Aine Devlina is a shepherdess who farms in Kilcoo in the Mourne Mountains.Aine Devlina is a shepherdess who farms in Kilcoo in the Mourne Mountains.
Aine Devlina is a shepherdess who farms in Kilcoo in the Mourne Mountains.

12 Rare Breed families to meet as popular UTV series returns

A new series of the hit UTV series Rare Breed - A Farming Year begins on Thursday, January 19.

The hugely popular year-in-the-life observational documentary series charting the reality of farming in the 21st century, giving a unique insight into one of Northern Ireland’s largest and oldest industries.

For more than a decade the series has taken viewers into the farming world through the lives of farmers across the country and now in its eleventh year, these new episodes follow 12 families as they deal with one of the most unpredictable periods in living memory.

The families featured reflect the diversity and innovation in Northern Ireland’s agri-food sector from traditional beef, sheep, dairy and produce enterprises, to social farming, breeding alpacas and sport horses. Viewers can see how they face daily challenges and constantly work in all weathers against a backdrop of Brexit, climate change and the War in Ukraine.

UTV’s Mark McFadden once again narrates the series. Sponsored by Dromona, Rare Breed – A Farming Year starts on Thursday, January 19 at 8.30pm on UTV.

So who are the farmers that we will meet in this new series?