A few goats will soon be grazing the land around Howth Head and the council are looking for people to go out and count them. We want to know why…
So are there really goats just wandering about Howth Head?
Interestingly enough, yes there will soon be a few goats just roaming around the Howth area. You can see them for yourself if you head along to the Goat Enclosure above Greenhollows Quarry, off Windgate Road today at 3pm. The ‘Meet the Goats’ open day is taking place there and you can get up close and personal – although not too personal, if you don’t mind – with the goats that will soon be released.
But why are they being released into the wild?
It’s actually an experiment to see if the goats can help to conserve the heathland that covers Howth Head. Fingal County Council hope that the goats will stop the heathland from growing out of control by eating tree species such as birch trees, bracken and bramble. Basically, they’re in to groom the bushes.
Ah right, so are there many goats being released ‘into the wild’?
There’s only going to be three goats released at the moment, but if the experiment is a success we could see a lot more goats roaming around the ‘wild’ – if you can call Howth Head wild. The goats that are being released today include two nannies and a kid, so there’s a nice mix in there.
And how long will the goats be up there? Winter is coming after all…
They’ve actually been taken from the council’s traditional farm at Newbridge House and they will be returned at the end of October. However, the current plan will see them returning to the heathland in February of next year.
So what exactly does the council want ordinary people to do? And more importantly, will I get paid.
Fingal County Council want people to sign up to become volunteer goat herders and as you’ll be volunteering you won’t be getting paid – but you get to spend time with goats, if that’s any consolation. Your duties will include walking around Howth Head and counting the goats to see if they’re still alive and well. You’ll also be asked to keep check on what the goats are eating and if they look happy.
How in the name of God do you tell if a goat is happy?
Apparently, the goats being used in this experiment are golden Guernsey’s and they’re a bit like dogs in the sense that you can tell if they’re happy by their tail.
I see, so will there be a tunnel of goats at this open day, like in Father Ted?
No. Sadly, there will not be a tunnel of goats (that we know of). You can find out more about the Goats for Howth on their Facebook page. Yes, they have a Facebook page.
