A family-run Irish farm with a difference, Clonfert Pet Farm in Kildare is certainly all about the animals that live there and it was telling that this exceptional and unique enterprise came up trumps at the 2025 Family Business Awards.
Animals and family are to the front and centre of everything that Clonfert Farm is all about. Located in the heart of the picturesque Kildare countryside, Clonfert Farm is not a conventional produce-producing commercial farm but a delightful value-for-money visitor destination that brings joy and fun to young and old alike.
This place truly is full of wonder and Clonfert Farm was a worthy winner of the coveted ‘Agri Family Business of the Year’ award at the 20225 Family Business Awards, where it also scooped the ‘Best Small Family Business of the Year in Leinster’ accolade.
It goes without saying that personable farm manager Mark Finn was delighted to see the family business receiving such high-profile national recognition: “Absolutely – any form of recognition is great, especially for a family-focused business with such a small team.
“This is a family-run business with eight full-time staff and, as any farmer will tell you, anything animal-related isn’t something you can close the doors on and walk away any time you feel like it. The animal care is full-on, 365 days a year, and it’s nice to see that acknowledged.”
As of December, 2025, Mark has been part of the family business for 16 years. The genesis of Clonfert Pet Farm can be traced back three generations: “The farm was built on my grandfather, Seamus’ land and he is still here, as well as my mother, aunts and uncle. Granddad was a turkey farmer 40 years prior to opening the pet farm in 2009.
“There had been a fire on the turkey farm in 2006 and after many discussions and ideas being passed back and forth he opted for a change of direction. He started collecting alpacas and ponies and went down this road. It took a few years to get started and to get established but all the hard work has paid off and it’s gone from strength to strength.”
Having successfully secured a zoo licence in 2017, the 25-acre family farm is effectively a zoo as opposed to a traditional working farm, attracting visitors from all over Ireland and sometimes further afield. Combining the beauty of nature and the charm of animals with a host of engaging activities, this tranquil escape from the hustle and bustle of daily life offers a well-rounded experience, catering to the diverse needs and interests of families.
With a blend of entertainment, education and relaxation, Clonfert Farm stands out as an ideal spot for a memorable and enjoyable family day out. Alongside everybody’s farmyard favourites (ponies, pigs, goats and fowl), Clonfert Farm is home to a large selection of rare and exotic non-native animals including racoons, meerkats, arctic foxes, coatimundi, monkeys, ring-tailed lemurs, wallabies, porcupines, marmosets, peafowls, macaws, guinea pigs, owls, rheas, silka deer, alpacas, llamas and emus.
“We have up to 50 different types of animals here and the animals are No.1. Their welfare comes first and they are the main attraction. Around that, we have also developed a number of other attractions to make for a more complete day out for families. These include three outdoor playgrounds and an indoor soft play area, zipline, football pitch, adventure golf, café and gift shop. We run special seasonal events all year around, including Halloween, Christmas and Easter experiences and these are extremely popular with families. There’s always huge demand and this year, our Halloween Haunted Harvest Festival, which ran on our extensive pumpkin patch from October 18th until October 31st, was a massive success.”
Even though it’s a functioning business, animal welfare is, always has been and always will be the primary consideration of the entire team at Clonfert Farm: “We have a very strong and dedicated animal care team here, who really are fantastic when it comes to looking after all our animals,” Mark confirms. “Two have Zoology degrees and one has a Wildlife Biology degree. All the animals are happy here and that makes it all worthwhile.
“For anybody planning a visit, we would recommend a stay of two-three hours upwards. By the time they see all the animals and get something to eat and try some of the other attractions, a few hours won’t be long going by. We host school tours between April and June, and those would generally be from 9.30 until 2pm, so that gives a good indication of the time to allow for a full and enjoyable visit.”
It’s onwards and upwards for Ireland’s 2025 Agri Family Business of the Year and the farm manager enjoys every minute of looking after the animals and welcoming visitors to this wonderful venue.
“We’re always growing, upgrading and finding room for improvement with the animal enclosures, etc.,” Mark concludes. “We added the football pitch this year, which was a big investment, and last year we added the adventure golf. We try to complete a new project or take on something new every year, be that a new species of animal or redevelopment of the facilities or attractions.
“One thing I can say for certain – with the animals we have here, the other attractions and events, and the number of visitors we have dropping in for an adventure – is that no two days are the same at Clonfert Farm and we wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Clonfert Farm,
Clonfert South,
Maynooth,
County Kildare.
Tel: 01 601 6314
Email: [email protected]
Facebook: www.facebook.com/clonfertpetfarm
First published in Irish Tractor & Agri magazine Vol 13 No 3, Winter 2025
