Meet the Team Behind AgriLand

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

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.

Hayley graduated from UCD in 2013 with a BA in English and Art History. In 2016, she graduated from UCLan (UK) with an MA in Publishing. Currently, she provides content quality control and writes on up-to-date agricultural property for sale.

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 the weekends.

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.

Kathleen has recently graduated from University of Limerick with a degree in Journalism with Law, ending her studies with a nomination for Journalist of the Year in the National Student Media Awards 2020. She has done stints with the Independent and the Kerryman newspaper. Kathleen comes from a farming background, growing up on a beef farm in Co. Kerry.

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.

Siobhán Walsh is from a tillage and beef farm in Co. Laois. She recently completed a PhD, investigating soil nitrogen supply from Irish tillage land, from UCD. She previously completed a masters in crop science and a 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.

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.

Michael is the beef specialist with AgriLand. He recently graduated from Dundalk Institute of Technology with an honours degree in Sustainable Agriculture. During his time there, he was one of the founding members of the college’s Agricultural Society (Ag Soc). He also held the role of treasurer for two years. He was appointed as AgriLand’s beef specialist in October 2020. In this role, Michael covers the technical side of the commercial beef industry, alongside the pedigree beef sector. He comes from a beef farming background, with commercial and pedigree Charolais beef sucklers taking pride and place on his home farm in Co. Westmeath. He previously worked for the Irish Charolais Cattle Society, where he was involved in several projects including the development of the society’s Youth Development Program. During his college work placement Michael worked for Gigginstown Angus, where he assisted in the running and operation of a large-scale pedigree Angus herd.

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

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.