Our Team
Exciting news…..GoreyBrayvet are pleased to tell you that we have a great experienced vet, ANDREW BYRNE, working with us over the next few months, helping us with our busy appointment and surgery schedule.
Pet owners know Andrew as a gentle, compassionate, knowledgeable veterinary surgeon with over 35 years of experience.
Andrew’s veterinary career started in 1985 when he qualified from UCD Dublin. He went on to practice in Connemara and in the UK, returning in 1992 to Blacklion/ Bray.
He was a partner in BrayVet with Pete Wedderburn and Nicola Neumann, where he practised for over thirty years.
Andrew began a special interest in further education in surgery, with a particular focus on orthopaedics, in the early 1990s.
He has a particular interest in knee surgeries, osteoarthritis and pain management and is an RCVS advanced Practitioner in surgery. Andrew is passionate about the advances in both pain management and orthopaedics for companion animals.
Andrew is now working in GoreyBrayvet undertaking medicine and surgery, particularly orthopaedic surgery. We are delighted that Andrew is joining our practice and that the pets in our care will have the opportunity to have a vet experienced in orthopaedic surgery and mobility issues on hand in GoreyBrayVet without the need for further referral. For further information, see our STAFF page.
You will be greeted with warm smiles when you arrive at Reception by our Receptionists Katie and Ellie. You may also be met by our veterinary nurses Karen, Sophie and Shannon who are often in the Waiting Room carrying out veterinary nurse consults.
Our staff of veterinary council registered veterinary nurses, veterinary surgeons and support staff as follows:
Karen Walsh RVN
Karen has been a valued member of our team since January 2022. She qualified in 2015 with a Bachelor of Science in Veterinary Nursing and spent six years working as an equine nurse, followed by a further year in mixed practice, gaining extensive experience across a wide range of veterinary care.
Karen particularly enjoys anaesthesia, radiography, and bandaging. She is always happy to help with all your small animal needs. She works Monday to Thursday and is dedicated to providing compassionate, professional care for both you and your pet.
Karen is currently studying Canine Massage Therapy and looks forward to offering this additional service at Gorey Bray Veterinary Clinic in the near future.
Martha Hopkins Dog Groomer
Martha has been grooming since 2002. She began her training in one of Dublin’s busiest grooming salons where it wasn’t unusual to see 20 dogs each day.
In 2005 Martha managed another busy salon where she built up a large clientele over 11 years. Since moving to GoreyBrayVet, some of her clients have been making the trip from Dublin to have their dogs groomed.
Martha has a very calm approach to grooming and always has the dog’s best interest at heart. In her spare time, Martha enjoys the outdoors, walking, kayaking, wildlife photography and drawing. She is passionate about rescue and shares her home with dogs and cats adopted from various shelters. With GBV since its birth.
Nicola Neumann MVB MRCVS Grad Dip Business Management MACVSc Cat Medicine
Nicola has a wealth of experience and some people now living around Gorey remember meeting her as a student at her fathers practice in Stillorgan. She has worked in Calgary Canada where she started her own practice in 1986, until being invited to work at the University Of Melbourne at their new emergency centre and ICU from 1993-1997.Coming back to Dublin she realized the need for a dedicated emergency hospital for cats and dogs and eventually was instrumental in opening the Dublin Animal Emergency Clinic in 2003 During that time she also worked with Pete Wedderburn and Andrew Byrne in their progressive small animal practice, Brayvet and in 2003 she became a partner .
Nicola is passionate about her profession and her patients. She has a special affinity for cats and started one of the first Cats Only clinics in Ireland at Brayvet with its own unique waiting room, cat ward and consult room. Nicola works for you and your cat and dog at GoreyBrayvet on Monday, Thursday, Friday mornings
and some Saturdays.
Paddy the 14 year old Springer Spaniel (still bouncing with Andrew Byrne’s orthopedic expertise) and Duffy and Drew, the Welshies and Miss Iris Murdoch the one eyed cat are in charge of Nicola at home
Niamh O’Reilly Dog Groomer
Niamh joined Goreybrayvet and Martha, our experienced groomer in the Spring 2023. When she finished her TAFTE course and was introduced to dog grooming in 2016, she realised that she could not imagine doing anything else. For Niamh, the most important part of grooming is a dogs welfare and comfort over anything else. Making them look cute is just an extra bonus.
When she isn’t grooming, Niamh enjoys keeping fit, reading and walking her little Yorkshire Terrier.
Sophie O Callaghan RVN
Sophie graduated as a veterinary nurse from UCD in 2022. Since then, she has been enjoying working in small animal practices and has been eager to expand her knowledge and skills. She enjoys getting to know the community and their pets on a personal level and providing a comfortable environment for their cats and dogs when they are with us.
Outside of work, she continues to show her passion for pets through her artwork. Sophie spends most of her time drawing pet portraits. She also loves long walks on the beach with her best friend Maggie, pictured here with her.
Andrew Byrne MVB Pg Cert SAS MRCVS RCVS Advanced Practitioner (Surgery)
Andrew’s colleagues in Ireland know him for his reputation as a vet dedicated to advancing the veterinary profession in the best interests of companion animals.
His veterinary career started in 1985 when he qualified from UCD Dublin. He went on to practice in Connemara and in the UK, returning in 1992 to Blacklion/ Bray. He was a partner in BrayVet with Pete Wedderburn and Nicola Neumann, where he practised for over thirty years.
Andrew began a special interest in further education in surgery with a special interest in orthopaedics in the early 1990s. He has a particular interest in knee surgeries, osteoarthritis and pain management and is an RCVS advanced Practitioner in surgery.
Andrew has always been passionate about keeping pets active and happy, enjoying what they like to do best with their owners throughout their whole lives. He is now continuing this passion in GoreyBrayvet undertaking general medicine and surgery.
Kate O’Neill MVB
Kate is another one of our experienced veterinarians who is dedicated in attention to all details regarding your pet. She is known to many of you for years in County Wexford before she started working with us when the practice opened in Gorey in 2017. She is a busy vet and mother and works all day Tuesdays and Wednesdays and once a month on Saturday mornings.
Jen Ward, DVM Veterinary Surgeon
Jen has always loved animals. While she initially studied Psychology and worked abroad for five years, she realized that her vocation was with animals and began a new career path in veterinary medicine. Jen is lovely with your pet cat and dogs – but will look out for rabbits and tiny pets as well. She is really good at explaining the health and wellbeing for our client’s family pets. She is developing a special interest with her skills in surgery and is joining a team that exacts high standards of clinical and surgical skills.
Ellie Myler Receptionist/ACA
Ellie has been a valued member of the GoreyBrayVet team since 2024, bringing a warm welcome to clients at the front desk and compassionate care behind the scenes. With a lifelong passion for animals, she combines her love for pets with a strong commitment to supporting both clients and their furry companions. At home, Ellie is kept busy by her two dogs, Ralph and Belle, and her cat, Sonnet — all of whom inspire her dedication to animal care every day.
Shannon Maher RVN
Shannon is a Registered Veterinary Nurse who graduated from DKIT in 2024. She has been with Gorey Bray Vet since 2020, starting as a receptionist and Animal Care Assistant while working her way through college. Shannon loves working with both cats and dogs, and she is passionate about making every visit a positive experience for pets and their people. In her free time, she enjoys reading and going for walks with her recently adopted lurcher, Frank.
Katie Monahan Receptionist
Katie brings a fun mix of childcare know-how and compliance experience to the reception desk. She makes everyone feel welcome. Katie loves getting to know every pet that comes through the door at GoreyBrayVet and aims to make each visit as friendly and stress-free as possible for our patients.
At home, Katie has her own little zoo: Buddy the big softie Black Lab, Mona the mischievous GSD puppy, her cats Nala and Snowball, and a very opinionated flock of chickens. A lifelong animal lover, Katie also runs a small dog-minding service.
Aoife Linehan RVN
Aoife graduated as a veterinary nurse from the Dundalk Institute of Technology in 2025. Since graduating, Aoife has taken on extra studies at DkIT to further develop her knowledge and skills as a registered veterinary nurse.
Aoife has loved animals all her life and enjoys making sure the animals in her care feel clean, safe and comfortable, treating them with the same patience and kindness as she does her own pets.
In her free time, Aoife enjoys staying active and walking her two dogs Daisy and Alfie across the Wicklow mountains.