Suckler and sheep farmers, Gerry and Linda Syron, are in expansion mode at Mollie Moo's, their pet farm in Tudenham, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath.

The couple who farm 52ac, with 4ac dedicated solely to the pet farm, plan to add a nature walk, an accessible play area, a mini astro turf football pitch and a multipurpose play area for children aged two and over, towards the rear of the site.

"The farm is named after our youngest daughter Mollie as we always called her Mollie Moo"," according to Linda Syron.

"We made the decision to transition the inter-generational family farm from intensive farming to create Mollie Moo's pet farm to help educate visitors about farm animals in a fun and accessible way. Gerry was always farming and I was working outside the farm before this," she said.

"We have lots of school tour groups that visit every year. Some of the animals on the farm include Highland cows, alpacas, rabbits, guinea pigs, micro-pigs, donkeys and sheep," Linda added.

But despite the Syrons' obvious enthusiasm there are also challenges to running their business not least the high insurance costs involved.

"It is getting more difficult every year to source companies that insure businesses like ours," Linda said.

Molliie Moo's pet farm will reopen on St. Patrick’s Day weekend.

Awards secured over the years include overall tourist attraction of the year at the Midlands 103 hospitality awards 2022 and best leisure attraction at the Midlands 103 hospitality awards 2019. Linda also won the agri-business innovation gong at the Women in Agriculture awards in 2018.

Now the couple are most definitely looking to the future and with no shortage of ideas.

"We recently opened a sensory room which has been a huge success and we have received great feedback about it from our visitors," Linda said.