Coolakay Agricultural Heritage Centre is a must-visit for anyone who wants to learn about Irish farming history. Owned by sheep farmer Robert Roe, whose family has been farming the land since the 1800s, the centre was established in 1989 to preserve the heritage of Irish farming and house a vast collection of agricultural machinery collected by Robert’s great grandfather.
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Located just 4 km south of Enniskerry village on the road to Powerscourt Waterfall (R760), the centre’s collection showcases the evolution of Irish farming, starting from manual tools, horse-drawn equipment, sickles, scythes, reaper and binder, and progressing to the present day self-propelled combine. Visitors can marvel at a wide range of farm machinery including mowing machines, drill grubbers, potato planters, corn seed drills, and a rare 80-year-old hay bogey in its original condition.
At the last count Robert reckons he has 27 tractors, including 7 or 8 grey Fergusons dated back as far as 1946 and upwards, a couple of Fords including a 1953 50th anniversary golden jubilee, 3 Deutz a D30 2-cylinder, D40 3-cylinder and a D55 4- cylinder, there is also a Fordson Super Dexta, David Brown 990, and an International. The list goes on with a Massey-Ferguson 35 and 35X and several Nuffield Tractors, including a Universal 3, 345, 460, 465, 1042 and 1060. And the collection is completed by a very lovely, fully restored Singer car.
Robert’s love and care for every machine in the collection are evident in the constant state of restoration or preservation each item is in. In addition to the vintage machinery collection, visitors can also view a large display of household artefacts including a rare Wicklow kitchen dresser, churns, and kitchen appliances.
Robert is an acclaimed sheepdog handler and this summer he invites you to witness the marvels of working Collies in action against the vibrant backdrop of the picturesque Wicklow scenery. Enjoy at close-quarters Robert and his Collie Rover, working in a perfect harmony to manage the Belclare and Belcare Cross sheep around the fields of the farm.
Rover the four-year old Collie has been in training as a sheep dog at Coolakay since he was a month old. While he has been trained to respond to a whistle he mostly works to (voice) command when Robert calls out a specific set of instructions and the two of them working in harmony are able to guide the sheep in any direction.
Throughout the demonstration, Robert will explain the meanings behind each command, providing valuable insights into dog training techniques. Generally working with nine of the Belclare sheep, Rover responds to short voice commands:
- Sit and down Lie – Rover lies down facing the sheep
- Left
- Right
- Here – come in this direction
- Rover wrong way – Rover changes direction
- Bring them on – Rover is moving in the correct direction
- Easy – Rover to slow down
- Back – Rover to reverse direction
The Collie is a dog well suited to the task of herding sheep due to the breeds speed across the ground, agility and strong herding instinct. The breed originated on the borders between Scotland and England where “collie” is a Scotch word used to describe sheepdogs. They are renowned as incredibly intelligent and also make brilliant search and rescue dogs.
This sheep dog demonstration is uniquely interactive with Robert and Rover able to guide the sheep at a gentle walking pace, through the standing groups of visitors – a most unique experience.
Over the summer Rover will be joined in his duties by another Collie, one year old Tim and together they will work with the flock of two- to four-year-old Belclare sheep.
Under Robert’s guidance, you will witness the impressive skill and agility of these sheepdogs as they go about their task of moving sheep. This demonstration is a must-see for all, allowing you to witness first-hand the remarkable obedience and intelligence of these working dogs.
For those who love nature, Coolakay is the ideal location for experiencing the beauty of County Wicklow. Visitors can take a short climb to ‘Walker’s Rock’ above the farm and enjoy a stunning 360-degree view of the surrounding countryside that spans 10 miles (16 km). The view includes the Sugar Loaf Mountain, Killiney Hill, Dublin Bay, the Wicklow Mountains, and even down onto Powerscourt Waterfall.
The centre also has some interesting historical facts for visitors. For example, Charlie Keegan, the first Irishman to win the World Ploughing Championships in 1964, hailed from across the road from the centre. The first inter-county ploughing contest was held in 1931 to settle an argument between two friends over which county produced the best ploughmen.
Visiting Coolakay Agricultural Heritage Centre is a fantastic opportunity to immerse oneself in Irish farming history, experience sheep dogs working up-close, learn about the area’s fascinating historical events and enjoy the natural beauty of County Wicklow – Ireland’s best kept secret.
Accepting bookings for adult groups: [email protected] Telephone: 01 286 2423
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Sources of information:
International Sheep Dog Society
‘Top Trainers Talk about Starting a Sheepdog: Training a Border Collie on Sheep and Other Livestock’ – Sally Molloy & Heather Nadelman
