DABF Preview | Meet the Flock: A visit to a working farm, Glencullen

Please note there are two ticket types depending on transport options. Please read the transport information taking note of timings before selecting your ticket type.

This tour is a preview event for the Guest Curator's Programme at Dublin Art Book Fair (DABF) 2025. Guest curated by academic, writer and sheep farmer, Dr Selina Guinness, DABF25's theme Flock examines all things pastoral: humans and beasts as herding creatures; the relational arts of shepherding; the impact of flocks on habitats, and how wary scapegoats too may flock to survive predation.

While the Dublin Mountains provide an amenity destination, this preview event seeks to shift perspectives and introduce attendees to the sheep-farming community, who work to make their living from grazing fields in full view of the city. The tour will include a herding demonstration with three working dogs and cover the history of sheep-farming in the Dublin Mountains and the rich archaeology of Newtown Farm.

Philip Maguire and his son Daniel will introduce you to their Cheviot sheep, a traditional breed in the Wicklow/Dublin mountains, and talk through how their flock is managed. Skye, Callie and Nell, their three border collies, will demonstrate how they herd sheep in from the fields. A good sheepdog is essential to manage and gather the flock on the farm and the Maguires will share insights into the training process, and the intuitive relationship between shepherd, dog and sheep.

The Maguire family have been sheep farming at Glencullen in the Dublin Mountains for generations. Many of the fields where their sheep graze today still bear the traces of Bronze Age activities by farmers who reared their livestock and grew their crops on this same land. The animal husbandry skills practised then are still as relevant, and in use, today.

Transport Options:

Drive

• Meet at 11.45am at St Patrick’s Church carpark: D18 R998
• Parking available in St. Patrick’s Church carpark, Glencullen, and in the overflow carpark for Johnny Fox’s.
• This ticket option is free.

Book Mini Bus

• There are a limited number of seats available to book on mini-bus departing Temple Bar Gallery + Studios at 11 am sharp where particpants should meet at TBG+S at 10.45am. The mini bus departs from Johnnie Foxes pub at 2.45pm for the return journey.
• Preview of books to browse on the bus.
• The bus ticket costs €12.

Important information for all ticket holders:

• Newtown Farm is on an exposed site with views across Dublin Bay. Please dress warmly and appropriately – with wellies and wet gear.
• No dogs (even on a leash) – please leave your dogs at home.
• This event is for a small group and so you will be required to confirm attendance closer to the time to hold your place.
• The tour will last 90 minutes.

Dublin Art Book Fair (DABF) is a centre for contemporary artist books offering unique artist publications and titles from creative, small and independent publishers, both Irish and international. Each year, DABF presents an extended programme of events and a curated selection of books

DABF25 is proudly sponsored by Henry J Lyons and supported by Dublin UNESCO City of Literature.