Darragh is keen to gain qualifications that will give him options beyond the farm.
“I wanted to get these qualifications for a safety net as I know that farming can be a troubling industry to rely on at times.”
Despite balancing his studies with life on the farm, Darragh's days are anything but quiet. He is up at 5:45am for the morning milking before heading for school, returning for the evening milking and filling in the day with whatever jobs need doing.
With such a demanding routine, Darragh has had to learn quickly how to manage pressure and adapt to whatever the farming year throws at him.
“My biggest learning curve since I started out is that every year is never the same and I fell into the trap of comparing years and comparing dates for instance if first cut was early one year and the next it was later it can be hard to not compare and maybe get yourself down into a rut about it but you simply have to look at what is in front of you and not behind you. My nana quotes me saying, “There is a reason why the windscreen is bigger than the rear mirrors”.”
His granda Eugene is his biggest inspiration, having built the farm up from the ground through years of hard work and dedication.
“He was my biggest inspiration and he built our farm up from the ground and without his hard work and dedication then I wouldn't be telling you about my life as a young farmer today.”
Meanwhile, his father Shane, has also been a major supporter, giving Darragh the freedom to shape his own future on the farm. Between his dad and grandfather, he was gifted calves from the age of six, allowing him to begin building an enterprise of his own.
“He has never pressured me or forced me to take on the farm. It was clearly just “ if you want it it is there and if you don’t it is ok too”.”
For Darragh, there was never much doubt about which path he wanted to take.
“On a cold January morning you can question your entire life's choices, when it is time to get out of bed, but once you're up it's the best job in the world. To me there was no other path than farming.”
The next generation of farmers can bring a fresh approach to an industry shaped by generations of tradition.
“I think that my generation brings entirely different skills and qualities to the industry. They bring fresh energy and fresh enthusiasm and a more modern perspective to farms”
However, being part of the next generation also comes with significant pressures, particularly around land and regulation.
“As a young farmer it is incredibly hard to navigate my way into farming. There are countless regulations and red tape to jump through.”
While Darragh recognises how fortunate he is to have five generations of farming behind him, he worries about the opportunities available to those starting from scratch.
“A first generation farmer will most definitely struggle to purchase land. We should be encouraging as many people to get into the dying industry of Agriculture, not driving them away.”
With the pressures of farming, Darragh believes it is important to have something outside the farm to switch off from the demands of the job. For him, that means Gaelic football with Augher St Macartan's.
“Stepping away from the farm even for the evening protects physical wellbeing and mental health.”
Darragh is also keen for the public to understand the level of care that goes into looking after farm animals.
“I wish the general public would grasp how much farmers care for all of their animals,” he says.
That sense of responsibility towards his animals is also part of what makes farming so rewarding for Darragh.
“There is a saying that “if you do what you love you will never work a day in your life” and I fully believe in that statement.”
“When things go right on the farm and everything clicks, the satisfaction that you can have is simply immeasurable and seeing your hard work pay off is one of the many things that interests me in farming. Yes, a normal job may be handier and the pay might be better and the hours are less, but farming isn't just a job it is a lifestyle and a way of life.”
Looking ahead, Darragh hopes to develop the farm through better genetics, infrastructure and efficiency rather than simply increasing numbers.
“I am a believer in quality over quantity,” he says.
He also believes the future of agriculture should extend beyond traditional farming roles, encouraging young people to consider opportunities such as agribusiness.
“They can take their skills in which they have perfected and use them to better their own careers and better the agriculture industry as a whole.”