By Bríd the Cow, County Dublin

I read with great concern (Malahide Local, June 2026) that my sisters and I are once again being blamed for climate change. Apparently, after 10,000 years of providing milk, cheese, butter, leather, fertiliser, and the occasional scenic postcard, we have become Public Enemy Number One.

Now, I don’t wish to point a hoof at anyone, but while you humans are busy counting my burps, perhaps you could glance over the hedge at a few other developments.

Before I continue, let me be fair. Methane matters. No sensible cow would deny it. But climate debates become rather lopsided when cows are singled out while other major producers of emissions receive far less attention.

For example, data centres now consume 22% of all metered electricity in Ireland. Twenty-two percent!

That’s as if one greedy heifer guzzled more than a fifth of the farm’s silage all by herself. Even the sheep would start asking questions.

Those big blinking computers also need vast amounts of water for cooling.

I ask you: when was the last time a meadow needed air-conditioning?

A data centre may process information. We process grass.

And that grass, which humans cannot eat, becomes milk, cheese, butter, yoghurt, and countless other foods. Along the way, we help support farming families, rural communities, local businesses, and landscapes that millions of visitors come here to admire.
By all means, let’s talk about methane. Let’s invest in cleaner farming and reduce emissions wherever we can. All I ask is that the conversation be balanced.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, there’s a patch of clover over yonder with my name on it.