On Sunday last, Leahy’s Open Farm, celebrated 30 years in business. For proprietors, Eddie and Eileen Leahy, the occasion marked 3 decades of intense planning, lots of trial and error and the collective efforts of a very dedicated team. While last Sunday celebrated a great success story, it was also a time to reflect on the blood, sweat and tears that have gone into a venture that started modestly.
Traditionally, the Leahy’s were a hard working family, who generated the bulk of their income through dairying and pig farming. On the look out for options that would add value to their holding, they toyed with the idea of having a few extra attractions, that would generate interest and bring in a few extra quid. These ‘extra attractions’ centred on Eddie’s interest in vintage machinery, which he maintains to this day.
In the intervening years, Leahy’s Open Farm has developed into a thriving tourist attraction that helps sustain very important jobs in rural east Cork and west Waterford. While the ‘odds and ends’ that Eddie collected along the way are still important, the business now boasts features such as: glamping pods, children’s maze, farm museum, a barrel train, play barn, ice cream parlour, digger park and even zumba dancing. It’s a year round operation that includes seasonal events at Easter, Hallowe’en and Christmas. Currently, the open farm is promoting its very popular, summer camps, which run through July and August.
Full story in this week’s Print & Digital Edition.
