Case Studies
Food and Farming
Agricultural and Forestry Processing and Marketing Grant Scheme: The Taste of Success
Fivemiletown Creamery is a small farmer-owned co-operative in the Clogher Valley making delicious cheeses that are in demand around the world. Managing Director Mervyn McCaughey tells how the Rural Development Programme helped the Creamery turn a by-product ‘problem’ into a positive asset.
Supply Chain Development Programme: Best Beef Traced from Farm to Plate
Glen Tender is a UK award-winning brand of Northern Ireland bred Aberdeen Angus beef, set up by three local farmers. The Rural Development Programme provided the trio with essential marketing expertise, as Andy Bryan, one of the three partners, explains.
Agricultural and Forestry Marketing and Development Grant Scheme:
Passion, knowledge and craftsmanship are key elements in building the Fermanagh based Kettyle Irish Foods meat brand, says Maurice Kettyle. Born and reared on a Fermanagh farm on the shores of Lough Erne, and with 15 years experience in the meat industry, Maurice Kettyle turned a dream into reality.
Short Rotation Coppice: Growing renewable energy for the local community
Eoin McCambridge’s family farm near Ballycastle is energy self-sufficient. With help from the RDP Eoin has just harvested and dried his first woodchip fuel crop from willow. One of many willow growers in Northern Ireland, Eoin is passionate about renewable energy and would like to see other farmers following their lead.
Environment and Countryside
Woodland Grant Scheme: Putting Down Roots
The Rural Development Programme enabled nature lover Ted Loughran to turn his cattle farm into woodland, creating a rich environment for wildlife and walkers alike. He explains how planting trees is an investment both for now and for future generations.
Farm Woodland Premium Scheme: Branching Out - Planting trees for a sporting chance
William McIlroy is a farmer with an eye to the future. With help from the Rural Development Programme he has given over some of his beef cattle acres to mixed native woodland and, one day, plans to harvest the ash trees for hurley sticks.
Forest Environments: Planting park and woodland on a grand scale
Taking an historic country estate into the future needs major investment as well as careful planning. Robert Scott, agent for Abercorn Estates, outlines how the Rural Development Programme is helping replant swathes of park and woodland at Baronscourt.
Countryside Management Scheme: Enhancing the countryside for future generations
For over 100 years three generations of the same family have farmed at Killyleagh on the shores of Strangford Lough. The hedgerows are even older however and thanks to the RDP they have benefited from rejuvenation, as farmer David Hanna explains.
Organic Farming Scheme: Investing in back-to-nature vegetables
It takes an investment of years to establish the right crop rotation and make the change to organic crop raising. Organic farmer Roy Lyttle tells how the RDP helped bridge that income gap.
Rural Life
Business Creation and Development: Fuel of the Future - Creating renewable energy from waste
Pat Reynolds' ambition was to build a biodiesel plant and introduce the fuel to the Northern Ireland market. And, thanks to the Rural Development Programme, the Gilford based company, PRS Environmental, is revving up for the future, having turned a good idea into a successful reality.
Encouragement of Tourism Activities: A five-star caravan park with spectacular scenery
Cathal O’Dolan used to caravan with his family — then realised he had the perfect location for caravanners right at his own lough shore home in Fermanagh. He tells how the Rural Development Programme helped him realise his business dream while maintaining the rural way of life he loves.
Village Renewal and Development: Shaping a place of history for the future
Enter Saintfield from any direction and you can’t fail to notice that this is a place of historic interest. Five eye-catching gateway signs are among the features put in place as part of a village renewal and development project.
Conservation and Upgrading Rural Heritage: Creating a Welcoming Space
Visitors from 37 different countries have been drawn to the Ballyeamon Camping Barn, Cushendall since it opened in 2001. With support from the Rural Development Programme, professional storyteller Liz Weir created a space in the heart of the Glens of Antrim where people from near and far come to share stories, take classes or simply stay a while.
