There is a new assistant principal at Teagasc Kildalton. Gráinne McMahon will be assistant principal within horticulture, taking over from former assistant principal, Ciaran Walsh. However, Gráinne will also have responsibility across the campus for areas such as student welfare, access, security and rules and regulations.

Gráinne completes the management team in Kildalton of college principal, Paul Hennessy, and assistant principal in agriculture, Tim Ashmore.

The former horticultural lecturer in Kildalton holds a certificate in horticulture from Warrenstown College and went on to qualify from University College Dublin with a first-class honours BAgrSc in commercial horticulture.

She then completed a masters in agricultural science specialising in turfgrass at UCD, before obtaining a masters of arts in management in education from Waterford Institute of Technology.

She currently works in Teagasc as curriculum development and standards officer and coordinator for practical learning periods in the Teagasc education programme.

Centre of excellence

Commenting on her appointment, Grainne said: “There is an opportunity to continue to develop Kildalton College as a centre of excellence in horticultural education for those seriously committed to the industry. I look forward to leading that development and supporting the horticultural industry into the future.”

Congratulating Grainne on her appointment, Paul Hennessy, principal at Teagasc Kildalton, said: “We are fortunate to have someone with Grainne’s qualifications, experience and management expertise to be the new assistant principal for horticulture in the college and I look forward to continuing to work with her as we develop the course offerings and the college. I would like to acknowledge the contribution over the years of the former assistant principal Ciaran Walsh and wish him well in his retirement.”