In the final instalment of Agriland's 'Groundbreakers' series, we meet the Co. Clare farmer who is Ireland's ambassador for women in agriculture this year.

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.

Carina Roseingrave runs Burren View Farm alongside her brother Gerry at the foothills of the Burren in Crusheen, Co. Clare.

They have a mixed enterprise of dairy and suckler cattle, along with a pedigree Limousin and Charolais herd. The farm also produces free-range eggs.

For Carina, farming was a big feature of her childhood.

"My dad would have brought myself and my brothers and sisters out farming," she said.

"She was able to keep the family farm going while holding down a job in Clare Marts in Ennis," Carina added.

Another big role model in Carina's life was her grandmother, who died in 2023.

In the same year, Carina joined the ACORNS programme.

This programme supports early-stage female entrepreneurs living in rural Ireland and runs over six months part-time.

Carina's grandmother had 12 backyard hens.

"She gave every single egg to the neighbours and relations for free. When I was younger, I often said 'why don't you sell the eggs?'," Carina said.

"But that wasn't in her ethos at the time. So in 2023, I went to the ACORNS programme with an idea that I could sell eggs.

"From ACORNS, my business idea of selling eggs to remember my granny went from an idea to getting my first registered department shed through the Department of Agriculture, which was massive for me to do that, in order that I can be able to sell eggs to the local people."

IYWF ambassador

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

In March, Carina was announced as Ireland's ambassador for the IYWF.

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon made the ambassador announcement at an International Women's Day Conference held by his department.

"To be chosen as the ambassador was a great honour," Carina said.

She said there were four other "amazing women" chosen as finalists, "and any of us could have received it".

"A lot of them had great experience coming from different backgrounds and I was shocked, to be fair, that I was chosen," Carina said.

"I'm honoured to take the role for the women of Ireland, to be able for women to come to me, to talk about their issues."

Challenges

Carina said a key issue raised with her by farmers, both men and women, is access to land.

She said if someone is only receiving the land at 50 years of age, for example, it is "very hard for them to put their own stamp" on it. 

"The main thing is: the people that were there before you that have looked after that land, that they are always appreciated, that they are not handing over the land to be put on the backseat, that they're still involved."

Carina said she has a passion for passing on "what my granny, dad, mam showed me" when it comes to agriculture and the rural way of life, and instilling confidence in her daughters.

"My little girls raise their calf and they go then the following spring to the mart with that calf, and they sell it.

"It is about exposing the generation that is behind us to the situations that are real life, and that helps us then overcome the barriers that may be there," she added.