Clare O’Keeffe, Farmer, Tutor and Mediator.
Clare O’Keeffe has an honours degree in Economics & Sociology from the National University of Ireland, Cork, a diploma in Rural Isolation and Counselling skills and a diploma in Social and Community Studies. She is a third-generation farmer on her home farm.
Clare was the first woman elected onto the regional committee of Dairygold Co-operative Society representing primary producers. Clare worked as an Agricultural Development Officer with a Rural Development Organisation from 2005-2007.
In 2020 Clare completed a Master’s in Agricultural Science Extension & Innovation at UCD.
In 2019 Clare participated and completed the Certified Farm Succession Coordinator Training. The University of Wisconsin in collaboration with the International Farm Transfer Network (IFTN) and the North Dakota State University Extension Service offered this training programme. Clare successfully completed the Farm Succession Coordinator Training in Fargo, North Dakota with a valuable transferable skillset as applicable to Irish family farm businesses as to our counterparts in the USA.
In 2006 Clare was awarded a Nuffield Scholarship to study ‘Succession on Family Farms, a Global Perspective’. Her research included travelling to and observing succession practices in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, China, Canada, Holland and U.K. Clare trained as a succession facilitator and planner under the guidance of Lyn Sykes. Clare is a certified mediator and a member of The Mediators’ Institute of Ireland (MII).
I wanted to send a note to say a heartfelt thank you for your advice and help with the mediation process. We are in a much better situation now. I feel we can move forward, repair the relationships and begin to recover. Your support is very much appreciated. Thank you.
Limerick farming family.
