Blackwater Open Farm — Attraction in The Municipal District of Gorey — Kilmuckridge

A Disgraceful Experience at Blackwater Open Farm, Co. Wexford

I recently visited Blackwater Open Farm with my 2.5-year-old child, expecting a fun and educational day out. Instead, we were met with a shocking and heartbreaking scene that I can only describe as an absolute disgrace. This so-called "open farm" is nothing more than a cruel display of neglect and poor animal welfare, and I am appalled that they have the audacity to charge the public to view such horrendous conditions.

From the moment we arrived, it was clear that the animals were not being cared for properly. Many of the animals were kept in small, dirty cages with no access to clean water. The sight of pigs lying in their own slurry was particularly distressing. It was evident that these animals were suffering and not receiving the basic care they deserved.

The farm charged an outrageous €8.50 for my young child to enter, a price that is simply unacceptable given the state of the facility. To charge visitors to see animals in such poor condition is nothing short of exploitation.

The animal petting section was equally disappointing, with a dirty stainless steel hand basin that had no supply of water and no towels available for handwashing. This is not only unhygienic but also unsafe, especially when children are encouraged to interact with the animals.

Overall, my experience at Blackwater Open Farm was deeply upsetting. This facility is a disgrace, and I strongly urge others to avoid visiting until significant improvements are made. The well-being of the animals should be the farm's top priority, and until that is the case, they have no business charging the public to witness...

We took our kids here while we were in Wexford for few days. They also visited last summer when they were away with their uncle and his family so it was our kids who recommended we go there this time. The staff here are so friendly and helpful. We decided to grab something to eat when it started raining and we ordered some toasted sandwiches. We ate in a few different places in Wexford town during our trip but the food we got here was by far the most enjoyable.

The highlight of the visit was when the kids got to hold the baby rabbits, baby chicken, and the guinea pig. My 3 year old is still raving about it.

Blackwater Farm is a lovely spot for children and families, with fantastic staff who really make you feel welcome. Everyone who was there visiting seemed conscious of social distancing and we felt very comfortable.

We will definitely be back for a visit the next time we are in Wexford.

A massive thanks to all the staff at Blackwater Farm for a great day out...

If you're in your 30's like me and love a farm yard animal or 2 then definitely give this a try. You're not going to spend hours there or anything but to be honest the 8 euro or so entry fee was worth it to scratch behind the pigs ears (which it really did seem to enjoy) the facilities there are great, very educational for children and you can pet everything from llamas to pigs to rabbits. There's a cafe onsite, a kids play area and, if you're a bit too obsessed with your dogs, there's also a dogs play area.... it's really close to other activities such as curracoloe beach and Blackwater Village walking trail so you could make a day of it in the area. I felt no shame that I was the oldest non parent there by about 3 decades-and you shouldn't either. If you're in the middle of a mini meltdown and want the comforting feel of horses nose on your palm, or if you're sick of entertaining the kiddy winks, would...