Tipperary dairy farmer appointed to Agri Aware board

Tipperary dairy farmer Pat Carroll has been appointed to the board of Agri Aware, following his term as Chair of South Tipperary IFA.

Mr Carroll, who farms in New Inn, County Tipperary, brings more than 10 years of experience representing farmers on a range of issues, including through his previous role on the IFA dairy committee.

He joins the board following the conclusion of his term as South Tipperary IFA Chair this year, taking over from well-known beef and sheep farmer and former Kildare IFA County Chair Thomas O’Connor.

Mr O’Connor joined the Agri Aware board in 2023 and played a significant role in key initiatives organised by the organisation, particularly in his native Kildare, where Open Farm events were held in 2024 and 2025.

The latest board changes also see Ciara Leahy, editor of Irish Country Living, join the board following the departure of William Minchin, CEO of The Agricultural Trust.

Mr Minchin, a Carlow native, had served on the board since 2024 before stepping down to take up the role of president of the Agricultural Science Association (ASA) at its annual general meeting in September.

Ms Leahy brings considerable experience in agricultural journalism and communications. A Cork native, she began her career with Agri Aware before joining the Irish Farmers Journal, where she has worked across a range of roles, including food and consumer journalism, features, education and recruitment.

Both Ms Leahy and Mr Carroll bring experience of engaging directly with farmers and rural communities, offering valuable perspectives on the opportunities and challenges facing Irish agriculture as Agri Aware continues its work to enhance agricultural literacy.

Commenting on the changes, Agri Aware Chair Shay Galvin thanked the outgoing board members for their contributions.

“Firstly, on behalf of the board I would like to thank both Thomas and William for their contributions over these past few years and wish them well going forward. I welcome both Ciara and Pat, both of whom bring a wealth of expertise and knowledge that will no doubt be of considerable benefit to Agri Aware going forward,” he said.