The Full Story of Ireland's First Water Buffalo Farm: From 31 Buffalo in 2009 to a Herd of 850+

Author: Dorothy O'Tuama, Founder of O'Tuama Tours

How It All Started, Back in 2009

Johnny Lynch grew up on a dairy farm in Kilnamartyra, near Macroom, Co. Cork. His family had farmed that land for four generations, so dairy farming was all he'd ever known. But around 2009, he made a choice that surprised many people. He sold his dairy cows and brought home 31 water buffalo from Italy instead.

At the time, no one else in Ireland was farming water buffalo. No local guidebook existed to follow, and no other Irish farm to learn from. Johnny and his wife, Geraldine, figured it out as they went. That one decision is why Macroom, Co. Cork, is now known as home to Ireland's first water buffalo farm.

Why Buffalo, and Why Ireland?

The reason is simple. Water buffalo milk is richer and creamier than cow's milk, and it's the only milk you can use to make real buffalo mozzarella — the soft, tangy cheese that's famous across southern Italy. Back in 2009, almost none of that cheese was being made in Ireland with Irish milk.

It turns out Ireland's wet, green, mild weather actually suits water buffalo very well. They're happy grazing on grass, much like cows, and they don't need any special setup. It's still just Irish farming - with a different animal doing the work.

From 31 Buffalo to a Herd of Over 850

That first small herd of 31 has grown a lot since 2009. Today, more than 850 water buffalo graze the fields around Kilnamartyra and Macroom. It's one of the biggest water buffalo herds in the country, and every spring, the farm's "Big Green Barn" fills up with new calves during calving season, a busy, cheerful time on the farm.

Among the herd, there's even one rare blue-eyed calf, nicknamed "Scary Spice", who's become a bit of a local favourite.

From Milk to Ireland's Own Buffalo Mozzarella

Farming the buffalo was only step one. Turning their milk into cheese was the next challenge. Johnny Lynch teamed up with Toby Simmonds of the Real Olive Company to set up Toonsbridge Dairy, based in an old creamery near Macroom. Together, they became the first people in Ireland to make real buffalo mozzarella using milk from an Irish-farmed herd.

Since then, that same milk has gone into a full range of fresh cheeses, including:

• Buffalo mozzarella

• Buffalo ricotta

• Burrata and bocconcini

• Buffalo halloumi

• Buffalo feta

More recently, that same milk has gone into a new range of buffalo milk yogurts, in Strawberry, Vanilla and Natural. They're now sold nationwide, bringing a taste of the farm to shops well beyond Cork.

You'll now find these cheeses on menus at well-known restaurants around Cork and West Cork, and the farm's cheese has picked up recognition at food awards along the way.

Meet Dorothy O'Tuama, "The Buffalo Lady"

These days, farm tours are led by Dorothy O'Tuama, founder of O'Tuama Tours- a Fáilte Ireland-registered tour guide and trained chef, known around Cork as "the Buffalo Lady." Dorothy has worked closely with the Lynch family for years, learning the herd and the cheese-making process first-hand, and she now shares that knowledge with visitors from all over the world.

People who've been on her tours often say the same thing: Dorothy doesn't just show you around. She explains things clearly, answers every question, and adds a good bit of Cork humour along the way.

Book with O'Tuama Tours Ready to walk the pastures and meet the herd yourself? See tour times and book with Dorothy →

What Happens on a Farm Tour Today

A typical visit follows a simple, relaxed pace. You walk through the pastures, get close to the water buffalo (including baby calves in spring), see how the milk is turned into cheese, and finish with a tasting of fresh mozzarella, ricotta and halloumi made right there on the farm.

Tours range from a 1.5-hour private walk-and-taste to a 3-hour "All Good Things Buffalo" experience, and they also offer tours designed especially for school groups.

Is It Still the Only Water Buffalo Farm in Ireland?

Macroom Buffalo Farm was, without doubt, the first water buffalo farm in Ireland and it's still one of the biggest today. But to keep things accurate: it's no longer the only one. As the buffalo cheese business has grown, the milk for Toonsbridge Dairy now also comes from a second herd. What hasn't changed is where it all began. This is the original farm, run by the original family, and the reason water buffalo are in Ireland at all.

Plan Your Visit to Ireland's First Water Buffalo Farm

The farm is at Clonclud, Macroom, Co. Cork, P12 EV90, about 40 minutes from Cork City. O'Tuama Tours runs guided visits several days a week, and you can book directly with Dorothy by phone, email, or online.