A Kerry farmer has just been commissioned as a lay pastoral leader by the Bishop of Kerry, Ray Browne.

Brigid O'Connor runs a 135ac organic hill sheep farm in Gleann na nGealt in Camp, where five generations of the family have farmed.

"You could be back three more generations in another part of the village, before my great grandfather got ownership of the farm here. Prior to that they were tenants of the English landlords of the time," she said.

At present the farming for nature ambassador has a flock of around 100 ewes.

"My son Liam works remotely from our old farmhouse since before Covid. My 15 year-old grandson Justin gives a hand too, particularly at lambing," she said.

The Kerry woman was a rural youth worker for 22 years with Kerry Community Youth Service, supporting and developing youth services in rural Kerry. During that time she produced and presented a youth programme on Radio Kerry.

She was commissioned as a lay pastoral leader following a two-year course credited by Mary Immaculate College, Limerick.

"It was an amazing journey. I am grateful and humbled by the experience, especially working with my new colleagues, friends from all over the diocese of Kerry," she said.

O'Connor said that the role of the lay pastoral leader should be to identify any gaps in services, and not to duplicate in any way or take from the work that is already going on in the parish.

"My pastoral placement on the course was pastoral care serving the community of my local community nursing home. Pastoral care is an area I am interested in, especially reaching out to those who may not be regular churchgoers," she said.

"I feel it is payback time for me too, I have received so many graces and blessings down through the years and my family were churchgoers down the centuries. The church is now in need of support. It is time reach out and help," she added.