James is the fourth generation of Scannells to farm at Mealagulla. He knew he was going to be a farmer, like his father before him. It is located at Knockanemealagulla (the word literally means �on a hill of many streams�) near Ovens in Cork.

From the age of 14 he was driving the tractor and helping with the dairy cows that had been the family livelihood for as long as he can remember.

Now, still in the house in which he was reared, James has his family all around: his wife Shannon and their four children as well as mother, cousins and brothers nearby. In 2008, however, he and Shannon made a big decision: to sell the dairy cows and move into a new venture � the world of apples.



James knew he wanted to diversify and tried various ideas, at one point even rearing ostriches, until he chanced on an advertisement looking for apple growers for Bulmer�s Cider. He has 18 acres of apples, primarily Bramleys, Grenadier, Golden Delicious and Red Elstar, all growing on a M9 root stock developed at the East Malling Research Station in England. Mealagulla is the most southerly commercial orchard in Ireland.

Read the full story in the Southern Star: http://bit.ly/wkuqZU