Meet Our Veterinary Team
Meet the team at Abbeyville Veterinary Hospital! We’re pleased to provide exceptional vet care for your pets!
Get to Know Our Veterinary Team
We are dedicated to your pet’s care! We look forward to getting to know you and hope you’ll take the time to scroll down and get to know us.
Veterinary Surgeons
Richard Lane
MVB MRCVS
Partners
Richard is one of the partners. He qualified from University College Dublin in 1981 and worked in Lismore Co. Waterford for 2 years doing mainly dairy and beef practice. He subsequently worked in Wexford Town for a year again in mixed practice before joining Abbeyville in 1984. His areas of interest are doing dairy practice, especially herd health and vaccination programs. He has carried out a pilot project on Johnes disease control eradication in conjunction with the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Food. Outside of work, Richards’ interests include hill walking and fishing, and he is also a keen Munster rugby supporter.
Fergus Smith
MVB CertDHH
Partners
Fergus is one of the partners. He qualified from University College Dublin (UCD) in 1992 and worked in a mixed practice in Co. Mayo and West Cork before joining Abbeyville in 1995. His areas of interest are bovine and equine practice, particularly herd health, fertility and ultrasonography. He completed a postgraduate certificate in Dairy Herd Health at UCD in 2014. He also has a keen interest in small animal medicine. Outside of work, Fergus’ interests include cycling, skiing, supporting Munster and Douglas/Carrigaline Rugby and keeping his kids entertained evenings and weekends.
Michael Ryan
MVB
Partners
Michael is one of the partners. He qualified from University College Dublin in 1997 and went to England where he worked in small animal practices in Essex and Kent. He then returned to Ireland and worked in a mixed practice in Co. Kilkenny before joining Abbeyville in 2001. Michael’s area of expertise would be orthopaedic and soft tissue surgery. He is married to Rose and they have 4 children. When he is not working, Michael can be found playing taxi driver to the kids or cheering from the sidelines anywhere in the country. They have two dogs, Molly and Trevor, and of course Dave the cat!
Donal O'Sullivan
MVB CertSAM
Veterinary Surgeon
Donal qualified from UCD in 2010. He spent 2 years working in mixed practice in Northern Ireland, before returning home to Cork to join Abbeyville in 2012. Donal has a special interest in challenging medical cases, dermatology and dentistry. Donal also runs the acupuncture and pain management clinics. In 2018, He completed the UCD postgraduate certificate in Small Animal Medicine.
Máiréad Foley
MVB MRCVS CERT AVP DIPVPH
Veterinary Surgeon
Máiréad graduated from UCD and joined the Abbeyville team in 2017. Since then, she has developed a real passion for both small and large animal practice, with a particular interest in small animal medicine. She enjoys the variety that veterinary work brings and the opportunity to build a relationship with both her patients and their owners.
Her love for animals started from a young age, growing up on a dairy farm in Kerry, where caring for animals was part of everyday life. This early experience sparked her interest in veterinary medicine and has stayed with her throughout her career.
Máiréad is always keen to keep learning and has continued to develop her skills alongside her work at Abbeyville. She has completed a Certificate in Advanced Veterinary Practice, focusing on Small Animal Medicine, with the RCVS in London, as well as a Diploma in Veterinary Public Health with Ulster University.
Outside of work, Máiréad is kept busy by her own much-loved pets, Teddy, her Golden Retriever, and her cats, Stevie and Maggie.
Eve Jennings
MVB CertSAM
Veterinary Surgeon
Eve graduated from UCD in June 2021 and joined the Abbeyville Team very soon after in July 2021. She has since furthered her studies and completed a small animal medicine certificate from UCD in 2024. Eve is passionate about all areas of small animal veterinary. In her spare time, Eve loves being outdoors and sea swimming with her Border Collie Noa.
Shona Coombes
MVB
Veterinary Surgeon
Shona grew up on a farm in West Cork. She graduated from UCD in 2013 and moved to Scotland where she worked for 4 years in a mixed practice. In 2018, she returned to Cork where she worked in a small animal practice for another few years, before joining the Abbeyville team in 2022. She has a particular interest in canine and feline medicine. In her free time, Shona enjoys travelling, adventures outdoors, and spending time with her 2 dogs, Henry and Delphi.
Brónagh Deasy
MVB
Veterinary Surgeon
Brónagh graduated from UCD in 2024 and joined the Abbeyville Team in October. Her interest in veterinary stemmed from growing up on a dexter beef farm in Clonakilty. Since joining the practice, Brónagh has developed a great interest in both small and large animal medicine. In her spare time, Brónagh loves running, reading and spending time at home with her family in West Cork.
Leaghanorah Carroll
DVM
Veterinary Surgeon
Leaghanorah graduated from Warsaw University of Life Sciences in 2023. Hailing from Kilmurray, near Macroom, Leaghanora has a passionate interest in small animal medicine, and in particular feline medicine. She volunteered in a spay/neuter clinic in Goa, India, and shortly after, graduating, returned to Ireland and joined the Abbeyville team. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking and spending time with her dog Marmalade and her cat Oliver.
Michele Merlino
MVB
Veterinary Surgeon
Michele is a native of Italy. He graduated from the University of Bologna in 2010. He spent 12 years working in mixed practice in Ireland before joining the Abbeyville Veterinary team in July 2023. Michele is interested in all aspects of veterinary medicine, in both large and small animals. In his free time, Michele enjoys spending time with his family, running with his red setter Tara, and riding his motorbike. He also has a keen interest in Rugby, having played the sport for many years himself.
Connor Sheedy
BVSc
Veterinary Surgeon
Connor is from Greater London where he qualified as a vet over 11 years ago. Connor’s main interest is with farm animals, particularly with cattle which is the area he specialised in with Abbeyville. His passion for this side of veterinary grew as he was often on farms when he was younger as his mom’s side of the family had beef cattle and sheep. In his spare time, Connor loves martial arts and watching films.
Bartosz Kotlarek
Veterinary Surgeon
Bartosz moved from Poland to Ireland several years ago as he has always loved Ireland. Bartosz is an important member of the team and he holds a special interest in soft tissue surgery. Bartosz enjoys taking road trips in his spare time with his beautiful family.
Derry McCarthy
Veterinary Surgeon
Derry graduated in 2024 and joined our team in January 2026, following experience in mixed practice in Laois.
Originally from Kerry, Derry’s lifelong love of animals began on the family farm, where an early interest in veterinary medicine first took root. That background continues to shape a genuine enthusiasm for working with both large and small animals.
Outside of work, Derry enjoys farming and is actively involved in GAA, spending much of his spare time connected to both passions.
Lara Giaccone
Veterinary Surgeon
Lara graduated in Veterinary Medicine from the University of Sassari in Italy and has gained extensive international experience working in Canada, France, and Southern Italy, including in buffalo farming regions that further strengthened her clinical expertise.
She spent nearly two years in Donegal working as a mixed veterinary surgeon, where she developed a particular interest in bovine and ovine medicine.
Outside of work, Lara enjoys reading and spending time outdoors, making the most of nature whenever she can.
Mollie McBride
Veterinary Surgeon
Mollie graduated from University College Dublin in 2015. She began her career in the UK, gaining experience across both general practice and emergency medicine.
In 2022, she took up a role at a veterinary university in the Caribbean, where she spent three years teaching and mentoring future North American veterinarians. During this time, she also contributed to academic research and worked closely with the local community of St Kitts & Nevis.
Mollie enjoys the variety that veterinary medicine offers on a day-to-day basis, with particular interests in ultrasonography, dermatology, and feline medicine.
She has recently returned to Ireland with her husband and their three rescue animals, their cats Willie and Paddy, and Rua, their “Coconut Retriever” who all made the journey home from the Caribbean.
Sinead Murray
MVB Cert DHH Cert AVP Pg Cert
Veterinary Surgeon
Sinead graduated from UCD in 2014 and has gained many years of experience in large animal, equine, and small animal practice prior to joining the Abbeyville team in 2023. Sinead adores all creatures great and small. Her particular areas of interest lie in small animal internal medicine and emergency and critical care. Sinead has completed her certification in advanced veterinary practice focusing on small animal medicine through the University of Liverpool. Sinead has also completed training in Western Veterinary Acupuncture which has proved very beneficial to many of our patients at Abbeyville. In her spare time, Sinead is happiest taking part in all kinds of outdoor adventures with her beautiful Labrador cross called Boo.
Theresa Benny
Theresa has quickly become a valued member of our practice, bringing warmth, enthusiasm, clinical knowledge, and genuine compassion to every patient and client she meets.
Outside of work, Theresa enjoys running, sea swimming, hiking, and painting. She is also a passionate Gaeilgeoir and loves embracing the Irish language.
Megan O Keeffe
Megan has a genuine passion for animal health and welfare and is committed to providing the highest standard of care to every patient she meets. Her calm, compassionate approach, combined with her warm and friendly personality, helps put both pets and their owners at ease, making her a wonderful addition to our practice.
Outside of the clinic, Megan enjoys making the most of the outdoors and can often be found hiking scenic trails or swimming in the sea. She also loves baking and is always happy to share her latest creations with family, friends, and colleagues.
Daniela De Abreu
Veterinary Surgeon
Bio coming soon!
Veterinary Nurses
Rachel Walsh
Head Veterinary Nurse
Rachel graduated from St John’s Central College in 2021 and since then she has made such an impact to reach senior roles within Abbeyville. She is from Limerick but moved to Cork as she loved it so much when she studied here. Rachel has a strong passion for surgery and is currently completing a certificate in Emergency & Critical Care.
She loves meeting all the different patients and lovely clients in Abbeyville. In her spare time she enjoys travelling, sea swims and live music.
Marta Zalewska
RVN
Senior Staff Nurse
Marta studied Veterinary Nursing at St John’s Central College, graduating in 2015. Since then, she has spent her career caring for small animals and has built up a wealth of experience, quickly finding her feet and developing a real passion for helping both pets and their people.
Marta joined the Abbeyville team back in 2022 and, always eager to learn and broaden her experience,she took the opportunity to venture a little further afield into large animal medicine and care. While she is still very much a small animal nurse at heart, she has loved expanding her knowledge and skills along the way.
She has a particular interest in surgical nursing, organisation and, most importantly, making sure every patient receives the very best care. Marta also really enjoys supporting and guiding our student nurses as they learn and grow throughout their training.
In January 2023, Marta took the next step in her Abbeyville journey and became our Senior Staff Nurse, a role that suits her caring, organised and dedicated nature perfectly. She is also head nurse of our Little Island branch.
Outside of work, Marta loves horse riding and making the most of the great outdoors with her husband James, their son Oscar and their much-loved fur baby, Shelby the Jack Russell.
When she’s not out enjoying the fresh air, Marta can often be found at home enjoying some well-earned cuddles with her cat, Walter.
Sarah Cowhig
MVB MRCVS
Veterinary Nurse
Sarah graduated from St Johns Central College in 2015. She has been working in the pet care industry since 2011 and joined the Abbeyville team in 2017. Sarah has worked in various roles in the hospital throughout the years varying from large animal nursing to small animal nursing and management. Sarah has a certificate in canine hydrotherapy and is very passionate about using physiotherapy and rehabilitation techniques to help her patients have a speedy recovery. She loves surgery, particularly assisting in orthopaedic procedures.
In her spare time, she enjoys travelling, playing tag rugby and going for sea swims! She loves spending her free time with her dog Juno and her cat Finn.
Chloe O'Neill
Veterinary Nurse
Chloe is a qualified Veterinary Nurse and has been a valued member of the team at Abbeyville since joining us in 2024. She has always had a strong passion for animal care, and her career in veterinary nursing began during the COVID-19 pandemic, when she worked as an Animal Care Assistant in the cattery at Limerick Animal Welfare Sanctuary.
While working at the sanctuary, Chloe applied to study Veterinary Nursing at St John’s Central College in Cork. She successfully completed her studies and is now living her passion as a qualified Veterinary Nurse. Chloe is currently completing her Nursing Anaesthesia Certificate and is almost finished, with the certificate due to be completed in November.
Originally from County Limerick, Chloe moved to Cork to undertake her Veterinary Nursing course. During her studies, she developed a strong connection with the city and decided to make Cork her home.
Outside of work, Chloe enjoys spending time with friends and exploring the country. She particularly enjoys going for drives and discovering new places. Chloe is also the proud owner of two cats, Molly and Spock, who are an important part of her life.
Caroline Kelly
Veterinary Nurse
Caroline is originally from County Down. She has lived in Scotland and Norway for many years where she then decided to move to Cork to pursue a career in Veterinary Nursing, which she qualified in this year. Caroline worked at Abbeyville throughout her student placement and is a valuable member of the team. During her course, she travelled to Slovenia and Tahiti on an Erasmus exchange program to work in veterinary clinics.
She grew up with dogs, cats, chickens, a few reptiles and riding horses. As such, a career caring for animals was a natural path to follow. Outside of work, she spends her time sea swimming at her favourite sauna and beach spots along the coast of Cork and travelling further afield.
Taylor Wallace
Veterinary Nurse
Taylor is a qualified Veterinary Nurse and a familiar face at our Little Island branch, where she is an important part of the Abbeyville team. With a lifelong love of animals and a strong interest in science, Veterinary Nursing was a natural career choice for Taylor. She has a wonderful way with animals and takes great pride in making each and every one of her patients feel safe, comfortable and well cared for. Her gentle and caring nature shines through in everything she does.
Originally from Cobh, Taylor is a proud Corkonian. Outside of work, Taylor is also passionate about fitness and spends plenty of her spare time at the gym. She also enjoys reading and spending time with her lovd ones including her two dogs and her rabbit
Clara Campion
Veterinary Nurse
Clara is one of the longest-standing employees at Abbeyville. She has been a qualified veterinary nurse for over 10 years. She is an important part of the Abbeyville team and has cared for so many patients throughout her length of service at Abbeyville. Clara has always loved animals and loves to treat every animal as her own which comes through our doors.
Clara runs in her spare time where she recently completed the Cork City full marathon. She also enjoys travelling abroad to run half and full marathons. Apart from running, Clara is kept busy with her two dogs and two cats!
Megan O'Riordan
Veterinary Nurse
Megan has been an important part of the Abbeyville team for many years and is usually based in our Togher branch. She has a particular interest in inpatient care and is one of the main nurses involved in caring for our hospitalised patients, making sure every furbaby receives plenty of care, comfort and attention throughout their stay. Megan’s calm and caring nature shines through in the way she looks after her patients, and she takes great pride in making their time with us as comfortable as possible.
Megan also works closely with Munster Lost & Found, a wonderful charity doing amazing work for pets and their owners throughout Cork and Munster. Her love for animals extends into her home life too, where she has several rescue animals who keep her very busy in her spare time!
Shauna Kinsella
Veterinary Nurse
Shauna is a newly qualified Veterinary Nurse from Tipperary who graduated from St John’s in 2025. She has a special interest in animal welfare and is passionate about providing compassionate, high-quality care to every patient. Outside of work, she enjoys art, music, and travelling. Shauna has previously been involved in fostering dogs from rescue organisations, which she finds incredibly rewarding, and she is delighted to be starting her nursing career with the Abbeyville team.
Rebecca Laffan
Veterinary Nurse
Rebecca is originally from Kilkenny and moved to Cork to complete a BSc in Ecology and Environmental Biology. After spending time volunteering with a seal rescue charity, she discovered her passion for veterinary nursing and returned to college to pursue a career in the profession.
Rebecca graduated as a Veterinary Nurse in 2025 and has a particular interest in animal welfare and Fear Free practice, with a focus on creating a positive, low-stress experience for every patient.
Outside of work, Rebecca enjoys making the most of the outdoors through swimming and hiking. She also loves spending time back home with her two dogs and four cats.
Sorcha McCarthy
Veterinary Nurse
Sorcha recently joined the team at AbbeyVille Veterinary Hospital as a Mixed Animal Veterinary Nurse. 🐮🐾🐴
Growing up on a dairy farm, Sorcha was surrounded by animals from a young age, so she always knew a career in veterinary nursing was the path for her.
After graduating from college in 2023, Sorcha gained experience across a range of areas, from small animal surgical nursing 🐾 to equine and bovine nursing. 🐴🐮 She loves the variety that comes with working with both large and small animals, and no two days are ever the same!
Outside of work, Sorcha enjoys competing in showjumping with her horse, Douglas, who played a big part in inspiring her career. She also loves lending a hand on the family farm at weekends, milking cows and feeding calves, especially during the busy spring season.
Caryn Casey
Veterinary Nurse
Caryn began her journey with Abbeyville way back in 2005 while studying at St. John’s, working part-time in our original Togher building as a student. After graduating, she continued working with the team for a number of years, gaining valuable experience before pursuing new opportunities.
This year, we’re delighted to welcome Caryn back to the practice. Having been part of the team before, she brings a wealth of experience, a familiar face, and a friendly, approachable manner.
Outside of work, Caryn is kept busy running her wonderfully chaotic household with her children, two poodles, Oonagh and Saoirse, two cats, Binx and Kahlua, and two axolotls, Sashimi and Ginger.
Grace Halliday
Veterinary Nurse
Grace is currently completing the final year of her Veterinary Nursing qualification at St. John’s Central College, Cork. Her passion for animal care has been built through a strong educational background, beginning with a qualification in Equestrian studies from Cork College of FET in 2023, followed by graduating as an Animal care assistant from St. John’s Central College in 2024.
With a lifelong love of animals and a keen interest in their health and wellbeing, Grace is dedicated to providing compassionate, high-quality care to every patient she meets.
Outside of the clinic, Grace enjoys spending time with her two dogs, Lola and Ruby, and has a lifelong passion for horse riding. She also has a soft spot for capybaras and loves sea swimming, art, and paddle boarding whenever she gets the chance.
Laura Creedon
Veterinary Nurse
Laura graduated from MTU with a degree in Agricultural Science before going on to study Veterinary Nursing at St John’s College, graduating in 2018. She has a keen interest in both small and large animal nursing.
Before joining Abbeyville, Laura spent four years working as a Head Nurse in her previous practice. She is now Deputy Practice Manager at Abbeyville, where her role is primarily management-focused, while still allowing her to stay involved in nursing whenever possible.
Outside of work, Laura enjoys sport, helping out on the family farm and spending time with her two dogs, Bear and Reuben.
Gráinne Wilson
Veterinary Nurse
Gráinne has had a lifelong passion for animal care, which began when she started horse riding at the age of seven. Her love for animals led her to work part-time in local equestrian centres and on her uncle’s farm, where she gained valuable hands-on experience caring for a wide variety of animals.
In 2021, Gráinne graduated from St. John’s Central College with a Level 6 qualification in Veterinary Nursing. She is dedicated to providing compassionate, high-quality care to every patient and enjoys building trusting relationships with both pets and their owners.
Outside of the clinic, Gráinne loves spending time outdoors with her two dogs, Timmy, a Springer Spaniel, and Darla, a Bichon Frisé. Whether exploring local trails or enjoying long walks together, they are never far from her side.
Lorna Burke
Veterinary Nurse
Bio coming soon!
Caoimhe O Donnell
Veterinary Nurse
Caoimhe has always had a strong interest in animals, with Biology being her favourite subject in school. Her love for animals naturally led her to St. John’s, where she could develop her knowledge and gain experience in a field she has always enjoyed. She has always known that she wanted to work with animals and loves the hands-on nature of the job, as well as the variety that comes with every day being a little different.
Outside of work, Caoimhe has plenty to keep her busy. She enjoys playing football, going for runs and heading out horse riding whenever she gets the chance. At home, she has her dog Cooper and three cats, so there’s never a shortage of four-legged company!
Amy Rea
Veterinary Nurse
A local Cork girl, Amy has always had a real love for animals and recently graduated as a Veterinary Nurse from St. John’s. She also holds a degree in Animal Care, as well as a Bachelor’s degree in Geography and Sociology from UCC.
Animal welfare has always been huge passion for Amy. During her studies, she worked as an Animal Care Assistant with the ISPCA, caring for dogs, horses and a wide variety of other animals. She also fostered a number of rescue dogs waiting for their forever homes, which she really enjoyed and found incredibly rewarding.
Outside of work, Amy loves travelling, walking her dog Bonnie, and spending time with her friends and her three cats.
Olivia Hunter O Brien
Veterinary Nurse
Olivia is currently in her final year of Veterinary Nursing at St. John’s Central College and has a real passion for animal care. She recently had the opportunity to study at a wildlife clinic in Slovenia as part of the Erasmus programme, gaining valuable hands-on experience working with a variety of wildlife species.
A lifelong animal lover, Olivia shares her home with her three dogs—Bonnie, Harvey, and Buster—with Bonnie proudly featuring in her photo above.
Outside of veterinary nursing, Olivia enjoys swimming and competed for several years before continuing the sport in her spare time. When she’s relaxing, you’ll usually find her dogs or watching a good horror movie.
Animal Care Assistant
Cait Harrington
Animal Care Assistant
Cait is an Animal Care Assistant at Abbeyville and has always had a genuine love for animals, with a particular soft spot for dogs. She holds a Level 6 qualification in Animal Management and Dog Grooming, giving her a strong foundation of knowledge and hands-on experience in animal care.
Cait loves being able to work with animals every day and takes great pride in making sure they feel comfortable, happy and well cared for while they are with us. Her natural love for animals and caring personality make her a wonderful member of the Abbeyville team.
When she’s not at work, Cait can usually be found enjoying the outdoors, especially at the beach with her Labrador, Belle. The pair love getting out for walks, enjoying the fresh air and having adventures!
Amber Byrnes
Amber completed 2 years at St Johns College Studying Companion and Captive Animal Studies and Animal Science and Management. Amber has always loved animals since a very young age and had many different pets growing up. Amber loves how animal care allows her to continue my passion for animal care. Amber’s favourite part of her job is getting to spend time with inpatients/MLF animals and gaining their trust so that she can give them the best care possible.
In her spare time, Amber loves exploring beaches and admiring the wildlife there. Ahe also likes swimming (when it’s warm enough). Amber has 2 jack russell mixes called Dory and Benji and has recently adopted a cat Skye.
Leah Harrington
Veterinary Nurse
Leah is an aspiring veterinary nurse with a genuine passion for animal care. Originally from County Kerry, she completed her Animal Care Assistant course at St John’s and is now continuing her studies there in Veterinary Nursing.
Alongside her studies, Leah works as an Animal Care Assistant, gaining valuable hands-on experience while working towards her goal of becoming a veterinary nurse. Outside of her studies and work, she enjoys the thrill of horse riding and unwinding with a good book.
Administrative & Support Staff
Danielle Williamson
Practice Manager
Danielle joined the Abbeyville team in 2022. With over a decade managerial experience across many different sectors, she has learned that her passions lie in business administration and working with people! She has recently completed a MSc in Human Resource Management and holds a BA in Social & Political Science minoring in Marketing. She is best described by her friends as ‘The crazy cat lady’ where she has rescued many cats over the years. In her free time, Danielle can be found horse riding, hiking and working out in the gym.
Danielle Hayes
Receptionist
Danielle has been part of the Abbeyville team since 2017, bringing a wealth of experience and a genuine love for both animals and the people who care for them. After studying Animal Grooming at St John’s Central College, Danielle began her Abbeyville journey as a groomer at our Carrigaline branch, where she spent over two years pampering and caring for our clients’ furry friends.
With previous experience in administration, Danielle later moved to our reception team at the Togher branch in 2020. Over the years, she has become a familiar and friendly face to many of our clients and has enjoyed being part of the Abbeyville team through its continued growth and development.
Outside of work, Danielle enjoys spending time with her family, including her fiancé Liam and their daughter, Niamh. She is also kept busy at home by her two pets, Bailey and Mr Binx, who are very much part of the family. Danielle loves making the most of her free time with her family and creating plenty of special memories together.
Sarah Murphy
Sarah is our Reception Manager and is usually based between our Togher and Little Island branches. She joined the Abbeyville team in August 2018, bringing with her decades of experience in customer service across a variety of roles. Sarah is a warm and friendly face at Abbeyville and loves nothing more than having a good chat with our clients, getting to know them and, of course, meeting and hearing all about their furry family members!
After several years as part of our reception team, Sarah stepped into the role of Reception Manager in January 2025. She has a particular interest in Abbeyville’s growing social media platforms and online presence, and enjoys helping to keep our clients connected with the practice and everything happening across our branches.
Originally from Mayfield, Sarah now lives in East Cork with her husband, James. Outside of work, she loves spending time with her family and friends, as well as gardening, heading off on road trips, photography and travelling.
Living close to the coast, Sarah is a big fan of the beach and regularly enjoys walks by the sea, sea swimming and making the most of having it right on her doorstep.
Marguerite McCullagh
Receptionist
Marguerite Graduated in animal welfare at St John’s Central College in 2007 and subsequently graduated in grooming in 2008. She became a part of the Abbeyville team in 2014, where she helped set up the Groom room in our Togher branch. Having spent more than 15 years in the grooming industry, in 2022 Marguerite changed path and joined the reception team, in our Togher branch. She loves meeting our returning and new clients and is always happy to offer advice. At home, Marguerite is a busy Mum to two Kids!
Christian Kallai
Receptionist
Christian is a recent Veterinary Bioscience graduate from Munster Technological University with experience in both veterinary hospitals and the health insurance sector. Combining a strong understanding of animal care with excellent communication skills, he is passionate about creating a welcoming and supportive experience for clients and their pets.
With a keen interest in reception and front-of-house responsibilities, Christian enjoys being the first point of contact, assisting pet owners, coordinating appointments, and ensuring the smooth day-to-day running of a busy veterinary practice.
In his free time, Christian enjoys camping and walks with his dog Cunlee.
Lee Nagle
Receptionist
Lee is an Administrative Assistant based in our Abbeyville clinic and has had a lifelong passion for animals. With many years of customer service experience, she enjoys building relationships with clients and ensuring every visitor receives a warm welcome and excellent care from the moment they arrive.
She loves the variety that each day brings in a busy veterinary hospital, whether she’s assisting our vets on farm visits or welcoming our wonderful patients and their owners into the clinic. Her friendly nature and organisational skills help keep everything running smoothly behind the scenes.
Outside of work, Lee enjoys spending quality time with her family and her own much-loved pets.
Dan Madden
Receptionist
Dan joined our team at the age of 15, making this his first official job, and has been a valued member ever since. Having completed his Leaving Certificate in 2026 after studying at Scoil Mhuire Gan Smál in Blarney, he plans to study Engineering at UCC while continuing to work with our team for many years to come.
Based in Bweeng, Dan primarily works on Saturdays in our Togher clinic, while balancing his school commitments. You can find Dan helping out anywhere from assisting on reception, helping our animal care assistants or even assisting with TB testing on farm calls!
Laura McSweeney
Receptionist
Laura is an Animal Care Assistant and Receptionist at Abbeyville Veterinary Hospital, working primarily across the Blarney and Togher branches. She supports both the clinical and reception teams, helping to provide a professional, welcoming, and compassionate experience for clients and their pets.
In addition to her veterinary role, she also works in a doggy daycare, further developing her practical experience in canine care. Outside of work, she enjoys freelance photography (Laura Mcsweeney photography on Facebook), travelling, and spending time with her own pets. She has a strong interest in animal welfare and conservation, and her passion for animals is reflected in both her professional and personal life.
Laura Foley
Receptionist
Bio coming soon!
Caitríona Harrington
Receptionist
Caitríona joined the team at Abbeyville Vets in 2024 and became our Farm & Equine Department Manager in early 2026. She has become a familiar face to many of our farming and equine clients, who will know her best through her work with the Farm & Equine team and the local farming community.
Originally from the beautiful Beara Peninsula in West Cork, Caitríona has always had a strong connection with animals and the outdoors. She has a particular interest in animal welfare law and is currently working towards a diploma in this area, further developing her knowledge and passion for animal welfare.
Outside of work, Caitríona enjoys exploring the great outdoors with her partner, Conor, and their two dogs, Frodo and Loki.
Hygiene Team
Edson de Melo Santos
Edson enjoys the opportunity to continue improving his English while living in Ireland. Outside of work, he has a keen interest in sports, particularly football, and enjoys meeting new people and experiencing different cultures.