Meet our Team

Muireann joined the IHFA in September 2023. Day to day, she takes calls from members and helps them work through any issues they may have.

At home, Muireann’s family farms Belgian Blue × Limousin commercial cattle.

Outside of work, Muireann keeps twelve horses, which she lightly shows throughout the year. She has always had a huge interest in equine and spends much of her free time looking after them.

She is also Secretary of the National Dairy Show.

Need help with a registration issue? Reach out to Muireann

Ashleigh has been with IHFA for over two and a half years. She helps members and farmers with registration queries and issues, and registers animals on their behalf. The variation in queries from day to day, and the friendly members she deals with, are her favourite part of the role.

She is a qualified Vet Tech, with ten years’ experience TB testing and scanning before joining the Registrations team at IHFA.

In her spare time, Ashleigh is a showjumper and eventer, having competed up to 3* international eventing and 1.30m showjumping. She has two mares competing on the national circuit most recently winning a rosette in Dublin Horse Show.

Have a registration query? Get in touch with Ashleigh

With a degree in Food Marketing & Entrepreneurship from UCC, Rachel joined the IHFA team to update association’s digital platforms and build out its CRM systems. Day to day, that spans everything from the website and social media, PR and media for our IHFA events and shows around the country.

Outside of work, Rachel is an Irish International athlete and golf scholar as well as running her own free range egg business, Thompson’s Farm Fresh Eggs.

Rachel comes from a dairy farm in Carrigaline, so stepping into IHFA felt like a natural fit. She’s looking forward to working in a sector that she has grown up in,

Got feedback or content for the website or our socials? Reach out to Rachel

Nicola is the newest member of the team, having joined IHFA just one week ago. She organises IHFA’s events, including the National Dairy Show, and is on hand to answer any questions or queries from sponsors and exhibitors.

Nicola is no stranger to agriculture growing up on a dairy farm in Leap, Co.Cork.

Outside of work, Nicola has recently returned home from Perth, Western Australia, where she worked a FIFO job in the mines. She’s excited to be working as part of the IHFA team and the agri sector in general, as it has always been a big part of her and her family’s lives.

Sponsoring or exhibiting at an upcoming show? Get in touch with Nicola

Rachel helps out across all aspects of the office, assisting members and farmers with any accounts or membership queries. She also works alongside our Data Analyst, Patrick, to compile and prepare data for IHFA livestock shows, awards, and the wider industry.

Born and raised in Cork city, Rachel had no connection to farming until she met her husband, who comes from a farming background. It has given her a whole new appreciation for the people, and the industry, behind the food we put on our tables.

Have a member query for Rachel?