Popular Mayo farm shop to reopen following Storm Éowyn damage
Located four kilometres from Ireland West Airport, the Ballagh Farm Shop had built up a loyal base of customers who pre-ordered boxes of local produce for collection on weekends.
A farm shop in Barnacougue, near Knock Airport, will reopen on May 18th after Storm Éowyn in January knocked one of the sheds which had hosted the business over several years.
Located four kilometres from Ireland West Airport, the Ballagh Farm Shop had built up a loyal base of customers who pre-ordered boxes of local produce for collection on weekends.
“We are getting so excited for our opening day,” explained Sue McMillan, who runs the farm shop with her husband John. “We have decided to open every first and third Sunday in the month for now and see how it goes. A vegetable box, as it is so fresh, will last two weeks with the correct storage, and we tell people how to do this.”
A barn on the farm which had served as a meeting point and coffee stop was wrecked in the storm, explained Ms McMillan, who has a day job as a litigation secretary.
“We were adamant that in our sixties we could not rebuild. It was just too much for us. But as the weeks went by, we missed all the lovely customers who previously visited The Shed. So many called us, texted us, contacted us, to offer support, help and encouragement. They are like a family to us. We had to listen to our customers."
The couple had also been growing their own produce in Barncougue.
“The storm destroyed all our growing beds, everything was gone, the timber beds gone, plastic sheeting still not found, composters destroyed.
“Our customers are a community, sitting chatting about veg, growing tricks, swapping plants and seeds, and it is wonderful news for the local area."
Suppliers to the initiative included Duffy’s Butchers in Kilkelly and Mannin Farms, a market garden run by Sebastian Dmilanowski in Larganboy near Ballyhaunis.
The initiative is all about “clean” food, explained Ms McMillan.
“We pride ourselves on knowing where the food comes from and what’s in it. The couple have also regularly hosted 'Meet your Supplier' days to allow customers to meet local food producers."
