Native Breed Series: The Galway Sheep

The Galway Sheep: Ireland’s Last Native Breed Long before the Galway Sheep was entered into rare breed registries, it was a backbone of Connacht’s rural economy. Developed from local stock and English Leicesters under landlord supervision, the breed flourished in the 18th and 19th centuries — before near-extinction after the Famine. In this deeply researched episode of The History and Heritage Podcast, Liam Blake examines: The breed’s 18th-century formation in east Galway and Roscommon Its commercial importance in pre-Famine Ireland Collapse during post-Famine land clearances and economic shifts Its recovery as part of the 20th-century heritage livestock movement A story of class, land, and survival — told through the wool on a sheep’s back. Listen now on Spotify, Podbean, Apple & more Follow on Instagram: @liamblakepodcaster