A Co Cavan schoolboy has spent his €1,000 winnings from a credit union draw to buy six calves.
William Woods (10) from Ballyconnell bought the animals after his win at Christmas and said that rearing them had helped take his mind off a "weird year".
The young boy won the money in the Ballyconnell Credit Union draw and said he bought the calves, as cows are his favourite animal.
"I'm proud of myself for buying them," he told RTÉ.
"I thought, 'what should I do with the money, should I save for college or for calves?' I saved for calves and I’ll rear these and sell them and make a profit."
But the schoolboy admitted he did not realise how much work would be involved looking after his small herd.
"I love checking them, make sure they’re eating, make sure they’re healthy, eating grass, all that stuff, If they’re not eating, they’ll get sick," he said.
"I thought it would be less work.
"I thought they would go in the field and I’d feed them meal and that would be it.
"I'm quite pleased now that it's hard work.
"It’s a new experience for me, I've never bought my own cattle before, it’s really fun to have this experience."
He also said the calves had helped him through lockdown and he plans to buy more.
"I missed my friends so much," he said.
"Now the calves have sort of become my friends, I’ll laugh with them in the field, they’re funny.
"I'll rear these calves and sell them. Then whenever they’re sold, I'll have more that will be a year old. It’s all great fun."
