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Developing The Next Generation In Breeding’
The ITBA Next Generation is the junior wing of the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders Association. It is aimed at students and young breeding enthusiasts. We provide a platform to educate young people with an in-depth insight into the breeding and racing industry.
The committee is governed by an independent board of dynamic, young professionals, passionate about the growth and sustainability of Irish racing.
Membership with ITBA Next Generation provides access to exclusive events and opportunities, while generating new social and professional connections within a network of young, like-minded breeding and racing enthusiasts.
- Seminars
- Panel Discussions
- Industry Tours inc trainers yards and stud farms
- Networking and Social Events
- Apprenticeship Scheme
ITBA Next Gen Committee 2024/2025
Ross O'Mahony (Chair)
Bloodstock Sales Executive, Tattersalls Ireland
Ross is a member of the Tattersalls Ireland Bloodstock team, he holds a degree in Equine Science and a diploma in Digital Marketing both from UCD, and completed the Irish National Stud Course in 2020. Ross got started in the industry in 2017, doing weekends with Mick Buckley, before heading to Coolmore America in 2018 for the season as part of his university placement. Since then, he worked for the Castlemartin Division of Ballylinch Stud and worked for a number of sales consignors before starting the Irish National Stud Course. On completion of the course, he gained valuable experience with Mount Coote Stud, BuyANom.com, and Castlehyde Stud before beginning his role with Tattersalls Ireland
Luke Bleahen (Vice Chair)
Intern at Goosebump Marketing, Lakefield Farm
Luke is a recent graduate of the acclaimed Irish National Stud course and completed a Bachelor of Business studies at the University of Limerick. He held an amateur jockey license and was champion pony racing rider in the '14.2-15hh division' in 2015 having ridden 51 winners in his career. With valuable experience gained preparing yearlings for sales in England and America, along with time spent working with leading National Hunt yards, including Gordon Elliott, Henry De Bromhead, and Willie Mullins, Luke has honed his skills in the industry and hopes to build on his early pinhooking endeavours as he returns home to his family farm, Lakefield. His ambition is to help grow the farm and diverse into the flat sector of the game.
Aoife Boland
Goffs and Piercetown Stud
Aoife is a member of the Bloodstock team at Goffs. She holds a BBS in Equine Business from Maynooth University and is a graduate of the Irish National Stud Thoroughbred Breeding Management Course, from the class of 2023. Aoife has been involved in the industry from a young age, having grown up on her family stud farm, Piercetown Stud. She has worked in the office at Ger Lyon’s Glenburnie Stables conducting racing admin for two Irish Flat seasons, as well as working one season leading up at all the major Irish Flat meetings. She completed the Irish National Stud Course in 2023, before travelling to Australia, where she worked in Segenhoe Studunder the Broodmare and Foal Manager for a season. She also worked premier yearling sales, such as Magic Millions for Segenhoe Stud and Karaka Yearling Sale in New Zealand for Cambridge Stud, before returning home to begin her role working for Goffs
Luke Coen
Tattersalls Ireland, Q-Cross Stables
Luke is a bloodstock inspector for Tattersalls Ireland while also establishing Q-Cross Stables within the sales industry. Luke holds a Bachelor's degree in Equine Business from Maynooth University. Luke has been in the industry from a young age although primarily competing in eventing before following the family's footsteps and persueing a career in the thoroughbred industry. Luke has worked for many of the well-known outfits like Railstown Stud, Mountarmstrong Stud, Clare Castle Stud, Kenilworth House Stud and Ballyvolane Stud before setting up his own Q-Cross Stables which currently focuses on pinhooking but has now branched into establishing a small broodmare band. In 2022, Luke became the youngest member of the Tattersalls Bloodstock team to which he hopes to continue for many years to come.
Jack Fitzgerald
UCD Vet Student
Jack is currently a Second Year Veterinary Medicine Student at UCD. After completing placement in Clonshire Equestrian Centre, Jack has had a growing interest in Equine Husbandry & Medicine. His interest in the Thoroughbred Industry came after a trip hosted by the ITBA for 1st Year Vet Students, visiting a range of premises, such as The Irish Equine Centre, The Irish National Stud, & Anglesey Lodge Equine Hospital. This summer, Jack worked part time at Ballyphillip Stud, helping with Yearling Prep. He hopes to return to Ballyphilip full-time next summer. Jack is also Class Rep for the 2nd Year Vet Students, a unique position which allows him to be an excellent point of contact for the ITBA Next Gen Committee to market their membership campaigns.
Sarah Gayer
Anglesey Lodge Equine Hospital
Sarah is a veterinary surgeon at Anglesey Lodge Equine Hospital. Following graduation from UCD in 2012 she completed an equine veterinary internship in the UK. After a stint of locum work in various practices around the world she moved back to Ireland and began working for Lisadell Equine Hospital. This immersed her in the Irish thoroughbred industry and cemented her keen interest in racing. A move to Ballybrown equine practice in Limerick placed her into the thick of breeding with great exposure to many flat and national hunt yards before the opportunity in ALEH arose.
Timmy Love
Coolderry Farm
Timmy is a graduate of UCD Commerce. He has spent the last 18 months working for France Galop and has recently started working for the UK Tote Group, based in London. Timmy is an ex-amateur jockey, having ridden a few winners on the track and in point-to-points. He also trades under the Coolderry Farm banner and in recent years has sold blacktype fillies Shecouldbeanything and Ballybawn Belter.
Paul Moloney
Irish National Stud
Paul is now working for the Irish National Stud. On his completion of Equine Business in Maynooth University, he later completed his Qualified Financial Advisor Designation. As part of his Equine Business Bachelors Degree in Maynooth he travelled to Kentucky for his placement year to work in Ashford stud. He gained experience doing different sales out there for Paramount, Huntervalley, Eaton, Taylormade and Blandford. In Ireland he started in Coolmore doing weekends and holidays all the way through secondary school and college. Gaining valuable experience foaling, yearling prep, breaking and stallions. He spent time as bid spotter for Goff’s. He also completed sales for Churchtown House, Oghil, Ballyvolane, Ballinafad, Churchland, Camas and Barronstown. After finishing college he went to work for Boylesports where he spent one year as a Horse trader compiling odds. Paul has engaged in several pinhooks which have all gone to good homes and he looks forward to seeing on the track.
Brigitte Murphy
Tally-Ho Stud
Brigitte started her current role at Tally-Ho Stud in July of 2022 after graduating from the Godolphin Flying Start.She holds a degree in Equine Science and a masters in Business Management both from the University of Limerick. Brigitte got started in the industry in 2016 at Rathmore Stud under the tutelage of Peter Molony, before heading to Tally-Ho Stud in 2017 for the breeding and yearling season as part of her university placement. Since then, she worked for Baroda Stud and a number of sales consignors before starting the Godolphin Flying Start in 2020. During this time, she spent time with Stroud Coleman Bloodstock, Andrew Balding and Gai Waterhouse before beginning her role with Tally-Ho Stud. Along with her day to day role, Brigitte has begun breeding, consigning and pinhooking with her partner under the Mullinam House Stud banner.
Edmond Ryan
Weir View Stud
Edmond grew up on his family farm and also worked part time for numerous years in Camas Park while completing his Food &Agri-business degree at the University College Dublin. Since then, Edmond has gained valuable experience working both in Ireland and overseas, as well as being a graduate of both the Irish National Stud Thoroughbred Breeding Course, and more recently Godolphin Flying Start. He is currently working full time on his family farm where they are hoping to continue to build their consignment business.
Niall Scott
Coolmore Stud
Niall works at Coolmore Stud as part of the Sales & Nominations team. Since joining Coolmore in 2020, progressed in a variety of roles, from Stud Hand to Barn Manager to his current position. He has also shuttled with the Coolmore stallions during the Southern Hemisphere breeding seasons in 2022 and 2023. A graduate of the RACE Trainee Jockey course, Niall gained valuable experience working for several racehorse trainers before his time at Coolmore. Passionate about both the racing and bloodstock sides of the industry, he is actively involved in both breeding and pinhooking.
Conor Wixted
Senior Bloodstock Executive, Goffs
Conor Wixted is a member of the Goffs Bloodstock Team. He supports and assists vendors and clients with any queries, and helps with all sales related matters. Conor is also part of the inspection team and loves meeting breeders on their farms. Other responsibilities of his role include processing entries and nominations as well as grading pedigrees. Conor has experience as a breeder and a national hunt vendor. He hails from a showing background in Co. Clare and in 2019 he won the Teagasc and Horse Sport Ireland National Young Breeder Competition. Conor holds a BBS in Agribusiness and has just recently completed an MSc in Supply Chain Management.