Tipp man selected for prestigious farm leadership programme
Nuffield Scholarship for Lorrha man
Image 1 of 2
Nuffield Ireland scholar Conor Hogan. Photos: Finbarr O’Rourke Picture: Finbarr O'RourkeImage 2 of 2
The 2026 Nuffield Ireland scholars were announced at the 2025 Nuffield Ireland Conference at the Horse & Jockey in Tipperary with John Donlon, Grainne Dwyer (Chairperson, Nuffield Ireland), Paula McCooey, David Scallan, Kenny McCauley and Conor Hogan. Picture: Finbarr O'RourkeLorrha’s Conor Hogan has been selected as one of five Irish agri leaders to receive a prestigious Nuffield Ireland Scholarship which will commence in 2026. Nuffield Ireland’s mission is to discover, inspire and support people to develop their capacity, character and confidence to promote positive change and world class leadership in agriculture, food and farming. It is part of Nuffield International, a valuable global network, which includes Nuffield organisations in eight countries.
Hailing from Lorrha, Conor is a beef farmer and leader of the People in Dairy Programme at Teagasc Moorepark, where his role includes managing multidisciplinary research focused on improving workplace attractiveness, productivity, and generational renewal in Irish dairying.
He graduated from University College Dublin (UCD) with a BAgrSc in Dairy Business in 2018 before going on to complete a PhD in dairy farm labour management and productivity in 2022. Conor also broadened his international perspective through work with DairyNZ’s Farm Systems team in New Zealand. Alongside his research career, he remains active on the home farm and plays hurling with his local club, Lorrha-Dorrha.
Conor’s chosen topic for his Nuffield Scholarship research will be ‘Future entry, progression and succession pathways for Irish dairy farms’.
Conor was selected alongside John Donlon, a veterinary surgeon specialising in cattle health and welfare from Tulla, Co Clare; Paula McCooey, a poultry specialist from Scotstown, Co Monaghan; Kenny McCauley, founder of McCauley Wood Fuels Ltd in Mohill, Co Leitrim; and David Scallan, a fourth-generation dairy farmer from Ballymurn, Co Wexford.
Grainne Dwyer, Nuffield Ireland Chair, said: “We are delighted to welcome these five new Scholars to Nuffield Ireland’s community of agricultural leaders. Their timely research topics will help us to identify yet more practical solutions to the many challenges in Irish agriculture.”
The 2026 Nuffield Scholars will conduct their research over the next two years before returning to present their findings at the 2027 Nuffield Ireland Conference.