Although a vocation steeped in tradition, agriculture and farming is an ever-changing sector. With war, climate change and financial uncertainty affecting the world of agriculture, it is imperative that farmers and agriculture workers stay in the loop of these challenges and trends.
Keeping on the pulse of these global and national news stories are some of Ireland’s top agricultural and farming journalists.
Stella Meehan, Agriland
Editor of Agriland, Meehan hails from a farming and business background in Galway. With a wealth of journalistic expertise spanning broadcasting, print, and politics, Meehan is a formidable voice. Another woman at the top!
Hannah Quinn-Mulligan, RTÉ & Freelance
No stranger to rural living, Hannah was born and bred on a cattle farm in Co. Limerick. Leaving Limerick to pursue a degree in Philosophy and Modern Irish, Hannah dived head first into the world of journalism becoming the Current Affairs Editor of Trinity FM. She began her professional career at the BBC working in TV and radio across a range of flagship shows. However, Hannah became a household name whilst at the Irish Farmers Journal breaking the story of COVID-19 in meat factories across the nation. With a keen interest in investigative journalist, Quinn-Mulligan has also explored stories relating to cocaine use amongst rural communities and the number of vulture funded controlled farmland. A champion of female representation in the agri sector, she currently produces and presents segments for the RTE Radio 1 Show CountryWide and contributes to national news titles such as the Irish Independent and Irish Times
Joe Mag Raollaigh, RTÉ
Galway native and Gaeilgeoir, Joe Mag Raollaigh began his career in RTÉ over 20 years ago as a political correspondent for Nuacht RTÉ. Moving through the ranks, he was eventually appointed editor and producer of The Week in Politics, a weekly news and current affairs programme on RTE One. Following the departure of Fran McNulty to Prime Time, Joe was last year announced as RTÉ’s Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Correspondent. Currently, he is reporting on the effects that inflation and the cost of living crisis are having on farmers and the agriculture business.
Margaret Donnelly, Irish Independent
Originally from a beef and tillage farm in Co Offaly, Margaret joined Mediahuis Ireland in 2000 as a journalist for Farming Independent. She moved in 2004 to become Editorial Manager at a publishing company, later working as Editor of an agri-media digital start-up. She returned to the Irish Independent in 2016 as the Agri Digital Editor, setting up its online farming portal, and took over as Farming Editor in 2019.
Jack Kennedy, Irish Farmers Journal
After almost 20 years with the Irish Farmers Journal, last month, deputy editor Kennedy was announced as the new Editor of the Irish Farmers Journal. Kennedy, on his appointment, clarified that the Journal will endeavour to support, inform, and serve farmers, their families, and wider rural communities. The Irish Farmers Journal also publishes several other publications including The Irish Field, Irish Country Magazine, and The Irish Garden Magazine.
Darragh McCullough, RTÉ & Irish Independent
A Meath native, Darragh McCullough is an Irish journalist, broadcaster and farmer specialising in agricultural and rural affairs. He is the longest serving presenter on RTÉ’s Ear to the Ground, and a columnist with the Irish Independent newspaper’s farming supplement, Farming Independent. A ‘mixed’ farmer, McCullough has a wealth of experience from daffodils to dairy, and represents what it means to be a farmer today. Wanting to pass on his knowledge, McCullough recently published his first children’s book ‘The Great Irish Farm Book’.
Rachel Martin, Irish Examiner
With areas of interest including agriculture, agri-business, agri-food and agri-environment, Rachel joined the Irish Examiner from her northern correspondent role at AgriLand. She previously served as a reporter at the Belfast Telegraph.
Thomas Hubert, The Currency
A Senior Correspondent with The Currency, Thomas covers several topics such as business, agriculture, food, and the environment. The French native moved to Ireland permanently in 2015 and joined the Irish Farmers Journal as Digital Editor, then News Correspondent, leading the publication’s online development and its coverage of climate change. He divides his time between Dublin and Meath where he is a partner in a family snail farm.
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