Farm tours and courses
Tory Hill House and Farm is a unique location, situated at the heart of one of the few special area's of conservation in Limerick. As a family farm, run by three generations of women, we're proud to run our farm organically and work always with the aim of balancing nature with our farm work.
Butter, yoghurt and ice cream course
We are delighted to offer a half day butter, yoghurt and ice cream making course, where people can learn about traditional, Irish methods of making dairy products on a small, scale. The half day course allows participants to see cows being milked in the morning and follow the progress of the milk being made into dairy products - it's a unique hands on experience! The course costs €180 per person and a light lunch is offered afterwards.
Bespoke farm tours
We also offer bespoke farm tours, where visitors are given private access to this family farm and guided around by a member of the family. Activities can include a farm and garden tour of this very special farm that has stood for over 500 years and includes a medieval monastery and 300 year old farmhouse.
Please email toryhillhouse@gmail.com to enquire about our bespoke farm tours or courses.
Farming for nature
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Native Irish Black Bees
In 2021, Hannah noticed that there were very few bees on her farm and a lower than normal apple harvest. She was worred that not enough was being done to support Ireland's native bee population and got her first hive - she now has three and can identify the pollen from wildflowers in the meadows where they graze cattle.
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Holistic Grazing
Tory Hill practices Holistic or Mob grazing which is a technique where wildflowers and grasses are given time to blossom and bloom. This allows pollinators and insects the chance to feed on them and helps to create layers of carbon as cattle trample the grasses into the earth. Cattle are regularly moved to prevent permanent damage to the fields.
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Otter holt
The family is fascinated by wildlife and are keen to create sanctuary areas on their farm. They have built ponds, erected bird boxes, planted native hedgerows and let meadows flourish. They've also built an otter holt! Hannah read a report from 1994 citing that otters were in the area but no one has ever seen any on the farm. Fingers crossed that will change this year!
Meet some of the team!
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Maisie, Myrtle, Myriam and Molly
The four British Friesian ladies on the farm are the primary milkers and are inseparable. They have stuck together through various boyfriends and work related drama, and can regularly be seen in a collective group gossiping and eating. Hence why they've earned their Sex and the City spin off farm series.
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Mrs Murphy
Mrs Murphy is one of the 10 pedigree Hereford cows living on Hannah's farm. She is a big lady who loves her food but unlike her sisters on the farm does not enjoy scratches. She has lots of milk for a beef cow and has only ever produced bull calves but Hannah REALLY wants her to have a heifer to keep breeding from her line.
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Mrs Goose
Not to be outdone by the cows. We also keep a number of hens, ducks and geese on the farm. There has always been a Mrs Goose, and the name has stuck and passed to successive generations of mother geese. There is usually also a gander lurking in the mix who has been known to take on anyone from foxes to farm workers if they get too close to Mrs Goose.
