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.

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.

Michelle Martin

Michelle Martin graduated from Dublin City University (DCU) with a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism, and previously worked for well-known names in the Irish media sector. In 2018 she moved to New York where she was responsible for public relations, social media, and communications at a fast-growing start-up. Michelle is a native of the Royal County and still believes in the Oxford comma.

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, most recently at 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.

Rubina Freiberg

Rubina Freiberg graduated from Griffith College Dublin with an honours degree communications and media production. She has been awarded for Best Academic Achievement, and her previous work on food labelling was nominated for the European Commission Award at the National Student Media Awards 2020. She grew up in a rural village in south-west Germany before relocating to Dublin in 2018 to pursue a career in journalism. She previously gained experience in digital and print media while working at a German newspaper. She was also previously involved as the sub-editor for the production of ONUS, an Irish Arts and Culture Magazine. A German native, Rubina has a strong passion for food and its production.

Megan O’Brien

Megan studied at the Technological University of Dublin where she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in journalism. She previously won the Science Foundation Ireland prize for work around agtech and food tech at the Student Media Awards. Megan comes from a rural background in Kildare and has a keen interest in agri-business and agtech, as well as sustainable agriculture.

William Kellett

William Kellett is a third year Journalism and New Media student at the University of Limerick. He hails from Co. Meath and comes from a farming background on both sides of his family. Outside of writing he is a former winner of the Irish National Racing Driver of the Year award.

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.

Michael Geary

Michael comes from a beef background in Co. Galway with a keen interest in the beef and sheep sectors. He recently graduated from UCD with a degree in Animal Science and was the auditor of the UCD Agriculture Society in 2018/2019 where €65,000 was raised for charity. He has gained valuable experience across the agriculture industry, working on progressive sheep and beef farms whilst also working on a large-scale dairy farm in the US.

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.

Brian McDonnell

Brian McDonnell is from Raheny, Co. Dublin. He has an honours degree in Sustainable Agriculture from Dundalk IT. He has worked on dairy and beef farms in both Ireland and the UK, including Teagasc Grange and a large-scale 650-cow dairy farm which also had a 1,200 animal youngstock-rearing farm in Scotland. He has a keen interest in agriculture and particularly the dairy sector and in his spare time is active in local rugby and golf.

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.

Eva Osborne-Sherlock

Eva is currently undertaking a Bachelor of Arts undergraduate degree in journalism and English at the University of Galway. Originally from Cavan, she currently lives in a rural area of Co. Meath. Her family, which comes from a farming background, is now involved in farm machinery maintenance and she has a keen interest in all things digital, media and agriculture.

Cormac Farrelly

Mairtin De Barra

Mairtín de Barra has over 20 years’ experience in the TV and film industries. He spent five years working for the BBC, making documentaries, short films for the One Show, and entertainment series. His work has been seen by tens of millions of viewers. He has also made programming for RTÉ and digital. Prior to this he directed and produced drama, and has an Emmy nomination to his name.

William Byrne

William Byrne recently 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 also 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’.