The 2026 group of Nuffield Ireland scholars were announced at the annual Nuffield Ireland conference which took place on Friday at the Horse and Jockey Hotel, Co Tipperary.

John Donlon, Conor Hogan, Paula McCooey, Kenny McCauley and David Scallan were announced as the 2026 scholarship recipients by Nuffield Ireland chair Gráinne Dwyer.

Their areas of research will tackle key challenges currently facing the sector, which include the retention of young veterinary professionals in rural communities, succession and progression pathways for Irish dairy farms and the need to build resilience to bird flu in Ireland’s poultry sector.

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Other topics include innovation while looking at the potential of farm forest resources for renewable heat and carbon storage, plus strategies to attract and retain young people in farming careers.

Speaking at the conference, Dwyer said: “Their timely research topics will help us to identify yet more practical solutions to the many challenges in Irish agriculture.”

The new scholars

John Donlon, a veterinary surgeon from east Clare, specialises in cattle health and welfare, with a focus on calves. His study topic is ‘Stopping the brain drain: retaining young veterinary professionals in rural Irish communities’.

Conor Hogan, a beef farmer from north Tipperary, also leads the People in Dairy Programme at Teagasc Moorepark. His study topic is ‘Future entry, progression and succession pathways for Irish dairy farms'.

Paula McCooey, a poultry specialist from Co Monaghan, with over a decade of experience in the poultry sector, has decided to do her research on ‘Living with bird flu: global lessons for Ireland’s poultry future'.

Leitrim native Kenny McCauley, founder of McCauley Wood Fuels Ltd, is passionate about linking forestry, farming and rural enterprise to create short, reliable supply chains that keep value local and reduce fossil-fuel dependence. With this in mind, Kenny has chosen the topic ‘Mobilising rural biomass: unlocking renewable heat, carbon storage and bioeconomy value from farm forest resources’.

David Scallan a fourth-generation dairy farmer from Ballymurn, Co Wexford, is looking into succession with his chosen research topic being ‘How do we as an industry get more youth into farming’.

The scholars will conduct their research over the next two years before returning to present their findings at the 2027 Nuffield Ireland conference.