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07th Mar 2023

‘Once in a blue moon’ quadruplet lambs welcomed by Roscommon farmer

Fiona Frawley

four lambs in a field, one jumping

The farmer said that in over 30 years of lambing, he’s never had a live set of quadruplets.

If you’re lucky enough to live in the Irish countryside, you may have noticed the influx of white fluffy creatures prancing and playing in fields as lambing season is well underway.

A busy time for farmers, who tend to work round the clock during lambing season caring for pregnant ewes and newborns who require a lot of attention and of course, protection from predators.

From an onlookers perspective, all lambs are cute. Quadruplet lambs? A whole new level of cuteness unlocked.

The rare occurrence is a “nice boost” for farmers too, according to Philip Smyth who just welcomed live quadruplets on his farm in Boyle, Co. Roscommon.

According to the Roscommon Herald, Philip welcomed the lambs two weeks ago and all four along with their mother are doing very well. Philip’s flock have delivered more than 70 lambs during this season alone with plenty of twins in the mix, but the quadruplets are a “once in a blue moon” arrival.

Farmer Philip Smyth welcomed quadruplet lambs on his Roscommon farm last week. Image via Roscommon Herald/Gerry Faughnan

“I’ve been lambing a 100 sheep a year for the last thirty years but I have never had a live set of quadruplets before now. It’s a nice boost and certainly a once in a blue moon experience,” the farmer told the Herald.

Header image via Shutterstock 

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