This feature is a Women’s Collective Ireland- Donegal, ‘Women’s Lives, Women’s Voices’ feature. Written in celebration of Rural Women’s Day to raise awareness to the role Donegal Women play in agriculture and rural development. With an inspiring afternoon at The Milk Bar with its founder Shannon Porter
Did you know Sunday 15th October 2023 marks International Day of Rural Women? The day was first observed in 2008 to recognises the role of rural women, including indigenous women, in enhancing agricultural and rural development, improving food security and eradicating rural poverty.
It was suggested that October 15 be celebrated as “World Rural Women’s Day,” which is the eve of World Food Day, to highlight rural women’s role in food production and food security. “World Rural Women’s Day” was previously celebrated across the world for more than a decade before it was officially a UN observance. The theme for this day is “Rural Women Cultivating Good Food for All”, which highlights the essential role rural women play in the food system.
At Women’s Collective Ireland-Donegal we felt it was important that we take the opportunity to celebrate the contribution and successes of the women working in agriculture and rural development locally here in Donegal. During the summer WCI-Donegal development worker Rhona Hannigan took a trip to the Milk Bar to interview Donegal local farmer and the Milk Bar founder Shannon Porter to see the great work she is doing in Dairy farming and the business she has created.
The Milk Bar opened its doors on the 24th of September 2021, an innovative concept of local girl Shannon Porter. Shannon grew up on the family dairy farm in Lusticle, Carrigans in the North West of Donegal. Chatting with Shannon it is evident that she is passionate about dairy farming, she has managed to turn her passion into a thriving business that is going from strength to strength. The Milk Bar is situated on the family farm and uses the freshest milk that is pasteurised on site, but it is not homogenised, leaving the creamy layer on top.
Shannon’s passion for the agriculture sector developed from growing up on a large farm, both her parents come from a farming background and passed on their skills for sustainable farming with an innovative approach. The family business dates back to the 50’s and 60’s when Shannon’s great grandfather Jack and great grandmother Henrietta Porter started to provide milk to the village, known as Millburn Dairies. In those days you collected the milk at the dwelling house in a tin can. Later the milk was delivered in glass bottles to your doorstep. Over time the glass bottles were replaced by milk cartoons and plastic containers. ‘The Milk Bar’ has reverted back to glass bottles with sustainability at the forefront, reducing the use of plastic. Shannon got the idea when she studied Agricultural Science at university, graduating with a BSc Honors Degree in Agriculture from Harper Adams University. She set up the business during covid which was risky, but it proved successful because of the self service vending machines. The milk itself is beautiful, fresh and a novel idea that promotes local produce.
Shannon choose a general agriculture course that covered all areas of agriculture from livestock, crops, business, environment and sustainable farming. While studying Shannon worked on dairy farms of varying sizes to support her studies and to expand her knowledge of the sector. Getting experience from the farm at home, to working in the UK and New Zealand, developing practical farming skills in all areas of agriculture. Shannon’s talents were recognised at University when she was a finalist for the Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers Dairy Student Award 2021. She was runner up in 2022 in the Food Coast Donegal Awards and a finalist in Blas na hEireann Irish Food Awards in 2023 for her milk and ice-cream. A growing number of local businesses are selling and using the milk now. Its freshness and creaminess makes a hugh difference when making frothy coffees Shannon mentioned.
The farm produces around 6ooo litres per year, most of which is sold to creameries, the milk is collected every two days, processed and then sold to consumers. It is worth noting that the milk in the Milk Bar is straight from the farm, pasteurised on the farm, as fresh as you can get. As a businesswomen profit is important but animal welfare also features highly. With Shannon at the helm I have no doubt the business will continue to thrive and diversify.
Farming is not a traditional route for women, increasingly gender balance is being achieved in most sectors, however, in Ireland only 13% of farms are owned by women. A situation contributed to the fact that men in Ireland significantly outnumbered women as the holders of family farms. In 2016, male ownership stood at 88.3% compared with 11.7% female ownership. This can be attributed to a myriad of social, cultural, legal and financial reasons for the low rate of female farm ownership.
But change is happening and the innovation and vision of young women like Shannon, provides an example to other women who may want to create a future in farming. Women in farming has been an area we have highlighted before, in 2021 as part of our Donegal femLENS exhibition, we feature two thought provoking documentary photography projects which focused on women in farming, you can view these projects here “Focus on Female Farmers” and “The Farm Hers”.
Women’s collective Ireland-Donegal would like to thank Shannon for inviting Women’s Collective Donegal up to the farm and taking the time to show Rhona around and take part in the women’s lives, women’s voices series. Shannon is a role model for young women in Donegal and beyond. We would also like to thank femLENS participant Maud McClean, who volunteered her time and budding photography skills to take pictures for this rural women’s day feature.
We are always looking for women to share their stories and looking for women to write features on topics of their choice which we will profile as part of our Women’s Lives, Women’s Voices’ series. If you would like to get involved please drop us an email at donegal@womenscollective.ie
