Local Business Man gives traditional ‘horsepower’ the ‘green’ light. 17th June 2005

Local entrepreneur Dr Gerard O’Hare is taking a lead role in protecting the environment on his recently acquired Lurganconary Organic Farm near Kilkeel.

Dr O’ Hare bought the farm to protect the local environment when plans were being prepared to quarry sand from the land. In preparing the land for the creation of an organic farm, Dr O Hare had to clear some fallen trees in his woodland but rather than adopt the more modern option of machinery and tractors he opted for horse power of a different kind by employing two horses.

Dr. O’Hare said; “In keeping with traditional farming methods we do not want to disturb the wildlife in their natural habitat when clearing fallen trees in woodland. Obviously if tractors or diggers were brought in to do this work they would have a detrimental effect on the environment and ecosystems in the surrounding area.”

“It is important to protect the environment and pass it on  to the next generation  in as good, if not better condition than it was handed on to us. 

“When looking for alternatives we decided to employ two willing shire horses to extract the logs from the wooded area. Not only does it hark back to bygone days but it fits well with our objectives in creating an organic farm.”