A farm on wheels rolled out for the first time from Moygownagh, near Ballina, Co Mayo, yesterday, bringing an assorted collection of livestock - calves, sheep and chickens - to primary schools throughout Connacht.
Delighted youngsters at The Quay National School in Ballina were first to meet the four-legged occupants of what has been dubbed "Murphy's Ark" because of its connection with the well-known Murphy family.
The Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Mr Ó Cuiv, who launched the latest mobile farm, congratulated the Murphys on their initiative.
Mr Ó Cuiv said: "For many children and urban dwellers, it is difficult to trace the origin of food products back further than their supermarket.
"A better understanding of farming is called for, and this initiative, which provides young people with a 'hands-on experience' of farm animals, is ideal."
The specially-equipped "mobile farm", operated by Mr Pat Murphy and his uncle, Mr John Carey, will be towed by a Land Rover, and is a specially-constructed unit designed to create a wonderland for children within their own schoolyard.
Mr Murphy's brother, Fergal, came up with the idea for what will be the only mobile farm operating in the west of Ireland.
Mr Fergal Murphy explained: "The trailer carrying the animals is 20ft long and 8ft wide. With pictures of farm animals painted on the sides, it should prove quite a sight as it pulls up at school gates throughout rural Ireland."
Agri-Aware, a semi-State body, has licensed the venture, and the mobile unit will be able to accommodate 30 pupils at a time. It will be arriving, by prior invitation, at schools in Mayo, Galway, Sligo, Leitrim and Roscommon.
Following yesterday's launch, children at The Quay National School had a go at something their fathers and grandfathers were accustomed to - milking.
"Cool," was the general reaction as frothy streams of milk connected with the bottom of the milking bucket.