Meet our Team
John Russell
Clinical Director
MVB Cert GPCert (Derm)John is from Tullyallen in Drogheda and graduated from University College Dublin (UCD) in 1984. Before joining our team, he spent time working as a house surgeon for UCD, and in mixed and small animal practices in Cork, Castlebar and England. His special interests include small animal medicine, surgery and dermatology.
Gráinne Lawless
Practice Manager
RVN PGCertVBMOriginally from Donore, Gráinne graduated in 1999, and has been part of our team since 1997. After 25 years as our head nurse, she became our practice manager in 2023. She has a special interest in pharmacology and enjoys reading, catching up with family and looking after her pets.
Jasone Elorza
Senior Veterinary Surgeon
LDABorn and raised in Bilbao in Spain, Jasone graduated from the University of Zaragoza in Spain in 1990 and has a passion for small animal surgery and feline medicine. After working in various small animal practices in Middlesbrough, Leeds, Manchester and Dublin, she lectured in anesthesiology at University College Dublin and joined us in 1998.
Julie Gillis
Veterinary Surgeon
MVBJulie is from Wicklow and graduated from University College Dublin in 2015. After taking some time off to travel, she joined our team in 2016, and has since developed a keen interest in soft tissue surgery. When she’s not working, she likes to play board games with her friends and spend time with Mouse and Frog, her two cats.
Yarden Schlosberg
Veterinary Surgeon
MVBYarden graduated from University College Dublin in 2015. He joined our team in 2021 and has a special interest in farm work. In his free time, he enjoys outdoor activities, cooking, eating and spending time with his family and their Shetland sheepdog, Teddy.
Niamh Brady
Veterinary Surgeon
MVBNiamh studied veterinary bioscience at university and previously worked as a laboratory scientist. She joined us in 2022 and has a particular interest in microbiology. Outside of work, she is kept busy with her horse, DJ, who she competes with in amateur showjumping events, and her cat, Fred.
Desré Daly
Veterinary Surgeon
Desré joined the Laytown Veterinary Clinic team on the 8th of September 2021. Previously, Desré worked in 4 other practices over the last 10 years, 3 of which were mixed practice and one was in a rehoming shelter for dogs, as she has a keen interest in shelter medicine. Desré enjoys small animal soft tissue surgery, diagnostic imaging, and medicine, as she learns something new every day. She also has a keen interest in exotic animal medicine, owning 3 dogs, 2 cats, an African Grey, Love bird, Cockatiel and 2 terrapins herself.
In her spare time, Desré enjoys playing the guitar and piano, going to the cinema, going out for dinner, and swimming, with her kids, family, and friends.
Margaret Hanratty
Head Nurse
RVNMargaret has been with us since 1999 and has a special interest in exotic pets and orthopaedics. She is originally from Drogheda and graduated in 2003.
Susan Corr
Veterinary Nurse
RVNSusan has been with us since 2007 and graduated from the Dundalk Institute of Technology in 2012. Her interests include anaesthesia, diagnostics and secondary intention wound healing. When she’s not working, she loves spending time with family, catching up with friends, looking after dog and best friend Bucky, or unwinding with a good series or film.
Denise Murray
Veterinary Nurse
RVNDenise has a passion for assisting with orthopaedic and soft tissue surgery and joined our team in 2007. When she’s not hard at work at our practice, she enjoys swimming, dog grooming and walking her dogs, Chase and Sky.
Aedín Cosgrove
Veterinary Nurse
RVNAedín joined us in 2013, and graduated from the Dundalk Institute of Technology the following year. Her interests include pain management, analgesia, intensive care and feline medicine. When she’s not taking care of her own two cats, Báinne and Betty Davis, she enjoys seeing live music, going to the cinema, gardening and travelling.
Siobhán Carroll
Veterinary Nurse
RVNOriginally from Togher in County Louth, Siobhan graduated from the Dundalk Institute of Technology in 2019 and joined us shortly after. Her special interests are anaesthesia and surgical nursing.
Aoife Foran
Veterinary Nurse
RVNAoife grew up in Baltray and has a passion for radiography and general nursing. She graduated from the Dundalk Institute of Technology in 2019, and joined our team a year later.
Roisín Dixon Treacy
Veterinary Nurse
RVNRoisin is from Derry and has worked in various practices across Derry and Leinster. She joined our team in 2009 and loves interacting with our clients and their pets. She has a special interest in dentistry, nutrition and emergency and critical care, and enjoys horse riding and spending quality time with her family, her race horse and two Chihuahuas.
Joseph Larkin
Veterinary Nurse
RVNAfter graduating in 2012, Joseph spent time working in various small animal practices and at a veterinary hospital in Toronto. He has been with us since 2021 and has a keen interest in medical nursing, exotics and patient care. His hobbies include travelling, visiting new places and walking his dogs, Millie and Chips.
Anne Mc Cormack
Veterinary Nurse
RVNAfter graduating in 2011, Anne gained experience in small animal and mixed practices and a referral veterinary hospital in Belfast, before joining our team in 2018. As a mother of three boys she enjoys a busy life outside of work, and likes spending time with family, friends and her cavalier King Charles spaniel, Mr Charles.
Kate Russell
Animal Care Assistant
Kate joined our team in 2021 and is currently a veterinary student at University College Dublin. Her favourite part of her job is working with animals and developing skills for her university course. When she’s not busy studying or working, she enjoys playing and coaching football and spending time with her dogs and cats.
Emma Graham
Student Veterinary Nurse
Emma is a student at the Dundalk Institute of Technology and joined our practice after completing a placement with us. She enjoys getting the chance to develop new skills and work alongside our friendly team, and was inspired to train as a registered veterinary nurse after adopting her dog, Lily, from a shelter.
Jade Campbell
Student Veterinary Nurse
Jade joined our team in 2020, while completing the first year of her veterinary nursing course at the Dundalk Institute of Technology. Her favourite part of her role is caring for patients, as she has a keen interest in emergency and critical care. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, travelling and walking her Yorkshire terrier, Piper.
Sophie Pentony
Animal Care Assistant
Sophie joined our team in 2022 and will start her veterinary medicine course at University College Dublin in 2023. Her favourite parts of her role are small animal medicine and getting to see our patients recover. Outside of work, she enjoys running, cooking, reading, riding her horse and looking after her German shepherds, Aidel and Zola.
Martina Branigan
Secretary
Martina joined the team as a small animal care assistant in 2009, and now works as our secretary. She has three dogs at home called Neko, Ripley and Obi, and is a qualified makeup artist and adept wig and costume maker, which she puts to good use when doing charity work.
Sarah Smith
Receptionist
Sarah worked at a doctors before joining our team in 2022. Her favourite part of her job is getting to meet local animals and their owners, and when she’s not working she enjoys eating out and meeting her friends for coffee.
Debbie Matthews
Administrator
Debbie joined our team in 2020, and enjoys a varied role that sees her work on reception, in our shop and with accounts. When she’s not working, she is kept busy with her family and their Labrador, Daisy.
Louise Maguire
Louise has been with our practice since we first opened, and her interests include TB testing and office management. Outside of work, she loves spending time with her family.
Gráinne Rafferty
Gráinne has been part of our team since 2006, and loves tackling new challenges and liaising with clients and colleagues. She has two Jack Russells and four cats at home, and enjoys travelling, reading and cooking.
