If any of you have an apple tree in a park near you, on your farm or garden, you’ll notice how early the apples have appeared - very early. Con Traas's parents, Willem and Ali, came from Holland in 1967 looking for land to grow fruit. They found a farm with an old orchard in Tipperary, and the family has been growing apples there ever since. 

If any of you have an apple tree in a park near you, on your farm or garden, you’ll notice how early the apples have appeared - very early. Con Traas's parents, Willem and Ali, came from Holland in 1967 looking for land to grow fruit. They found a farm with an old orchard in Tipperary, and the family has been growing apples there ever since.&nbsp;

The CountryWide team feature the events, people and happenings that bring colour and life to communities, towns and villages across Ireland. Listen live Saturdays at 8am on RTÉ Radio 1.

CountryWide

Apple Season 

8:00 am - CountryWide

9:00 am - CountryWide

Philip Boucher-Hayes and the CountryWide team feature the events, people and happenings that bring colour and life to communities, towns & villages across the country.

CountryWide - 24 October 2026

The Agriculture faculty in UCD is 100 years old this year. Philip meets their newly appointed Dean of Faculty, Professor Karina Pierce to find out what her department is doing to meet the challenges of the next 100 years 

The Agriculture faculty in UCD is 100 years old this year. Philip meets their newly appointed Dean of Faculty, Professor Karina Pierce to find out what her department is doing to meet the challenges of the next 100 years&nbsp;

Karina Pierce 

With EU funding for farming with nature in retreat is this the moment that private finance might fill the gap. Ronan Doherty has transferred his fundraising skills from the renewable energy sector to nature conservation with the charity Hometree. He believes we are the cusp of a breakthrough in private sector funding for high nature value farming. 

With EU funding for farming with nature in retreat is this the moment that private finance might fill the gap. Ronan Doherty has transferred his fundraising skills from the renewable energy sector to nature conservation with the charity Hometree. He believes we are the cusp of a breakthrough in private sector funding for high nature value farming.&nbsp;

Apple Season

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