chapter one
We dreamed a dream
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Originally hailing from Dublin, we settled in north Wexford in what we belived at the time to be our forever home. Here, many evenings were spent watching Countryfile where we had first heard about alpaca farming. Having always dreamt of owning a farm, our interest was piqued and so we endeavoured to learn as much as we could about it. |
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We searched for suitable farms for a long time before we happened across Riverstown Farm in south Wexford. Just ten days before the first lockdown was announced in Spring 2020, we moved our lives once again down the N11, this time for good. Had this not come together right when it all did, it all may have been for nought. Riverstown Farm truly felt like it was ment to be. |
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chapter TWO
TRAGEDY strikeS
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In May 2019, I tragically lost my brother Andrew. We were very close and it was a devastating blow to us all. To honour his memory, on the date of his first anniversary in 2020, we welcomed four alpacas to the farm. Three pregnant girls, Ellie, Violet and Mitsy, and Ellie's baby boy, named Andrew after my brother. We told our story in the Wexford People, which you can read here. Very soon after they arrived, Mitsy became very ill. After many rounds of testing, we learned they were all infected with Tuberculosis. Over the course of a few weeks, we said goodbye to Mitsy and then Violet as their became worse until finally, at Christmas of 2019, we received word that Ellie was also infected. Shortly into the new year, we said goodbye to Ellie and also Andrew. This tragic story unfolded over the space of 6 months, from Mitzy first becoming ill to losing Ellie and her baby. We were left brokehearted with an empty farm, not knowing what to do next. |
chapter three
New Beginnings
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We were suddenly left with an alpaca farm that had no alpacas. After starting to deal with our heartbreak, we decided we would start again with the support of our families and other alpaca owners in the sunny south east.
In the spring 2021, we welcomed two lovely girls, Henreitta (Hen) & Megan, to the farm. Hen was pregnant and due her cria in the Summer, signifying a new beginning to Wexford Alpacas. Shortly thereafter, we welcomed Nia, followed by Bonnie and Knox later into the Spring season. In May 2021, Hen had her cria (baby), Butterscotch, and the hope we had felt in the beginning was reawakened. |
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To this day, we continue to test our alpacas for TB every year for our animal's health and our own peace of mind.
