Beara postman Seamus springs into action to help neighbour deliver lambs

BY HELEN RIDDELL

BEARA postman Seamus Spencer made an extra special delivery when he helped with the birth of twin lambs.

Seamus, who has been a postman in Castletownbere for over 15 years, was about to start his round when he received a call from a neighbour needing urgent help.  

‘I got a phone call from a neighbour who was looking for a small hand with a sheep that was lambing, and that is exactly what he did want, as I have a tidy hand – perfect for assisting in that kind of job,’ he said.

The farmer managed to bring his sheep to meet Seamus near the town, where the postman was able to assist in making a delivery of a different kind.

‘It was very straightforward in the end, the ewe had twins and once I knew they were both okay, I continued on my rounds,’ he added.

Seamus explains he never hesitated to help out when he got the call: ‘We live in one of the most rural and isolated parts of the country here on Beara. If a neighbour calls me to help him, of course I’ll say yes. You have to be willing to help your neighbours. The same man I helped with the lambs, I know if I called him at any hour of the day or night, he would be willing to help me at the drop of a hat.’  

He recalled how, at one time, nearly every farm in Beara had about five or six able-bodied sons to help out.

‘That day is gone, so now it’s down to neighbours to look out for and help each other.’ Seamus went back to check on his Easter delivery a few days later, and was delighted to see both lambs were full of the joys of spring.