MINISTER MARTIN HEYDON CONFIRMS APPOINTMENT OF DENIS BEARY TO THE BOARD OF RÁSAÍOCHT CON ÉIREANN

GRI

Rásaíocht Con Éireann (RCÉ) has welcomed confirmation from the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon TD, to RCÉ Chairman that Mr Denis Beary MVB CertVA CertCSM CertESM has been appointed to the Board of RCÉ.

Mr Beary brings a wealth of veterinary, industry and governance experience to the Board, with a distinguished career spanning more than three decades in veterinary medicine, canine sports medicine and animal welfare.

A graduate of University College Dublin's Veterinary College, Denis qualified as a veterinary surgeon in 1990. Following periods in mixed veterinary practice in the United Kingdom and Australia, he established a highly respected career specialising in greyhound and canine sports medicine. He later took over a veterinary practice in the UK before returning to Ireland in 2004, where he continued to develop specialist services for greyhounds and sporting dogs. 

Denis is the founder of the Canine Sports Medicine Clinic and Church Meadows Veterinary, practices recognised for their expertise in canine performance and welfare. He is a qualified veterinary acupuncturist, having completed IVAS veterinary acupuncture training through Exeter University in 2001, and continues to incorporate sports medicine and rehabilitation techniques into his daily veterinary work. 

He has also played a significant role in veterinary education and professional development. Denis was one of the originators of UCD's Postgraduate Certificate in Canine Sports Medicine, contributing to both the online and practical delivery of the programme. He subsequently completed postgraduate qualifications in both Canine Sports Medicine and Equine Sports Medicine, bringing a multidisciplinary perspective to animal health and performance. 

In addition, Denis has extensive experience in industry oversight and animal welfare. He has served as one of the external members of the RCÉ's Scientific Committee, advising on scientific best practice in areas such as drug testing, and has been actively involved in greyhound welfare initiatives through Veterinary Ireland's welfare committee.

Welcoming the appointment, RCÉ Chairman Pat Flanagan said, "I am delighted to welcome Denis Beary to the Board of Rásaíocht Con Éireann. Denis brings an exceptional breadth of veterinary expertise, practical industry knowledge and a lifelong commitment to animal welfare. His experience in canine sports medicine, greyhound health and scientific governance will be a tremendous asset to the Board as we continue to advance the highest standards of welfare, integrity and sustainability across the greyhound racing sector."