Meet the Team
At Cottage Veterinary Clinic, we take immense pride in our compassionate, skilled, and dedicated team. Every member of our staff is committed to providing the highest standard of care for your beloved pets. From our experienced veterinary surgeons to our nurturing nurses and friendly support staff, we work together to ensure that each visit to our clinic is a positive experience for both you and your pets. Our team’s diverse expertise ranges from advanced diagnostics and surgery to pain management, dermatology, and geriatric care. We strive to stay at the forefront of veterinary medicine through continued education and training, allowing us to offer a wide range of services tailored to meet the unique needs of every animal. Whether it's a routine health check or an urgent medical concern, you can trust our team to treat your pets with the same care and attention we would give our own. Learn more about the dedicated individuals who make Cottage Veterinary Clinic a trusted name in pet care.
Vet Team:
Nóirín Ní Shimidh
Nóirín graduated from UCD in 1988 and then worked in Cornwall, Wales and Northern Ireland for 10 years, gaining a post graduate qualification in diagnostic imaging along the way.
She joined the practice when she came home in 1998 and within a few years took over the running of the clinic. Over the following decade she developed the practice and built our current modern purpose built veterinary clinic which opened its doors in 2009. Nóirín is particularly interested in pain management, the detective work of internal medicine, dermatology and dentistry.
Her main hobby is veterinary medicine so much of her spare time is spent studying and investigating new ideas. But she also enjoys running and orienteering – although her version looks a lot like getting lost in the woods……
Karen Piggott
Karen followed her lifelong dream and graduated as a veterinary surgeon from UCD, Dublin in 2008. She spent the next 6 years gaining valuable experience in small animal practice in both the UK and Ireland before joining the team here in 2014. Her passion and skills for caring for animals continued to grow and in 2019 she joined Nóirín as a partner in the veterinary clinic. Together they manage and run the clinic day-to-day while doing what they love best – caring for the pets of the community.
Karen has a particular interest in surgery, dermatology, pain management and behaviour. She is Fear Free certified and is working on a new initiative to reduce the stress and anxiety for pets coming to the vet clinic.
Sarah Conboy
Sarah qualified as a vet from UCD in 2014 and moved straight to Kildare working in mixed practice for 5 years. She then joined the team at Cottage Vets in 2019. She enjoys ultrasonography, dermatology and working up medical cases. She has a keen interest in cardiology and has undertaken further courses in this area.
Currently she is near completing a certificate in cardiology which will add to the overall services we can provide in this area. She also enjoys helping run the clinics social media pages. She is owner to her exuberant rescue French Bulldog Lloyd. In her spare time you’ll find Sarah in the gym or watching football.
Barbara Ni Fhatharta
Barbara graduated as a veterinary surgeon from UCD in 2013. Since then she has spent many years in mixed practice, as well as lecturing in Veterinary Nursing. Barbara is passionate about geriatric care, specifically pain management in older animals, where we aim to preserve and enhance the quality of life of our older friends. Her main interest is in surgery, where she has done many additional courses to further her surgical capabilities and offerings over recent years.
Outside of work she enjoys spending time with her dog Síle and cat Betty; and of course she loves getting home to the Aran islands any chance she can.
Marie Lawlor
Marie graduated from the University of Glasgow in 2011. She worked in small animal practice in the UK and Ireland for 11 years before joining the Cottage team in 2022.Working with animals has always been her passion, which she discovered at a young age while helping out on the family farm in Kildare.
She enjoys the challenge of medical cases but also has a keen interest in ophthalmology, dermatology, dentistry and is currently developing her skills in ultrasonography and soft tissue surgery through numerous courses.
At home Marie enjoys an active life. She is a keen horse rider and loves exploring the outdoors with her two kids, husband and dog Penny. Otherwise she is busy minding her two ponies or planning a self-build.
Sarah Murphy
Sarah is from the US and graduated from UCD in 2019. She returned home and gained a strong foundation in small animal medicine while working in New York and Connecticut. She missed Ireland so much she moved back in 2022 and practiced in Limerick before joining the team at Cottage. She enjoys preventative medicine, diagnostics and client education.
She is also interested in further developing her surgical and imaging skills. She has three senior dogs: Ollivander, Gizmo and Milo. She loves traveling, trying different foods and being active.
Róisín Mc Eniry
Róisín qualified from UCD with honours in 2002. She was sure from the outset that she wanted to follow a clinical pathway in small animal medicine and surgery and pursued that in the UK, where she spent time in practices in Gatehead and Somerset before settling in the Bristol and Chelthenham area. There she set up and ran her own emergency clinic for six years then continued in general practice in the UK before coming home to Ireland in 2015. She then worked initially as a locum vet before joining the Cottage team in 2016.
Róisín has a special interest in problem solving, geriatric and emergency care, and preventative healthcare. She lives in Laois with her family including her rescue Jack Russell cross Delilah.
Jennifer Irving-McGrath
Jennifer graduated from the University of Edinburgh with a distinction in 2014. After gaining valuable experience in small animal general practice in both England and Scotland, she pursued a PhD in Feline Genetics and Genomics, at the University of Edinburgh’s Small Animal Hospital and the Roslin Institute. Her research was published in the journal Genes.
Upon completing her PhD, Jennifer worked in a busy small animal practice in Scotland before returning home to Kildare, where she currently enjoys working as a locum vet for Cottage Vet Clinic. She has a strong interest in feline and canine internal medicine, with a particular passion for caring for geriatric patients.
Outside of veterinary medicine, Jennifer enjoys exploring culinary experiences, traveling, and spending quality time with her little old Chihuahua, Mia.
Veterinary Nurse Team:
Clíona O Toole
Clíona began working as a student veterinary nurse in 2000 before gaining her qualification from the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons in the UK in 2005. She joined the team at Cottage Vet Clinic in January 2011 after gaining experience in small animal, equine and mixed practice, both here and in the UK. Over the years Clíona has used her experience to mentor our newer qualified nurses and stepped into the role of Head Nurse when our team expanded.
Clíona is especially interested in in-patient care and anaesthesia and is currently studying to obtain a certificate in Anaesthesia.
Clíona has a 14 year old Border Collie called Tango. Her hobbies include photography, hiking and travelling.
Shauna Doyle
Shauna graduated in 2014 after studying Veterinary Nursing in Dundalk Institute of Technology. She has gained valuable experience working as a small animal veterinary nurse in practices around Kildare since. Shauna has a special interest in dentistry and laboratory work.
Shauna has no pets yet but has a big soft spot for greyhounds and lurchers and hopes to add one to her family in the future.
When she is not working Shauna spends most of her time playing Gaelic football and camogie for her local club Moorefield GAA.
Aisling Chester
Aisling started with us part time in 2020 and completed her honours Veterinary Nursing degree in Letterkenny IT in 2021, after which she joined the team full time. She enjoys all aspects of nursing especially consulting where she gets to meet the clients and their pets. She also looks after our students when they come here on work experience.
Aisling comes from Co. Laois and she loves walking in the countryside with her energetic collie Kevin who she adopted from the clinic. In her spare time Aisling enjoys swimming and going to the gym.
Keelin Murray
Keelin graduated as a registered veterinary nurse in 2018. She loves all aspects of nursing but particularly enjoys a busy day in surgery. Caring for each patient as soon as they are admitted, throughout their procedure and aiming to make them as comfortable as possible in recovery. She has a certificate in emergency and critical care and in particular enjoys the advanced care these patients need.
Outside of work she loves to go on walks and hikes with her husband Stephen and crazy staffie Esko. She also enjoys the gym, training and competing in triathlons and reading to relax!
Bridget Hayes
Bridget qualified as a veterinary nurse in the UK and after 7 years working near London, the time was right to come home to Ireland. Since then she has worked in Dublin and Kildare, including 8 amazing years working as part of the veterinary team in Dublin Zoo where she also completed a Diploma in Management of Zoo and Aquatic Animals.
Bridget joined us as a locum veterinary nurse in 2022 and quickly became a part of the team and never left! She has a family at home, 4 cats and 2 dogs and she also offers small animal boarding for small furries and birds from a Portakabin in her garden.
Holly Hammond
Holly joined the team in 2023 as a student veterinary nurse after completing college placement in the clinic earlier in the year. She balances her time working in the clinic with her studies in UCD where she will graduate as a veterinary nurse in 2025.
She enjoys all aspects of veterinary nursing but has a special interest in critical and in-patient care. Outside of this she has a passion for Irish dancing and loves spending time with family, friends and her dog Rémy.
Support Team:
Anne Mc Grath
Anne is originally from Clare, and has lived in Newbridge for the past 30 years. Anne grew up on a farm, and this farming background led to an interest in animal care and welfare.
Anne has been a member of the team at Cottage Vets for the past 10 years and is responsible for the business accounts, as well as working in all aspects of office administration.
Martha Behan
Martha has worked as our receptionist since 2015 and has a passion for helping people and animals. She is on reception to welcome everyone on arrival.
Outside work she is kept busy with her family made up of her husband, four children and six grandchildren. She loves walking, reading, crochet and travelling. Her pets include 5 dogs, two cats, 2 rabbits, ducks, chickens and a guinea pig.
Patricia Higgins
Patricia joined the practice as a receptionist in 2022. She has a passion for animals, and loves meeting and greeting the clients and their pets as they come through our doors. At home she has four dogs, one cat, two guinea pigs and a turtle.
Sandra Dempsey
Sandra joined us in 2024 part time as the clinic and office cleaner. However her bubbly personality was so contagious that we soon asked her to join our reception team too so you will also see Sandra welcoming you and your pet into the clinic. She is a big animal lover and has her own Jack Russell Star and a cat called Ted. She lives locally with her husband and son and likes to go for long walks, knit and cook for her family and friends in her spare time.
Síle Whelan
Síle comes from Dunlavin. Her love of animals drew her to the clinic at a young age when she started working Saturdays and the summer months before joining the team full time in 2005.
Over the years she has gained extensive experience caring for the animals while also gaining the responsibility for a broad range of tasks the keep the practice running including stock management, invoicing and drug ordering.
Her hobbies include skiing, running and cycling. She has a rescue cat called Pinky.
Karyn Gilroy
After raising her family, Karyn went back to study Animal Care in 2022. She joined the team in 2023 as an Animal Care Assistant. She assists the vets and nurses by monitoring patients, infection control and handling animals safely during procedures. She looks after the animals making sure they are kept clean, fed and exercised. She also makes sure they are comfortable during their stay and gives extra cuddles where needed! In her spare time, she likes to spend time with her family, 7 dogs and 5 horses.
Stella
Stella came into us as a stray in 2015 after getting hit by a car. She had serious injuries but we cared for her at the clinic. Sadly we had to amputate her beautiful tail but she made a great recovery. During that time we all grew so attached to her cheeky nature that we couldn’t let her go and she has remained a part of the Cottage Vet Team since.
Stella’s favourite thing to do is to curl up on any warm spot she finds especially unattended heat pads! She also loves to “help” with the paperwork….
