Bunclody's Paddy is on Feirm Factor
BUNCLODY farmer Paddy Kehoe is set to become a regular on television in the weeks ahead as a contestant on TG4'S Feirm Factor. The new 10-part series begins at 9.30pm on Monday, February 12, hosted by Maura Derrane, attempting to find the best young farmer of the year with a new Land Rover at stake.
Most of the filming, including a brief visit by a camera crew to the Kehoe cattle and sheep farm at Craan, is already in the can. The sole Wexford representative was up against competition from Clare, Roscommon, Kilkenny, Wicklow, Cork, Kerry and Tipperary – a dozen contenders in all.
'It was a good laugh and I did enjoy it,' said Paddy as he looked forward to seeing the results being broadcast. He and his fellow contestants had to carry out tasks such as ploughing, all done safely within strict time constraint.
Their efforts were reviewed by experts such as Seán Ó Lionáird and Professor Michael Doherty. Guests on the show over the coming weeks will include politicians Mary Coughlan and Trevor Sargent, as well as broadcaster Eanna ní Lamhna.
' It's a tough enough competition,' said Paddy Kehoe, who made good friends with his fellow participants during days spent shooting the programme in Clonakilty, Kildalton, Dublin and England. He thanked Jim Ryan from Clonegal for encouraging him to put his name forward for Feirm Factor.
A former All- Ireland under-21 sheep shearing champion, Paddy hopes to be back in the limelight again in 2014, when the sheep shearing championships are coming to Buffer's Alley.
- DAVID MEDCALF
