See how a traditional Irish farming family's time was organised around monthly tasks associated with the land.
Saint Bridget’s Day, 1st February, was seen as the start of the new year on the land as days become longer and the first signs of growth are evident.
Apart from daily routine tasks, such as milking cows, the main tasks of the traditional farming and fishing family were the following:
January
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Repair farm equipment
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Clean ditches and drains
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Feed animals
February
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Begin preparing the ground for crops
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Attend fair to buy or sell animals
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Feed animals
March
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Plant potatoes
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Harvest seaweed
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Assist animals during calving and lambing
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Feed animals
April
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Plant vegetables and cereals
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Harvest seaweed
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Assist animals during calving and lambing
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Fish for mackerel and herring
May
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Cut turf
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Put cattle out to pastures, sheep onto hills
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Dock tails and castrate young lambs
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Weed crops
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Attend fair to buy or sell animals
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Net for salmon
June
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Weed crops
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Shear and dip sheep
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Cut hay
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Catch lobsters
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Dry turf
July
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Cut hay
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Spray potatoes
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Harvest cabbage
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Fish for mackerel
August
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Harvest cereals and flax
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Dig potatoes
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Attend fair to buy or sell animals
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Fish for mackerel
September
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Harvest cereals
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Dig potatoes
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Bring turf home
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Fish for herring, mackerel
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Pick blackberries
October
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Pick apples
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Dig potatoes
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Pull turnips
November
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Attend market to buy or sell animals
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Plough fields
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Make and repair hedges, ditches and drains
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Bring cattle in from pastures
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Feed animals
December
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Repair farm equipment
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Lay in seed
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Feed animals