Small Talk with TU Dublin’s lecturer in horticulture – Rachel Freeman
Rachel Freeman talks about advice she would give to someone just starting their career in the industry
Print29 January 2026
In association with ICL
At Growtrade, we’re running an interview series titled ‘Small Talk’, where we talk to various influential members of Ireland’s horticulture trade.
This week’s conversation is with a full-time lecturer in horticulture at Technological University Dublin – Rachel Freeman.
How did you first get involved in the horticulture sector?
I have always had a great love of nature and spent the majority of my childhood outdoors. My parents are part-time farmers and business people, grandparents on both sides were famers and keen gardeners. There was always work to be done growing up and I much preferred farming and garden work to anything indoors.
I spent many of my teenage summers in a local nursery and landscape business – Heneghans in Aghamore, Co. Mayo that was operated by husband and wife team Michael and Ita Heneghan (both deceased -RIP). They really nurtured my interest and encouraged me to apply for the Teagasc Diploma in Amenity horticulture at National Botanic Gardens. I joined Writtle college and gained my L8, returning to Ireland to work for the probation and welfare service teaching horticulture for several years to young offenders, young mothers and recovering addicts before joining ITB, now TU Dublin.
What was one of the proudest moments in your career to date?
It’s a great privilege to be a lecturer, to facilitate a students’ learning and guide them through their studies. Almost all of our students are working, making time for their education requires the careful balancing of personal and professional commitments. It is not just about the lecturing for me, help and support are key components enabling students to navigate their educational journey. Each year at graduation when the students cross the stage and receive their parchment, I am reminded of the work they have put in and the privilege it is to have been a part of their journey.
What was one of the greatest challenges you’ve faced in your career to date?
The pandemic stands out as the singularly biggest challenge of my career. There was a short window given to convert existing face to face materials for a wholly online delivery. I was lucky that the university had always provided a small amount of online learning to part-time students, so we were familiar with online delivery. Horticulture as a practical discipline gave rise to extra challenges, and meeting those required ingenuity and creativity from both student and lecturer.
This experience created awareness of the benefits of blended learning (a mix of face to face and online) options. We have consolidated timetables and reduced the amount of time that a student needs to be on campus; a really welcome advancement in education provision when set against a backdrop of a lack of affordable accommodation, increased commuter traffic and the rise in the cost of living.
Could you give us an example of a recent success you had in your work?
I was delighted to find research carried out by myself and colleague Dr Francis Mc Geough on community gardens quoted by Sylvia Thompson in the Irish Times recently.
In this role there is a lot of collaborative working, and this second success is a team effort. During 2025, working as part of the team of TU Dublin Horticulture lecturers including Michael Hagan and Ciarnad Ryan, we reviewed, updated and revalidated our programmes. I have to commend people in industry, our horticulture graduates and current students for their extensive input into the process. It resulted in a new two year part-time add on L7 programme which provides a progression route for people who have completed the QQI L6 horticulture apprenticeship to progress to a L7 BSc Horticulture while remaining in their employment.
As I understand it, we are currently the only provider of a part time add on L7 and L8 programmes, which means those in employment with a QQI 6 in horticulture can study their BSc Horticulture L7 part-time and those with a QQI 7 in horticulture can study their BSc (hons) Horticulture L8 part-time.
What are the greatest challenges facing the industry today?
Finding enough passionate enthusiastic young people to join horticulture is a huge challenge for the industry currently.
When I think about the number of times over the years I have said: ‘I am a Horticulturist’ and then had to go on to explain what that is, and what I do. I firmly believe the term horticulture is not widely understood and our profession is hidden. I believe there are many reasons why that is, central is that many young people have limited exposure to horticulture. Sadly, because of the lack of understanding of horticulture, what little exposure they may encounter, they do not perceive it to be, or name it as horticulture.
As a result, I believe that despite being a generation concerned about climate change, sustainability and the environment, and many looking to choose a career that makes a difference, the connections aren’t being made to roles in horticulture.
What are the greatest opportunities facing the industry today?
We have the opportunity to generate interest in our profession. I believe that horticulture has something to interest everyone. As an industry we have a lot of the answers to current challenges facing society and we should seize the opportunity to demonstrate that horticulturists are among the people working on climate mitigation strategies, responding to the biodiversity crisis, and implementing sustainability measures.
I joined the working group for the Horticulture Education Review 2025 carried out by DAFM as part of the national strategy for horticulture 2023-2027 helping shape a detailed report on what needs to be done to turn things around in terms of perceptions and exposure for roles in horticulture. It remains an opportunity that needs to be capitalised to see more young people joining this sector.
What advice would you give to someone just starting their career?
As horticulturists we have the privilege of leaving a positive lasting legacy on the natural environment and urban environment. This is a really diverse industry and no matter the area you choose to specialise in, you can have a really satisfying and rewarding career.
In the beginning, gain experience, try several areas and find one that you are most passionate about. Increase your exposure to that area, this can be prior to, during and after your studies. It is easy to follow the money, particularly when you’re young and starting out; yet always keep foremost in your mind, experiences with, and mentorship from, good people, are key for your early career and better than a big pay cheque at an early stage.
Finally, remember that qualifications matter in the long run in terms of career progression, skill and experience only get you so far. In my experience, a level 8 honours degree is the base line qualification for anyone looking to progress their career currently.
What are your hopes for the future of Irish horticulture?
Irish horticulture has huge potential, and as per the one of the main points of the horticulture education review 2025 reports, it needs a campaign to highlight the possibilities. ‘If you can’t see it, you can’t be it’, we need to see horticulture highlighted.
I hope that in the years to come the discipline is better understood by the general public, parents and by school guidance counsellors and that as a result we see an influx of really interested young people who see it’s potential as a fulfilling rewarding career option. The gains for our profession and the industry as a whole will follow.
Small Talk is produced in association with ICL, a world-renowned leader in agriculture, food, industrial products, and a top global producer of specialised fertilisers.
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© 2026, Growtrade.ie by Patryk Goron
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