Keir McNamara holds a B. Sc. Agr Science and Ph.D. in Agriculture from UCD. He was a student of the year award recipient in his final year following the practical work he undertook an arid agronomy techniques in Western Australia in 1997 from where he wrote a series of articles published in the Farmers Journal. He went on to be awarded a post graduate Walsh Fellowship by the Royal Dublin Society and was a research scientist with Teagasc writing over 35 peer reviewed papers and publications while also completing his Ph.D in the years working there. On return to Clare he held positons in Shannon Comprehensive School and Coláiste Mhuire, Ennis teaching Biology, Chemistry, Ag Science, Maths, Junior cert. Science, and LCA Horticulture. He also corrected Leaving Cert. Hons Biology papers for a number of years.  Keir has been teaching Leaving Cert. Agricultural Science consecutively for many years now in Kilmartins. Many of his students are now in turn Ag. Science teachers, veterinarians and Ag science degree holders themselves