No kidding: goats on tour enjoy the green, green grass of home
Goatherd Melissa Jeuken joins brothers Dara, Seán, and Conor McDonald as they lead a group of goats across the road at St Brigid's NS, Bagenalstown Photos: michaelorourkephotography.ie
RESIDENTS across Co Carlow were treated to an unusual sight last week as a small herd of Old Irish Goats took on the role of eco-friendly landscapers in an innovative biodiversity initiative.
The rare-breed goats began their tour of duty on Monday 28 April in Leighlinbridge before moving to Carlow town’s Brooklawns, Burrindale and Sherwood green spaces. Last weekend, the four-legged conservation team finally arrived at Hackettstown Fire Station, where they continued their work.
Dermot the billy goat and his team, playfully dubbed ‘Munch-chester United’ by senator Malcolm Noonan during his visit to Leighlinbridge, are demonstrating sustainable alternatives to traditional mowing and herbicide use while supporting urban pollinators.
Posing for a picture with Shane and the goats, which he posted on social media, the senator went on to humorously praise the goats for ‘proving themselves to be the GOAT at managing meadows for nature and real contenders for the Chomp-ions League this season’.
The initiative is part of Carlow County Council’s Green Infrastructure Strategy, which aims to ensure “no pollinator in Co Carlow’s towns and villages will have to travel more than 200 metres in order to find a food source”, according to biodiversity officer Shane Casey, who organised the project.
Shane, who studied this subject for his undergraduate thesis, explained that the goats serve as “a catalyst for change in management” rather than a complete solution. The programme builds on previous work mapping over 60 acres of community-managed open spaces across Carlow’s eight largest towns and villages.
The goal is to move away from regular mowing – saving time, labour and reducing carbon footprints – and towards long-flowering meadows that significantly improve conditions for biodiversity.
Shepherd Melissa has been accompanying the goats throughout their tour, along with Mr Casey, delivering educational talks on pollinators, land management practices and information about the rare breed itself.
Carlow Fire Service also joined the initiative, delivering fire safety awareness presentations as wildfire season approaches.
