In the second instalment of Agriland's 'Groundbreakers' series, we meet a Co. Carlow farmer and entrepreneur who has driven the diversification of the farm.

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.

Ciara Stanley runs Coppenagh House Farm, located just outside Tullow in Co. Carlow, with her husband Robert.

They have a beef enterprise and also have sheep and pigs.

The farm rears a small herd of continental suckler cows, bulls, and heifers, all of which are grass-fed.

It is one of the few farms in Ireland offering Irish-reared Wagyu beef - a premium option known for its tenderness and marbling.

The Wagyu cattle are bought in by the farm as weaned calves throughout the year and raised on pasture to ensure a regular supply for sale.

Everything the farm produces is processed through its local abattoir and butcher, then returned for sale directly through the farm shop.

"During covid we started thinking about other ways that we could work together on the farm, and ways of diversifying the farm," Ciara explained.

"We looked at different angles and routes, and we landed on the idea of beef boxes."

The business started to grow as it gained traction on social media, Ciara explained.

"The beef boxes proved really popular."

She said there were challenges that they encountered along the way, but opportunities also arose, and they soon opened their farm shop in 2022, selling local produce and inviting the public to see the farm.

There is now the addition of a coffee barn.

Finger-pointing

At the time of setting up the farm shop, "there was an awful lot of finger-pointing" at agriculture, Ciara said.

"We were a little bit nervous opening up the gates and bringing people up here," she said.

They were unsure about "what reception we were going to get, and whether we were going to get some negativity".

But the passion "to show what really happens" on a farm overtook the fear, and Ciara said they soon found that "people were just genuinely really interested in it".

Ciara had left full-time employment around this time. She has an embroidery business, Ardattin Embroidery, and in 2022 she also bought clothing brand Ballybar.

"Looking at everything, it made more sense to put everything under the one roof. It made sense to grow the farm shop," she said.

Coppenagh House Farm aims to bridge the gap between farm and consumer, offering locally-produced food that tells the story of where it comes from.

Ciara urges consumers to support Irish farmers and producers.

"We're putting food on your table. Whether it's cheese, milk, whiskey, beer, so much of what we do ends up on your table," she said.

ACORNS

A significant part of Ciara's journey was her  participation in the ACORNS programme in 2023. 

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

"That brought me to meet like-minded people," Ciara said.

"You'll meet your networks and different people and you get to grow with them.

"That's been really helpful to me, and it opened so many doors."

International Year of the Woman Farmer

Ciara said she believes women in the sector are "becoming more confident to put themselves out there".

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.