+353 (0)45 866266 Home About Us Services A-Z Lab Tests News & Research Contacts Submission Forms Our Team Chief Executive Sarah McNicholas BBS, MSc Sarah was educated at Trinity College, Dublin and Brunel University, Middlesex in the UK. She joined the IEC in December 2013 taking on the newly created role of Chief Executive. Previously, Sarah had worked as an investment banker in the City of London for nearly twenty years advising clients in the Technology and Biotechnology sectors. Sarah has had an interest in breeding and racing all her life and has a small number of mares at stud. smcnicholas@irishequinecentre.ie E-MAIL +353 (0)45 866266 DIRECT NUMBER +353 (0)87 7454826 MOBILE NUMBER Head of Microbiology James Gibbons MVB, PhD. James qualified with a Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine degree from University College Dublin in 2000. After graduation, he spent several years in practice in Ireland, the UK and overseas before returning to UCD to complete a PhD in veterinary microbiology in the area of antimicrobial resistance. In 2011, James moved to the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies where he worked as lecturer in veterinary microbiology and public health with responsibility for diagnostic microbiology. In 2013, he returned to UCD as lecturer in veterinary public health and spent the following 5 years teaching and researching in this area. He joined the Irish Equine Centre in 2018. JGibbons@irishequinecentre.ie E-MAIL +353 (0)45 866266 DIRECT NUMBER MOBILE NUMBER Head of Patholgy Dr Ursula Fogarty MVB, PhD, MRCVS Dip.Stat Ursula received her veterinary and PhD qualifications from University College Dublin in 1979 and 1984 respectively and her diploma in statistics from Trinity College Dublin in 1982. As a research post doctorate she developed the Bronchoalveolar lavage technique for the horse before becoming assistant pathologist to Dr. Brendan Farrelly in 1987 and ultimately Head of Pathology at the IEC in 1990. She has been involved with the Equine Science Course in Limerick since its inception and is the named Veterinary Surgeon for Weatherbys' isoerythrolysis screening service. ufogarty@irishequinecentre.ie E-MAIL +353 (0)45 866266 DIRECT NUMBER MOBILE NUMBER Head of Virology Professor Ann Cullinane MVB, PhD, MRCVS Ann has been Head of Virology Unit at the Irish Equine Centre since 1987 and Head of World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) reference laboratory for equine influenza since 2009. She obtained her veterinary degree from University College Dublin (UCD), and PhD from Glasgow University. Before joining the IEC she held research posts at Cambridge University, UK and at Applied Biotechnology, USA. Ann is an Adjunct Professor in the University of Limerick, an Associate of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, UCD and serves as an equine infectious diseases expert on the OIE Ad hoc Group for the International Movement of Horses. acullinane@irishequinecentre.ie E-MAIL +353 (0)45 901055 DIRECT NUMBER MOBILE NUMBER Head of Environment & Nutrition Alan Creighton Alan was educated at the CBS Naas and received his Degree in Food Science and Nutrition from the Dublin Institute of Technology. He joined the IEC in June 1995 to work in the Microbiology unit. He took up the role of the Environmental Scientist in 1999, and as Head of Environment and Nutrition in late 2017. He works with trainers and stud owners at home and internationally on all aspects of equine biosecurity, nutrition and performance. He is a former show jumper and has a massive interest in all aspects of thoroughbred racing, is a keen breeder and pin hooker. acreighton@irishequinecentre.ie E-MAIL +353 (0)45 866266 DIRECT NUMBER MOBILE NUMBER Head of Finance Patrick Kelly FCCA, MAAT Patrick is a Chartered Accountant and was educated at University of Westminster London and Dublin Business School. He joined the IEC in June 2017 taking on the role of Head of Finance. Previously, Patrick has worked as a Finance Director for US Plc's listed on the NASDAQ and New York Stock exchanges in the Technology and Software sectors. Patrick has had a huge interest in the racing industry all his life. PKelly@irishequinecentre.ie E-MAIL +353 (0)45 901053 DIRECT NUMBER +353 (0)879141769 MOBILE NUMBER Consultant Tom Buckley MSc, FIBMS, FAMLS. Tom was educated at Presentation College in Bray, Dublin Institute of Technology and University College Dublin. He joined the Irish Equine Centre in 1984 and was Head of Microbiology from 1997 until 2018. Tom is also a part-time lecturer at the University of Limerick in Equine Health and Disease and has been involved in the Equine Science course at the University of Limerick since its inception and was appointed Adjunct Professor of Life Sciences in 2007. TBuckley@irishequinecentre.ie E-MAIL +353 (0)45 866266 DIRECT NUMBER MOBILE NUMBER Clinical Consultant Des P Leadon MA, MVB, MSc, FRCVS, DipECEIM Des was educated at Blackrock College, graduated as a Veterinary Surgeon from Trinity College Dublin in 1975 and returned there for his post-graduate MSc studies. He came to the Centre in April 1984 having returned home to Ireland from the Rossdale practice in Newmarket, where he completed his studies on equine prematurity, with Dr Peter Rossdale, which resulted in the award of Fellowship of the RCVS. Des is a founding Vice-President of the European College of Equine Internal Medicine, a Past President of BEVA and of WEVA, and is Veterinary Advisor to the ITBA. dleadon@irishequinecentre.ie E-MAIL +353 (0)45 901056 DIRECT NUMBER MOBILE NUMBER Contact Us & Location Support Login Copyright © 2014 Irish Equine Centre Privacy & Cookie Policy Terms & Conditions