Mary had a little lamb – Galway Councillor visits lambs from ewe named in her honour!
A bit like the nursery rhyme, Mary (Hoade) had a little lamb – or two – whose fleece was not quite as white as snow!Mary Hoade, a Llyen cross ewe named after Galway County Councillor Mary Hoade, has given birth to two black lambs.
The politically-named ewe, whose father was a Dutch Spotted ram, was christened by seven-year-old Leon Higgins from Killamonagh, Caherlistrane.
Mary Hoade the ewe was born during the 2024 Local Elections when Leon, a first class pupil of Donaghpatrick National School, spotted campaign posters of the Fianna Fáil councillor across the Caherlistrane and Headford area.
Leon’s mother, Rachel Higgins recalled that Leon was in a van with his father, sheep farmer Jonathan Higgins, and asked could he name the new lamb.
“He said 'I want to call her Mary'. And then he said, 'No actually, I want to call her Mary Hoade'. He knows from the posters that she is someone important,” said Rachel from Belclare.
“One of the nicer days of my political career”
Last year, during an event at Caherlistrane Community Centre, Leon approached Mary Hoade – the politician – who was wearing the Cathaoirleach of Galway County Council ceremonial chains, and told her all about Mary Hoade, the ewe.
Leon promised to contact Mary once her namesake gave birth in lambing season – and she visited the family farm last week to see the two new unnamed lambs.
“He (Leon) was over the moon (with Mary's visit to the farm). She's an absolute dote of a woman,” said Rachel Higgins of the local councillor.
And Mary Hoade the ewe, a first-time mother, is a trooper too: “She lambed herself, no bother to her, and she's going to rear them herself, please God.”
Two other sheep named by Leon – Thomas and Jack – are not named after well-known politicians. “They’re from Thomas the Tank Engine,” laughed Rachel.
Mary Hoade, leas-Cathaoirleach of the County Council, said it was “one of the nicer days of my political career” when Leon contacted her initially about naming the ewe in her honour.
“It’s not often you get a five-year-old engaged in politics,” she said.
Mary grew up on a farm and said visiting the Higgins’ farm last week was a real trip down memory lane. “We chatted about sheep while in the shed and I learned a lot, and afterwards he invited me to the house for tea,” she said.