In a festive twist on the usual seasonal headlines, a trio of miniature pigs has made history by becoming the first to legally cross from the UK into Ireland since Brexit, and they arrived just in time to be dubbed Britain and Ireland’s very first “pigs in blankets” this Christmas.
Freya, Apollo and Jupiter, all miniature pigs from Kew Little Pigs in Buckinghamshire, trotted their way through a mountain of post-Brexit paperwork before boarding their carefully managed transport to Burren Nature Sanctuary in Co. Galway.
When they reached the border, customs officers confirmed what nobody quite expected, they were the first pigs to officially make the journey since the UK left the EU.
Now, as the festive season settles over the wildflower-strewn fields of the west of Ireland, the trio’s arrival has already delivered a Christmas gift of its own. Two litters, 13 healthy piglets, have since been born to proud mums Freya and Flora, marking the beginning of a new ethical, cross-border miniature pig breeding programme.
For Mary Bermingham of Burren Nature Sanctuary, it’s a moment she won’t forget.
She said; “It’s been a year of hard work, training and endless paperwork, but what a way to end it.
“To have the first legal Brexit pigs arrive, and then to welcome 13 piglets, it feels like a sign of very good things to come. We’re heading into the new year full of hope.”
The partnership, forged between Bermingham and Olivia Mikhail of Kew Little Pigs, is already being hailed as a Brexit-busting triumph of welfare, teamwork and sheer determination.
The programme sets a new benchmark for responsible breeding, with strict owner checks, mandatory training and long-term welfare support for anyone wishing to rehome a miniature pig.
And as Europe counts down to Christmas, it seems these festive piglets are already generating continental excitement.
“Enquiries are flooding in from France, Germany, the Netherlands, even Scandinavia,” Mikhail revealed. “People are desperate for ethical, well-bred miniature pigs and we’re proud to be setting the standard. Ending the year with this historic milestone feels like a celebration in itself.”
What began as Mikhail’s back-garden venture, lovingly inspired by her daughter Eva’s childhood obsession with Charlotte’s Web and Babe, has now grown into the UK’s leading miniature pig farm and a multi-award-winning attraction. Bermingham’s sanctuary, meanwhile, has become one of Ireland’s most loved eco-tourism destinations, offering nature trails, woodland pig walks and conservation experiences.
For both women, this unlikely festive achievement is more than a novelty headline. It’s the start of a cross-border welfare movement that places education, responsibility and love for animals at its core.
“If Christmas is about anything, it’s about kindness,” Bermingham added. “These piglets represent exactly that, compassion, cooperation and a future where animal welfare isn’t limited by borders.”
And as for the pigs themselves? Snuggled up in straw nests at the Burren Nature Sanctuary, the pioneering trio and their 13 tiny offspring are, quite literally, the happiest pigs in blankets this side of Christmas.
More information is available at www.kewlittlepigs.com
“I joined the team in September of 2021 as a Farm Hand. This was my first proper job and the experience was very insightful as working with animals there is never a dull moment. I have always loved animals and have had many different animals growing up such as guinea pigs, rabbits, dogs and horses so I knew the animal industry was a career I would like to be involved in. Since joining Kew Little Pigs Farm I have had the opportunity to care for the animals and share my knowledge with all the customers that have visited the farm. I was promoted to Head Farm Hand in January 2023.
I look forward to my journey here at Kew Little Pigs Farm and hope to see you on the farm soon!”
