Alison Holmes

Alison grew up on a family run mixed enterprise farm in Laois and has always been actively involved in farming. Currently she farms in partnership with her father, Brian. She is also heavily involved in local Macra na Feirme and IFA organisations. Alison is also a member of the national steering committee for the Macra Agricultural Skillnet, a network dedicated to the development and delivery of education and skills training for young farmers and those involved in the agricultural industry.

Aside from farming, Alison graduated from UCD with a BSc in Physiotherapy in 2008 and an MSc Re-search (Physiotherapy) in 2010. She worked in the HSE and Sports Private Practice part time until 2016. Since this time she has been working as a clinical tutor in the School of Allied Health at the University of Limerick. She regularly presents to farming organisations as part of health promotion initiatives and is a strong advocate for activity participation and healthy living.

Alison’s Nuffield study is entitled, “Are we Fit to Farm? Investigating Irish Farmer Health Status and Sustainability.” She plans to use her relevant previous experience to explore the role of continuing professional development and education in farming and how it can be utilised to progress practice and improve farmer health and wellbeing and the perception of farming as an attractive profession.

Alison intends to travel to Denmark, New Zealand and Canada during the course of her Nuffield scholarship.

Alison was elected to the Nuffield Ireland board in 2023.

Are we Fit to Farm? Investigating Irish Farmer Health Status and Sustainability