Seasonal agricultural work in Ireland is a fairly hard, purely seasonal occupation that does not provide much income and involves long hours of work. Room and board are usually provided, but sometimes there is no fixed salary; instead, wages are calculated by the piece. The most sought-after activities are gathering and picking fruits and vegetables.
From October to December, there are also opportunities to work cutting fir trees for the Christmas holidays. Farmers often advertise their work through ads in local pubs or stores, but larger farms usually use dedicated websites or advertise in trade magazines such as Farmers Journal
To find a seasonal job in agriculture in Ireland, you can contact professional organisations. Their websites usually have a classifieds page and also provide useful information about agriculture in Ireland.
To find a job, you can contact these professional associations:
- IOFGA – IRISH ORGANIC FARMERS & GROWERS ASSOCIATION, Professional Association for Organic Agriculture. See the services section for jobs offered by member organisations.
- IRISH FARMERS’ ASSOCIATION – Professional association for the agricultural sector
- FRS – FARM RELIEF SERVICE – Cooperative that provides a search service for agricultural personnel.
I would also like to point out Picking Jobs, a search engine for fruit, vegetable and flower picking jobs around the world. To apply for a seasonal job in this sector, it is advisable to send a short introductory email to the employer, indicating your personal details, nationality, any degree you have and the period of your availability. Previous experience in the sector can be provided as a reference. It is not essential to include the full CV or a photo, unless specifically requested.
As Ireland has always been a strongly agricultural country and is especially known for horse breeding, the profession of veterinary surgeon is indispensable. Among the approximately 1800 active veterinarians there are also those from other EU countries who, thanks to the recognition of their qualifications, are able to compete in the labour market. It is necessary to register in the professional association of the Veterinary Council.
For those interested in working on the farm or in horse racing as helpers, trainers, coaches and the like, we have listed some useful websites below:
If you love exotic animals, you can try to contact zoos for seasonal work:
Volunteers interested in wildlife and bird conservation can apply for a position:
I would also like to point out WWOOF, (World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms). It is a worldwide movement that matches volunteers with organic farmers and growers. In exchange for your work (usually 4/5 hours per day), you receive room and board but no financial compensation. However, you will have the opportunity to learn the language of the country and learn new things in agriculture and other fields. You have to pay a registration fee for each country you want to join.
