We moved our young family back home to Ireland from the UK in 2012, to realise a long-held dream of reviving the 200 year old 40 acre family farm in Roscommon. The Tonra and O’Farrell families were originally tenant farmers to the Rockingham Estate on Lough Key. The farm is just outside Boyle, on the brow of a hill, with fields rolling down to the Lough Key lakeshore. The name Drumanilra – Droim an Iolair means “Brow of the Eagle” and is the old townland name used on older maps, presumably referring to a time when an eagle population still existed in the area. We raise rare and heritage Irish breeds outdoors, and keep stocking levels low so that animals have plenty of room to free-range. We specialise in Dexter Cattle, Jacob and Shetland Sheep and Berkshire and Tamworth Pigs. We raise organic geese and turkeys for Christmas and have a free-range, organic laying flock. We love good food and have a wish to raise our children to know and respect good food and where it comes from, to respect the animals and the environment that feed us, to take seriously our responsibility as keepers of that environment, and above all to know when something tastes good! In the Summer of 2014, we took our "Shepherd's Hut" style catering trailer to shows and festivals around Ireland. The Shepherd's Hut later became the Drumanilra Farm Kitchen and took up residence on Elphin St. in Boyle, next to Supervalu. Our Boyle cafe is currently closed. However, we have opened a new farm shop and restaurant in Carrick-on-Shannon and Strandhill - named Honestly Farm Kitchens. Here we serve organic beef and lamb from our farm, as well as a host of other treats. We also run an artisan bakery, Carraig Rua.
