In the first instalment of Agriland's 'Groundbreakers' series, we meet a Co. Galway farmer who is passionate about representing women in agriculture and tackling the issues they face.

Groundbreakers, proudly supported by FBD, is highlighting the important role of women in farming.

The series, which includes articles, videos and podcasts, is showcasing a number of diverse experiences in light of 2026 being International Year of the Woman Farmer.

Issues being examined include innovation and diversification, generational renewal, and the evolving identity of Irish farming.

Mona O'Donoghue Concannon is farming near Tuam, Co. Galway.

She is a dairy farmer milking 40 cows, and also has a suckler herd.

The farm keeps all the dairy replacements, and all the surplus calves are sold to a farmer in Co. Donegal.

Growing up on a farm

Mona grew up on a suckler farm in Kinvara, and was always involved with it.

She said there was no distinction made in terms of gender and who could help out - "whoever was available was brought out on the farm".

"I actually was probably a menace for my father because I always wanted to be involved," Mona said.


"My dad sold potatoes, so we were always going off delivering them with him around the country.

She ended up marrying a farmer, Shay, in 2009.

Mona is a full-time carer for her brother. Her brother always loved being on the farm and so, a three-way partnership came about between him, Mona and her husband.

At the time, her husband was dairy farming and Mona decided to set up a suckler herd too.

Farmer representative

Mona is chair of the Women in Agriculture Stakeholders Group (WASG).

Mona's first introduction to farm representative work was with Macra. She was on the council for 13 years where she said she learned a lot about agriculture.

She later joined the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers' Association (ICSA).

The WASG, formed in 2021, brings together representatives from Irish farming organisations, including the ICSA.

The WASG was founded due to the critical need to address the lack of representation and recognition of women within Irish agricultural policies and organisations.

Mona said she was inspired to start addressing issues facing women in the sector when she and her husband wanted to formalise their farm partnership, and Mona found there were "a lot of barriers because I didn't have a green cert".

She said in trying to overcome this challenge, there were very few answers available out there.

Herd numbers

Women's experiences in trying to secure a herd number is one of the key issues for Mona.

Mona said she has been working with others for years in trying to break down the barriers such as this facing women in the sector.

"When we looked at everything, we found that there was very little support out there for the average farmer," according to Mona.

"I found that there are a lot of women like myself who have caring duties, whether it's a sibling, a child, a grandparent, or a parent.

"We had to figure out what supports were available. We looked at what would make it easier for farmers."

'Life brings barriers'

Mona said International Year of the Woman Farmer is important to highlight women's work in the sector.

She said the WASG is working to "champion and help those women who are farming, who are just trying to survive, trying to balance kids, school runs, GAA, and also life".

"Life brings barriers, and that's what we want to champion," she said.

Mona said the group has gotten a seat on the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) Consultative Committee, which it is "very proud of".

"We want women's voices to come to the fore and to be able to bring them to the table - and get them what they need," Mona added.

International Year of the Woman Farmer

The United Nations (UN) has declared 2026 the International Year of the Woman Farmer.

This year spotlights the essential roles women play across agri-food systems, while often going unrecognised.

Women are under-represented in the agriculture sector.

The Central Statistics Office Farm Structure Survey 2023 showed that women account for 13.2% of farm holders in Ireland and 34% of total farm workers.