Sean O’Donnell

Sean O’Donnell was awarded the Connacht Gold 2013 Nuffield scholarship. Sean is married to Jackie and they have two young children. They live close to Ballina, Co.Mayo, which is favourably known as the salmon fishing capital of Ireland.

Connacht Gold Co-op are a Dairy Co-op based in the West of Ireland and are supporting Nuffield Ireland for the first time because there are so few Nuffield scholars in the West of Ireland. Sean’s topic for study is “Farm Fragmentation in Irish Dairying – Overcoming and Adapting to it”. Sean plans to focus in on the areas of Robotics in a grass based scenario, computerised and automated management systems and low cost grass focused technologies. He will also look at how people and staff can utilise the most modern and efficient research that will help in overcoming the management of fragmented holdings. Sean has an honours degree in business studies from GMIT, Galway. He currently farms in north Mayo running 90 cow spring calving dairy farm, on 50 hectares. He also sends his young stock for contract rearing, and intends to expand up to 150 cows post 2015.
 

Farm Fragmentation in Irish Dairying - Overcoming and Adapting to it