New kids on the block with birth of triplet goats

MEET Dash, Diesel, and April… Quite literally, the new kids on the block!

Cute, lively and ‘in-and-out like yo-yos’, the trio of baby goats were born just as the McManus family from Dromore were sitting down to their delicious dinner on Easter Sunday.

It was a special occasion that brought much delight to the faces of children, Turlough (12), Tara (10) and Eimear (8), who were excitedly anticipating the goats’ births since pregnant mum, Bonnie arrived at the house in March.

Bonnie, a Nubian goat who is just under two years old, belongs to Tara, a pupil of Tummery PS, who received her as a present in celebration of her tenth birthday.

“Dash is the squealer,” explained Tara, who picked the baby goat up to the sound of… squeals.

“Diesel is the crazy one, and April was the first one born; although she is very tiny.”

Tara’s mum, Bernie described the bustling events of Easter Sunday as ‘a day the family would never forget’.

“The house was just filled with excitement,” she smiled. We expected them to be born at some point in April, but they arrived on Easter Sunday, which was a wonderful surprise.

“However, it wasn’t so much a surprise to my mum, Lucy Lynch, who predicted that to happen!”

Bernie added, “Dash and Diesel, the two large baby boys, are doing well, as is little April, and mum, Bonnie. This was the first time that Bonnie has given birth.”

With a passion for farming and animals, the young goats are the latest in an impressive list of eclectic animals that the McManus family have welcomed into their lives.

At present, a fiery flock of crowing roosters and exuberant ducks roam their lands, while father of the family, Cathal, farms suck cows and sheep.

Turlough, who has owned hens since he was four-years-old, also proudly sells freerange eggs, and breeds birds.

He is currently a pupil of St John’s Business and Enterprise
College, Dromore.

“Turlough has been mad about birds since he was in playschool,” Bernie added. “But we’ve found that all of our animals have been a godsend since lockdown.

“Tending to them and caring for them has given the children something fun to do, as well as a healthy interest in the outdoors, and a degree of responsibility.

“We are all now looking forward to watching the young goats grow up, and we can’t wait to have many future adventures with them.”