When the snow began last Saturday in the Galtee Mountains, sheep huddled in hollows to weather the storm. The extremely heavy snow fell and drifted, burying the sheep under several feet of the fluffy white stuff. When the snow stopped, there was no sign of the flocks. The snow made it impossible for farmers to use motorized vehicles to search. Heading out with sheepdogs, the farmers began a days-long sheep rescue.
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The storm stranded thousands of sheep. Many were huddled in groups, but several solitary animals were scattered about. The dogs have played a considerable role in the sheep rescue. Their keen noses are helping farmers locate and rescue the sheep.
The Cunningham family, William, Tom, and John, with Tom’s son Billy, have worked all week to locate and rescue as many sheep as possible. Once they find the animals, they hand dig to remove several feet of snow from on and around the sheep. Because they can’t use vehicles, one of the brothers or other volunteers carries each sheep off the mountain.
Neighbors are helping neighbors as the farmers attempt to dig sheep out of the snow. Some sheep have been buried by as much as 15 feet of drifted snow. The mountain sheep are resilient, but as the days drag on, they expect to find fewer still alive. Older residents have stated that the last time it was this bad on Galtee Mountain was 60 years ago.
The families will continue searching until they locate all the lost sheep. Those huddled in groups stand a better chance against the brutal weather conditions. Send the farmers a bit of Irish luck and the perseverance they need to rescue all their remaining sheep.
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