About

Bryan Quilter

Bryan Qualified form UCD in 1989 and worked in equine practice before coming home and joining the practice. He is proud of the fact that as the practice expanded it maintained its friendly and caring attitude towards its clients, big and small as well as toward their owners. Bryan completed a diploma in Small Animal Medicine in 1996 and a diploma in Dairy Herd Health in 2016 and is about to do a diploma in Feline Medicine. Bryan spends his spare time reading and hillwalking with his gorgeous Labrador Choccy!

Margaret Hayes

Margaret , our practice Manager, is the longest standing member of Abbey Veterinary Centre. She has a degree in Social Care and has done numerous courses in Veterinary Sales and Pharmaceuticals. Margaret has responsibility for the financial running of the business and has a major role in pharmaceutical stock control, ensuring we always have the necessary medicines for our large and small animals. Margaret is always on hand to offer advice, whatever your query she will try to assist you in finding a solution. Her years of experience make her the go to person. She has a huge passion for all animals and is the proud owner of two beautiful dogs , Pixie and Bobbi and two fabulous cats, Ted and Tig!

Dermot Casey

Dermot graduated from UCD in 1977. He worked in Meath and Tipperary before returning to Kerry where he has worked since. He owned his own practice until he joined us in 2019. He has a love of handball and hill walking. He is the proud owner of Buddy the Springer, several well fed cats and some beautiful sheep.

Jennifer Sherlock

Jennifer graduated from Szent Istvan, University, Budapest in 2011. She worked for 3 years in the Midlands before moving to Kerry. She joined our team in 2016. She has a keen interest in herd health with a particular interest in calf health. She enjoys all aspects of small animal medicine especially soft tissue surgery and dermatology. Currently, she is undertaking a small animal dermatology certificate through Liverpool University. She has two dogs, Jackson who comes to work daily with her and Harry who helps run the farm at home.

Bernard Costello

Bernard graduated from UCD in 2017 and moved directly home to Kerry. He began in mixed animal practice in Killarney and remained there for five years. He secured a move closer to home with ourselves in October 2021. He has experienced various aspects of veterinary medicine and enjoys the variety that it provides. He is especially interested in large animal surgery, equine reproduction, lameness and clinical aspects in both small and large animal disease. He feels the social side of the profession, especially the craic, banter and equally empathy are an imperative part of his duties. He is the proud owner of Bailey, a 4 year old Cavachon who can be seen shadowing him most days acting more as a consultant rather than a pet. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his young family and if time allows a round of golf or ten.

Mike Fenton

Mike has been with the practice for around 22 years . He is a fountain of knowledge and enjoys the banter with the clients. He is always on hand to give advice. He is the proud owner of a beautiful cat Mowgli and two collies, Rover and Richie.

Mary O Connor

Mary joined the practice in 2006. Previous to that she worked for a number of years for John O Sullivan a veterinary surgeon based in Lixnaw. In her time with both practices she has completed numerous veterinary sales and pharmaceutical courses. She loves meeting the clients and the animals on a daily basis and helping them in any way she can. She is the proud owner of a dog called Bailey and a cat called Bella.

Allie Matthews

Allie joined Abbey Vets in January 2024 having graduated from St. John’s Central College in 2022.

Allie has a background in mixed practice and has an interest in feline medicine.
In her spare time Allie enjoys walking her two dogs Paddy & Ziggy and spending time with her five cats.

Patricia O’Keeffe/Morrissey

Patricia is from Castlemagner in Cork. She graduated from St. John’s Central College Cork in 2008. She travelled and worked in Australia, before she joined the team in Mallow in Acorn Vets where she was manager for 8.5 years. She then took on the role of head nurse in Sunbeam Veterinary Hospital for 4 years before locuming in mixed practice in Millstreet and then joining us in Tralee in January 2024.

Patricia loves the hands on approach of the job and nursing animals back to full health. She has a keen interest in dentistry and orthopedic surgery. She has a Cert in Oral Hygiene and hopes to study Analgesia further in the future.

Patricia has a keen interest in GAA but being a Cork woman discusses the hurling more than the football while here.

Pictured here with her bouncy Springer Spaniel, Darla.

Shauna Poff

Shauna is one of the newest members of our team at Abbey Veterinary Centre. She graduated from Gurteen Agricultural College in conjunction with Athlone IT in 2009 with a Higher Certificate in Business in Equine Studies.

Coming from a sheep farming background, Shauna has prior knowledge and experience something which has helped her adjust into her new role.

She has a huge interest in expanding her knowledge and looks forwards to availing of new
opportunities in Abbey Veterinary Centre.