Brigid begins in the role of press officer with the IFA after seven years with the ASTI.

Although not from a farm herself, she spent her summers on the farm her mother grew up on in Doolin, Co Clare.

Brigid describes her role as: “It’s about doing your best to get the voice of, in this case farmers, out there in as many places as possible and as persuasively as possible, whether that’s social media or through traditional press means, such as press statements.

“My role involves reacting to queries from the media as well and keeping up with what’s going on.”

So why the change for Brigid?

“I just thought it would be a whole new field to get into – literally. It was the same sort of membership organisation and lobbying group as the ASTI. It’s such a strong lobbying group and it’s great experience to get. It will be a completely different thing, which is what I am looking for.”

When Brigid graduated from college, she worked in architectural heritage (something she got into because she studied history of art at third-level) doing surveys around the country, but she had always intended on going into press, PR or journalism.

When the ASTI were restarting their magazine, she was given the job to develop it. How much does she have to be invested in the stance these lobby groups take?

“I think it kind of naturally happens. I wouldn’t have always agreed with the ASTI’s stance, but the point of your job is to find arguments for the cause. Once you’ve found them, you kind of buy into them because you found them.”

Will it be hard to switch from an ASTI mindset to an IFA mindset?

“I’m still on the lookout for education stories when I’m doing the press clippings and there was stuff about the new Minister for Education and I was like ‘ooh’ and then I realised oh I don’t have to worry about that anymore.”

She feels the most challenging part of her role will be learning the technical ins and outs of agriculture.

“There’s so many different sectors and they all seem to work independently with each other a little bit, so there’s a lot more going on and a lot more to get your head around.”

However, her experience with the ASTI is very applicable.

The fact that they’re both members’ organisations is a help.

“It’s a grassroots organisation and it’s a democratic organisation, so the members make the decisions – that wouldn’t necessarily be how it works elsewhere.

“It really feeds up from the ground so that helps to get a proper understanding of the industry and what the issues are and it helps you to formulate your arguments because you really have the on-the-ground knowledge, or the access to it.”