Francess McDonnell

Francess McDonnell Profile Picture

Francess McDonnell is an award-winning journalist and producer with significant experience in covering agriculture, agri-business and business issues. She has worked with the Irish Times, Sunday Times Ireland, Sky News Ireland, BBC Northern Ireland and the Belfast Telegraph and Irish News. Her family has farmed for generations and is part of a rural, lough-shore community where her interest in farming, agri-business and rural issues first began. She is a graduate of De Montfort University, Leicester and the School of Journalism, Cardiff University.

New €5,000 grant to bring vacant traditional houses ‘back into use’
New €5,000 grant to bring vacant traditional houses ‘back into use’

A new scheme that will provide a grant of up to €5,000 to cover the cost of obtaining “expert conservation...

Noonan: Hunting sector ‘doing important work for conservation’
Noonan: Hunting sector ‘doing important work for conservation’

Minister of State, Malcolm Noonan, has said his department sees “the hunting sector as doing important work for conservation” as...

Ryan: EPA ‘never modelled or expected’ 30% drop in fertiliser use
Ryan: EPA ‘never modelled or expected’ 30% drop in fertiliser use

People have been “surprised by some of the speed at which agriculture is starting to reduce emissions,” the Minister for...

162 people prosecuted over animal welfare offences in last decade
162 people prosecuted over animal welfare offences in last decade

A total of 162 people have been “successfully prosecuted” in the last 10 years in relation to animal welfare offences...

Fitzmaurice urges new minister for finance to ‘remember rural Ireland’
Fitzmaurice urges new minister for finance to ‘remember rural Ireland’

The Minister for Finance, Jack Chambers, has been urged to “remember that rural Ireland exists” in his new role. The...

TD: Dead ash trees near roads pose ‘a serious risk to people’
TD: Dead ash trees near roads pose ‘a serious risk to people’

The countryside is “full of dead ash trees, many of which are by roadsides” which in turn could pose a...

New strategy outlines ‘pathway’ to reducing agri-GHG emissions
New strategy outlines ‘pathway’ to reducing agri-GHG emissions

The Government has today (Wednesday, June 26) published a new Long-term Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Reductions strategy which outlines that “support...

DAFM: 2702kg of illegally imported meat seized at airports in 2023
DAFM: 2702kg of illegally imported meat seized at airports in 2023

New figures from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) show that 2702.40kg of illegally imported meat was...

Dale Farm co-op reports £29m annual pre-tax profit
Dale Farm co-op reports £29m annual pre-tax profit

Northern Ireland-headquartered co-op, Dale Farm, has reported a £96.6 million drop in group turnover to £631.4 million for the financial...

Report: Some people blame ‘slurry-pollution problem’ for Lough Neagh algae crisis
Report: Some people blame ‘slurry-pollution problem’ for Lough Neagh algae crisis

There are deep feelings of “sadness, anger, disbelief, fear and anxiety” over the Lough Neagh blue-green algae ecological crisis, according...

McConalogue: Transport rules ‘must take into account’ Ireland’s island status
McConalogue: Transport rules ‘must take into account’ Ireland’s island status

The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue warned in Luxembourg today (Monday, June 24) that EU proposals...

Burgers, grills and sausage sales down in June 2024 – Kantar
Burgers, grills and sausage sales down in June 2024 – Kantar

A lack of sunny weather saw shoppers spend €1.6 million less on chilled salads, burgers, grills and sausages this June...

28 ‘expressions of interest’ in  Biomethane Capital Grant
28 ‘expressions of interest’ in Biomethane Capital Grant

A total of 28 ‘expressions of interest’ have been registered in relation to the €40 million Biomethane Capital Grant. According...

Farmers in Co. Donegal received the most Farm Assist payments in 2023
Farmers in Co. Donegal received the most Farm Assist payments in 2023

Farmers in Co. Donegal received the most Farm Assist payments compared to any other county in 2023, according to latest...

Retailers urged to ‘restore’ the price of fresh milk on shelves by 10c/L
Retailers urged to ‘restore’ the price of fresh milk on shelves by 10c/L

Retailers have been “engaged in unjustified price cutting” of fresh milk on their shelves and should restore the price by...

Warning that dairy sector could face ‘massive restructuring’
Warning that dairy sector could face ‘massive restructuring’

Farm organisations have voiced their concerns over a move by Tirlán to seek 150 redundancies that some believe could signal...

Expansion of dairy herd has ‘had an impact’ on TB levels – minister
Expansion of dairy herd has ‘had an impact’ on TB levels – minister

The expansion of the dairy herd in Ireland since 2015 has had an “impact on increasing TB levels” according to...

Tirlán seeking 150 ‘voluntary’ redundancies across organisation
Tirlán seeking 150 ‘voluntary’ redundancies across organisation

The Kilkenny-headquartered co-op, Tirlán, has confirmed that 150 jobs are likely to go across the organisation as a result of...