Family pays tribute to well-known livestock exporter and pedigree pig breeder, Sam Smyth

Samuel Smyth, more commonly known as Sam or Sambo, was born on the 25th of July 1939 and was raised on the Rocky Road in Castlereagh, where his deep connection to the love of the land and community was formed.

The son of Bryce and Reta Smyth, Sam grew up alongside his siblings Beth, Isobel and Hall, learning early the values of hard work, family and integrity. He was educated at Castlereagh Primary School, passing the 11 plus going onto attend the Royal Belfast Academical Institution. Farming was not just Sam’s occupation but his calling. He began his working life on the home farm alongside his father, Bryce, milking cows and learning the trade from an early age.

Sam attended Everton Mission Hall in Castlereagh, where he gave his life to God. In 1956 he organised a social in there where he met Miss Eileen Anna Weir. Their love endured, leading to their engagement in 1961 and marriage in 1963 in Willowfield Church of Ireland, beginning a lifelong partnership built on devotion and shared values.

After marrying Eileen, he moved to Holly House and established a pedigree pig herd. They attended Castlereagh Presbyterian Church where they raised their children, Joanne and Neil on the family pig farm.

Sam quickly gained a reputation for excellence, showing and judging pigs at Balmoral Show, earning national recognition. His success there led him, alongside other pedigree breeders, to the Reggio Emilia pig show in Italy, where valuable contacts were made and an exporting business was established supplying pigs, cattle and calves to Italy and the rest of Europe. For many years this became his life, travelling to markets across Ireland to source the best stock. At the height of the business, Sam moved his farm from Castlereagh to Crossgar. He chartered planes to export astonishing numbers of livestock, collected all over Ireland, with centres in Cork, Dublin and Crossgar. One plane load left per day. Over 68,000 animals were exported in a single year.

Exporting was not always plain sailing, Sam faced hard times and difficult challenges, however he came through with resilience, positivity and an unwavering passion for farming. He loved dealing, but unlike today’s farmers who use the internet to sell their produce, Sam had to use his warm charm and good personality, alongside his well known one-liners! He took great pride in selling to the same farmers year after year, never seeing them as customers but rather as good friends. Many a plan was hatched around the kitchen table where the frying pan and teapot never cooled. Sam had a lot of special friends, and they will know who they are, some of whom he has already joined in Heaven.

Sam was always thinking outside the box and you never knew what he would come up with next. He organised and ran numerous special sales of imported French and Italian dairy stock, as well as sheep sales at the home farm with R. J. Allams. He exported a large number of pigs to Italy, until animal rights protestors attempted to block the trade. This didn’t stop Sam, just chartered a plane from Russia to continue exporting pigs out of Aldergrove.

He had a great talent for delegating jobs and always said “we’ll” do this, but that actually meant “you” would be doing it. He wasn’t scared of taking a risk and once surprised Neil by landing home with 86 ponies from Dartmore, just to fill the lorry on the return journey! (They definitely tested his personality to get them all sold). Another time, Sam sent a lorry load of buck goats to a customer in Birmingham and the boat wouldn’t allow them on until the 3am sailing the next morning, due to the complaints of the smell!

In later years, although he slowed down, Sam never truly retired and could still be found keenly watching cattle sales online, even if he joked he’d never buy that way — believing an expert eye would always be needed. Sam was, above all, a true character, deeply proud of his work, his relationships, and the life he built through farming. Let’s just say, if there’s an auction up in Heaven, Sam will be there. He used to say a good dealing man is fit to bid for every type of animal and he definitely would bid for all types (he also had a weakness for a donkey!)

While farming was one of Sam’s great loves, it was never his only one. His other great love was his wife, Eileen, who went above and beyond for him in countless ways throughout their lives together. She was his constant support, his partner in every sense, and the person he cherished most. Sam often spoke of her with deep affection, and his love for her was unwavering to the very end. Sam and Eileen’s marriage was built on devotion, gratitude and enduring love. The night before he passed away, Sam said - “Please tell Eileen how much I love her, and if I had to do life again, I’d still choose her.”

He was a much loved husband and devoted father. He took great pride in his children; his daughter Joanne who studied Law at Queens University, married Thomas and then went on to have his grandchildren Samuel and Jonathan. His son Neil studied Agriculture at Loughry college, married Joanne and they went on to have Zara, Alexandra, Georgia and Bryce. His grandchildren brought him immense joy. He took delight in watching them grow, always offering support, wisdom and reassurance. He loved spoiling them all with treats after school, usually going behind their parents' back! He would often be seen flying round the garden on a quad or horse and cart with one, two or three or maybe six of his grandchildren on board.

His life was one of quiet strength, commitment and love, rooted in faith,family and farming, and he will be deeply missed by all who knew him. Sam always said a man was only as good as his word and that a good name was better than great riches which sums up how he lived.

On Saturday the 20th of December, the Lord called Sam home.

The family would like to thank everyone for their support, sympathies, kind wishes and for being here today to celebrate Sam’s life. Thanks must also go out to all those who cared for Sam in his final few years, some of whom include; Lydian Care, Downpatrick hospital and Oakridge Care Home.

As we reflected on the many messages and memories shared, people spoke of his kindness, his quiet dignity and the respect he showed to everyone he met. One thing stood out above all else; how widely he was known as a true gentleman.

He will be sorely missed.