By Dawn Rainbolt
Published: Sep 27, 2024More by Dawn
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Water Buffalos Come to Ireland
Meet Johnny Lynch, water buffalo farmer extraordinaire.
It all started with a single conversation on a quiet night in a small West Cork pub. Born into a farming family, the land and livestock had always been in Johnny Lynch’s blood.
But raising water buffalos? In Ireland? That was something completely new.
In 2009, Ireland was a rural place, and West Cork was even more rural than most corners. One of eight children, Johnny had long known that he would carry on the dairy farming tradition. In fact, of all his siblings, he was the only one to do so. Inheriting the family farm of 162 acres and a herd of Holstein Friesian cows, he considered raising the traditional livestock choices, from cows to pigs or sheep, but nothing seemed quite right.
That night, over pints by the crackling turf fire, a chance conversation about water buffalo milk led to Johnny swapping his milking herd of 50 Holstein Friesian cows for 31 water buffalo calves. These original water buffalos came from the medieval town of Cremona in northern Italy.
A self-professed animal lover, Johnny connected immediately with water buffalo. Based in Killnamartyra in Co. Cork’s Lee Valley just south of the village of Macroom, the farm hugs both the rolling green wilds of West Cork and the rugged peaks of the Beara Peninsula. Traditional and remote, imagine the stir in the local community when Johnny’s first herd of Italian water buffalo arrived.
- Water Buffalo or Cow? What’s the Difference?
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Water buffalo differ from cows in their physical build. These large animals have larger, curved horns and a sturdier frame. They thrive in wet environments, while cows prefer dry pastures. Buffalo milk is richer in fat, protein, and calcium compared to cow’s milk, making it more nutritious. Both animals are domesticated, but buffaloes are mostly used for milk, meat, and draught work, while cows are raised for both dairy and meat.
“Living nearby, I was just as completely amazed to see his pedigree Italian Water Buffalo grazing on his land as everyone else in Ireland at that time,” says Dorothy, the farm’s tour guide.
Making Irish Water Buffalo Cheese
Mouth-watering soft water buffalo cheese.
It was a challenging journey. At the time, rural Ireland was very traditional, and farming was done the same way it had been for generations past. Doing something new, something different, something as bold as farming water buffalo and making mozzarella from their milk, was as wild an idea as putting a man on Mars.
It was always going to be about the dairy. Johnny initially started with premium buffalo milk for sale to Irish cheesemakers, and his dairy herd grew to over 100 females. As huge animals, his herd of water buffalos produced enormous quantities of milk too quickly. He had an excess of milk that was being quite literally poured down the drain.
So Johnny decided to make buffalo milk cheeses on his own farm. His main challenge? Milk is only good if one has a way to make something from it. He was joined by expert cheesemaker Sean Ferry, and with the development of a cheese production plant, Macroom Buffalo Cheese Products Ltd. was born, employing a team of like-minded business people and employees.
Like all artisans, cheesemakers are always excited to create new products. Johnny was keen to expand his water buffalo products, and Sean was excited to start experimenting with buffalo cheese – detailing the start of a symbiotic relationship.
What Makes Water Buffalo Milk Unique?
Water buffalo milk, used in Macroom Buffalo Cheese, differs from cow’s milk through a number of nutritional benefits. These fresh, hand-made cheeses contain less cholesterol, more calcium, and more protein. Additionally, water buffalo milk is richer in Omega-3 fats and is fully vegetarian (using plant-based rennet).
Water Buffalo Cheese
A delicious cheese tasting plate.
What makes the cheese unique? Soft and creamy, buffalo’s milk offers a lighter cheese-making option than traditional cow’s milk. Today, the farm produces various delicious cheese products and has recently introduced yoghurt.
Of course, every visitor has to try the mozzarella. But other products are also on offer, from the tiny, perfect balls of bocconcini (roughly translating to “little mouthful”) to the smooth ricotta. There is also burrata, Cypriot-style grilled cheese (similar to halloumi), and Greek-style Cheese (similar to feta). All are served at the farm with a fresh green salad, yoghurt, and a mousse made with ricotta cheese and a selection of local fruit – the perfect light lunch.
Guests will also get the chance to taste buffalo meat. While dairy products are Macroom’s main business, it is still a working farm, and some of the male animals are produced for meat products, such as burgers, steaks, mince, and braising cuts of meat.
Water Buffalo Farm Experience – What to Expect
Meeting the water buffalos
A growing interest in the farm, cheese, and way of life led to a collaboration between Johnny and Dorothy Ó Tuama, a West Cork local. She joined the farm team in 2016 to promote the farm, cheese, and beauty of her native region.
“We decided to combine our life skills, with me as a keen educator, tour guide, and chef and Johnny’s experience as a dairy farmer, cheesemaker, and entrepreneur. We both wanted the tours on offer to be fun, safe, educational, delicious, and concise and, more importantly, could run alongside the farm and cheese production work schedules without disruption,” Dorothy explains.
Tour and Taste Farm tours with Ó Tuama Tours offer visitors the chance to explore the farm and the Lee Valley, meet the herd of water buffalos and taste their deliciously cheesy products. By exploring the region known as the Gaeltacht Mhúscraí, visitors will immerse themselves in the rich culture and tradition of farming life and rural environments, as well as learn about the Irish language and its impact on the storied landscapes unfolding on all sides.
Visitors have a unique opportunity to meet Johnny’s Italian pedigree water buffalo and their adorable calves grazing outdoors in lush green pastures.
A splendid introduction to both West Cork and rural Ireland, your clients will have the chance to discover a lovely farm that is large, accessible, and in a gorgeous corner of southwest Ireland. They will get out and meet the animals – first, heading out to the fields to meet the herds, including a few bulls. Then back to the Home Farm to learn how milk is produced in the milking parlour. Here, visitors will also get a chance to meet the young calves.
Where is Macroom Farm?
The farm is in the Lee Valley, just south of Macroom, between the city of Cork and the rugged Beara Peninsula.
This experience is best suited for guests who wish to visit the southwest of Ireland, specifically the regions of Cork and Kerry. Combine it with a stay in Cork, a visit to Killarney, or en route to the rural peninsulas of West Cork.
Go Beyond Cheese
Whiskey tasting
Cork
Combine this experience with active hiking or cycling tours in West Cork. For whiskey lovers, there are a number of distilleries in West Cork, from the famous Midleton Distillery near Cork to small craft distilleries scattered throughout the rural southwest landscape. Great for wildlife lovers, there are a number of options for paddling tours, boat tours, and more to spot birds, whales, dolphins and other Irish fauna.
The beauty of Kerry.
Kerry
North into Kerry, the ever-popular Killarney National Park is a delight for nature lovers. As a region, Kerry has something for everyone. Join a coastal foraging walk, enjoy a gourmet fishing experience, step back in time at the numerous historical monuments, indulge in a leisurely afternoon tea, pamper yourself in an exclusive spa, bask in nature in a lakeside boat tour, challenge yourself on a hike in the wild mountains of Kerry, and more in this beloved and iconic part of Ireland.
Get in Touch
Whether it’s water buffalo in West Cork, bread-making in Clare, or seaweed foraging in Kerry, get in touch with us for this type of unique experience in Ireland. Meet local characters like Johnny Lynch and his herd of water buffalos or one of the other many intriguing characters of Ireland.
Get in touch below.
