Elected
on the first count at the European Elections in June 2004 Mairead
McGuinness secured a massive one out of every four votes cast in
the East constituency.
A well-known
journalist, broadcaster and commentator she was the first woman
to qualify in the discipline of Agriculture Economics at UCD. When
local radio was in its infancy she presented a half hour programme
- the FBD Farm Show on LMFM. Her stint on local radio coincided
with her time as a news reporter with the Irish Farmers Journal.
She went
on to present the Ear to the Ground series on RTE television. The
aptly named programme focused on local, national and European policies
and how they were likely to affect the daily lives of individuals
throughout the length and breadth of the country. Issues were examined
forensically, brought to their essential core, and communicated,
always with the consumer's best interest at heart.
The
world's most interesting and innovative models of operation
and practices were frequently introduced into Irish living rooms
through the series.
Mairead
travelled extensively covering both the EU and the US to report
on food, farming and environmental issues of interest to an Irish
audience.
During the
series, Mairead also became Agricultural Editor of the Irish Independent.
She later presented the very successful Celebrity Farm on RTE and
in November 2004 she was presented with a special award by AIB for
her outstanding contribution to agricultural journalism.
Mairead on a visit to NUIM.
Commenting
on the award, Michael Dowling, Head of Agri Strategy at AIB, said:
"Mairead McGuinness has made an outstanding contribution to
agricultural journalism. As the driving force behind two of agriculture's
leading media titles, Mairead has been to the forefront of agricultural
and rural affairs journalism. Her success in introducing agricultural
matters to a wider rural, and many urban audiences is particularly
noteworthy."
Mairead
serves on the EU Parliament's Agriculture and Rural Development Committee
and also on the Budget and Petitions Committees.
A pet hate of Mairead's is time wasting. She feels that time management
is an essential skill in a modern enterprising economy and says that
her own training in the subject with the Irish Farmers Journal has
been hugely beneficial to her in her career to date.
People
meeting her on the European election trail were struck by her quick
wit and ability to laugh at herself. Many still remember the days
when as researcher on the Late Late Show she came before the cameras
to model an intriguing jumper in a tumbling blocks design - a jumper
she knit herself!
Mairead chaired the Guild of Agricultural journalists for two terms.
A former Chairperson of the Consumer Liaison Panel of the Department
of Agriculture and Food she is Secretary of the Parents Association
of Newtown National School in Co. Meath. She is married to Tom Duff
and the couple has four children, twins Orlaith and James, Áine and
Cathal.
Elected
on the first count at the European Elections in June 2004 Mairead
McGuinness secured a massive one out of every four votes cast in
the East constituency.
People
meeting her on the European election trail were struck by her quick
wit and ability to laugh at herself. Many still remember the days
when as researcher on the Late Late Show she came before the cameras
to model an intriguing jumper in a tumbling blocks design - a jumper
she knit herself!