Meet the Team Behind AgriLand

Jim Breen is from a farming background. He studied Engineering in University College Dublin. He worked for agricultural media outlets and, most recently, was the mechanisation advisor for DAERA (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs) and engineering programme manager at CAFRE (College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise). He now lives in Offaly.

Claire Mc Cormack is from an agricultural background in Westmeath. She holds a BA from Maynooth University, M.Phil from TCD and MA in Journalism from DCU. She was awarded the ‘Veronica Guerin Memorial Scholarship’ 2013-2014. Claire writes on all aspects of farming and rural life. Formerly, she worked as rural affairs correspondent at Irish Independent/Farming Independent, and as a reporter at Sunday Independent. She is currently doing an MSc in Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development at UCD.

Seán Cummins holds an honours degree in Animal Science for UCD. At AgriLand, he has a particular focus on the beef, dairy and sheep sectors.

Rachel Martin specialises in writing about agri-business, food production and dairying. Previously she worked as a business reporter at one of Northern Ireland’s biggest daily newspapers. In 2017, she was named one of IFAJ's 10 Young Leaders in Agricultural Journalism. She is currently secretary of the Guild of Agricultural Journalists in Northern Ireland. When she’s not writing, Rachel can usually be found in the milking parlour at home in Co. Down with her family's 130 cows.

Conor Finnerty is a recent graduate from the University of Limerick holding an Honours degree in Journalism and New Media. An east Galway native he grew up on a typical Irish family farm with a mixture of suckler cows and sheep. Having now moved to the capital his farming responsibilities are held for the weekend while his father and brother take care of business during the week.

Sylvester Phelan holds a Masters of Science degree in Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development from UCD as well as an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree in English and history (also from UCD), and the Green Cert. He is from a dairy farm in Co. Laois, where he works on weekends.

Niall graduated from UCD in 2013, with a degree in Animal and Crop Production. He has gained valuable experience and knowledge in many agricultural industries across the world - New Zealand, Australia, UK, France and Ireland. He has particular interest in the Dairy, Beef and Machinery sectors.

Siobhán Walsh is from a tillage and beef farm in county Laois. She recently completed a PhD, investigating soil nitrogen supply from Irish tillage land, from UCD, having previously completed a masters in crop science and degree in Animal and Crop Production. The qualified pesticide advisor also worked as a part-time sports reporter for almost seven years with The Laois Nationalist and completed an internship with the Irish Farmers Journal.

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.

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

Breifne O’Brien hails from a suckler, beef and sheep farm in Co. Cavan. He studied Agri-Environmental Science in UCD. 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 recently gained extensive international experience through time spent working on a 4,500-cow dairy farm in South Dakota in the US.