A Self Sufficient Farm, Co. Fermanagh, Ireland 1979

A look at the life of a self-sufficient farming family in Co. Fermanagh.
The Mullholland family live a completely self sufficient existence on their farm in Fermanagh and the stone quarry which has been in use for at least 400 years. Benedict Kiely describes the landscape and the life of the Mullholland family. From a family of ten, four brothers and two sisters remained on the farm. Self-containment and self-sufficiency are two of the chief marks of the Mullholland farm. They produce their own poultry, cattle, butter, eggs, and turf. The Mullhollands have stuck to traditional farming methods.

[@dellhell8842]

The narrator is Benedict Kiely, from Dromore, Co. Tyrone, and owner the greatest story telling voice I've ever heard. He was a regular contributor to Sunday Miscellany in RTE Radio 1 on Sunday mornings in the 1970s. One of the sounds of my childhood.

[@johnnielson7676]

And he was a great author as well

[@chrismccormack2064]

The full episode of this "hands" documentary series is available on youtube

[@Bdoc76]

​@@chrismccormack2064What a fantastic show that was.

[@benji.B-side]

Not an easy life but a one of contentment, without distraction of the quite soulless, modern day consumerism life.

[@MyFoxworld]

I was lucky enough to have grown up having a grandmother and a next door neighbour that both made butter, plus homemade soda bread, boxty. A dozen or so hens and geese and ducks where we would take the fresh eggs to the shop to sell.

[@cormacbrowne9571]

From the great series 'Hands'.

[@Discover-Ireland]

If only we could go back in time. I think I’ll stay there for good.

[@Blackfyre741]

Some people still live similar to this in ireland

[@jamesbradshaw3389]

I love your use of words, it is poetry at its ver best, If only we could go back in time. I think I’ll stay there for good.

[@JosephE-yd6ks]

Far away hills are greener. A lot of not so nice things went on that you don't see here! Everywhere looks nice when you're getting a quick snapshot

[@JosephE-yd6ks]

@@Blackfyre741 Few if any

[@libertybell-o2k]

@@JosephE-yd6ks Looking back on a very hard way of life through rose-tinted glasses, whilst conveniently overlooking the no-so-good side of it!

[@nj2205]

Where did those beautiful days disappear! life nowadays is very complex and difficult, there is no sense of simplicity and goodness among people, our life today is full of suffering and hypocrisy.

[@Discover-Ireland]

I was thinking the same things.

[@polki1482]

I still live very similar to this only real difference Ive a smart phone in my hand ,live your life as you wish.

[@nj2205]

@@polki1482 Believe it or not a lots of people dreaming about having this Lifestyle, simplicity, nature... And even if you take a look at these modern fashion and health magazines, it's all about living around nature organic food fresh milk... meditation. So it's a blessing to have this, Keep it that way. Have a peaceful day :)

[@seirbhiseach]

So many tell me when I say I'd like a life like this that it's a hard one, but I'd rather a simple and hard life than a complex and sedentary one. Seems like you're more alive being worked to the bone than you are living till you die as a couch creature

[@DashDrones]

Now this is interesting history.

[@Torontokid]

A farmer's wife has as much skill as the farmer in the field. A true partnership.

[@rob_jarvis]

Buy full fat cream and keep mixing it with a blender it'll split and you'll have butter like that just and a small bit of salt

[@zenden6584]

Love these old clips could watch them all day .

[@turloughkennedy6579]

The full documentary is on KZbin. A beautiful film

[@24tommy109]

Whats the name?

[@aaronrider4051]

@@24tommy109 aye, anyone know?

[@MrChristopher42]

Name is: Hands documentary sycthe stone

[@MrChristopher42]

@@24tommy109 "hands: fermanagh County" The whole hands documentary series is well worth watching, as is eamon mqc Thomas documentaries on youtube

[@Joe-B1]

Loved watching this. These people had nothing, yet they had everything. How times have changed and not for the better either.

[@stephensmith4480]

A Beautiful part of the World, I have been fortunate to have visited Co Fermanagh many times in the 80s.

[@JDLeonard74]

Oh, that butter would go nice on a big ear 🌽 of heirloom corn. I used to go out into my grandparents garden with a salt shaker once in a while,, and pull up a turnip when I was about 10 or 11 years old. After taking it up to the garden hose for a rinse of course.

[@Shcreamingreen]

I would like to know how are they doing now.

[@charliedoherty5965]

All dead

[@johnoriordan7657]

Benedict Kiely loved his storytelling in that beautiful voice.... God rest his soul

[@shill700]

this is a clip from one of the 'Hands' series from RTE.

[@marydonohoe8200]

This was a priceless six minutes. Thank you.

[@jamesbradshaw3389]

What a stunning beautiful way to tell the story of the Maolchalann farming family, listening to the spoken words is like watching your most favorite film of times when you were just a child and was running free in the green lands of home

[@movinon1242]

Maol - Mull chal - holl ann - an(d)

[@MrChristopher42]

Theres a full documentary on youtube that this clip is from, the name is handy documentary fermanagh scythe stone

[@MrChristopher42]

"Hands: fermanagh county"

[@Hooftimmer]

I wonder if her cream was sweet or clabbered.

[@JohnDoe-jn3es]

EXAMPLE OF PAST WELL DONE

[@kcahill2777]

Great video, really interesting, keep them coming

[@judymanning2538]

❤❤ for the algorithm ❤❤

[@787maggie]

Did I hear a cuckoo?

[@borderlord7562]

The way life should be

[@maxpower1337]

Great land up there.

[@neilbriffa7211]

Vast green pastureland for sheep,cattle,goats n fertile fields❤❤❤ in ulster

[@pauldurkee4764]

What a lovely way of life, give me that life any day, to modern life living in a city, its hell.

[@Sonia76373]

This is where the hippies of mayo should have done a crash course!

[@johncunnane1582]

different world back then

[@RosaleenOwens-e4t]

Old videos of tempo

[@batmanb8194]

now what does she cook with that?

[@qasaaye23]

wonderful!

[@edmundpower1250]

Brilliant piece of film

[@paudsmcmack3117]

My neighbours are still living the same way today.

[@oscarosullivan4513]

That is quite rare I presume