Meet Our Team

Stella Meehan

Stella Meehan has a Masters in Journalism from NUI (National University of Ireland) Galway and a Bachelor of Arts degree in English, Sociology and Politics. She comes from a farming and business background in Co. Galway. Previously, she worked in the broadcasting, print and political sectors. Stella is chair of the Guild of Agricultural Journalists of Ireland.

Francess McDonnell

Francess McDonnell is an award-winning journalist and producer with significant experience in covering agriculture, agri-business and business issues. She has worked with the Irish Times, Sunday Times Ireland, Sky News Ireland, BBC Northern Ireland and the Belfast Telegraph and Irish News. Her family has farmed for generations and is part of a rural, lough-shore community where her interest in farming, agri-business and rural issues first began. She is a graduate of De Montfort University, Leicester and the School of Journalism, Cardiff University.

Richard Halleron

Richard Halleron is an agricultural chemist by background. He is a past chairman of the Northern Ireland Institute of Agricultural Science and has also served as Chairman of the Guild of Agricultural Journalists in Northern Ireland.

Claire Sammon

Claire has a bachelors degree in English and Sociology and Political Science from University of Galway and a masters in journalism from the same university. She is a Mayo native and was a key member of the Galway Pulse team, a digital newspaper in the Galway region. She has a huge interest in and love for animals.

Aisling O'Brien

Aisling O’Brien graduated from Dublin City University (DCU) with a masters in journalism and also holds a bachelor of arts from University College Cork (UCC). Since 2007, the Kerry native has worked in broadcast media, including Radio Kerry, where she presented the weekly farming show for six years. Aisling has won several awards for her work, including Best Radio Show at the Irish Guild of Agricultural Journalism awards.

Charles O'Donnell

Charles studied History and Politics, and later Journalism, at NUI Galway between 2011 and 2016. He has had stints with the Sunday Business Post and DMG Media Ireland. Charles has a farming background, growing up on a suckler herd farm in east Co. Clare.

Maitiú Monaghan

Maitiú Monaghan is from Clones in Co. Monaghan. He has an undergraduate degree in law and english from Maynooth University, and an MA in journalism from the University of Limerick. Maitiú previously worked for the sports desk at local, college and national newspapers. He is adept at podcasting and has a keen interest in Monaghan GAA.

Caroline Allen

Caroline Allen is from a farming background in Co. Laois. She studied journalism at the College of Commerce, Rathmines, and lives outside Portlaoise.

Louise Hickey

Louise Hickey has a bachelor’s degree in journalism at Dublin City University (DCU). She comes from a rural area in Co. Meath, where she has goats and a “great” greenhouse. She has garnered experience working with outlets such as RTÉ and has covered election counts.

Breifne O'Brien

Breifne hails from a suckler, beef and sheep farm in Co. Cavan. He studied Agri-Environmental Science in University College Dublin. During his college years, he presented an agri-focused radio show on Belfield FM called 'Keepin' it Country'. In addition to his knowledge and passion for Irish agriculture, he also gained extensive international experience through time spent working on a 4,500-cow dairy farm in South Dakota in the US. He has previously worked in the agri-news sector and more recently has gained professional experience working in cattle procurement in the Irish beef sector.

Hugh Harney

Hugh Harney hails from an autumn/spring calving dairy farm in Eadestown, just outside Naas, Co. Kildare. He secured a dairy business degree from University College Dublin (UCD) and spent an extended period on a 1,000 cow dairy farm in New Zealand.

Justin Roberts

Justin studied at Welsh Agricultural College, Aberystwyth having first worked in both the feed and seed sectors of the industry. He has two decades of experience in writing about farm machinery, both vintage and contemporary across several publications. As an author he has written two books, including the history of the Nordic tractor and now resides in Co. Tipperary.

Rachel Birch

Rachel Birch is currently undertaking a journalism and politics degree at the University of Galway, where she is a frequent contributor to the student newspaper, SIN. Having grown up on a dairy farm in north Kilkenny, she has a keen interest in rural affairs and a marked love of nature.

Laura McNamara

Laura is undertaking a degree in Public Relations and Media at SETU Carlow. She is in her third year and has a keen interest in gardening and nature. She contributes to her course's social media pages.

Leo Dowling

Leo Dowling is from Carlow and is currently undertaking a bachelors degree in TV and Media Production at South East Technological University. In his time studying he has engaged in many roles for varied project types, including writing and directing short films, filming and editing documentaries, and producing a weekly radio show and multiple podcasts.

Cormac Farrelly

Tomás Cooney

Tomás Cooney is an accomplished agri-business professional with extensive sales and marketing experience. He has previously worked selling the Keenan system in France before leading the development of the Lely grassland machinery division in Ireland. He then moved to the dairy division before becoming general manager of Lely Center Mitchelstown. Currently residing in Meath he comes from a beef and sheep farm in Roscommon and has previously worked with Reesink Agri from the Netherlands. He holds a bachelor of business studies degree from Dublin City University (DCU).

Niall Harraghy

Niall Harraghy has an honours degree in Land management and a degree in Agriculture from Southeast Technological University (Waterford campus). He has a passion for farming and the agricultural industry. He also has a background in dairy goat and poultry farming, as well as farm to fork sales which he worked in for nearly a decade.

William Byrne

William Byrne graduated from South East Technological University Carlow with a first class honours degree in TV and Media Production. With years of video and audio production experience and a keen eye for all things digital under his belt, he is a specialist in social media. William has also carved a successful career as a music producer under the alias Willhouse. Recently, he has been dubbed ‘one of the most compelling original producers in the country’ by Hot Press magazine. He is also the founder of his own independent music label, Poxy Records, and co-hosts ‘A No Nonsense Podcast’.

Keith Graham

Keith has worked in the video and digital media industry for over 15 years during which time he has co-produced award-winning documentaries. He is passionate about directing, editing and videography and holds an MSc in applied digital media, previously having worked with a wide range of clients including corporates, charities and government bodies.