Damien McDonald takes lead role, as IFA cuts executive pay

Newly appointed IFA chief executive Damien McDonald will earn a basic salary of €185,350 – significantly less than the €535,000 pay package of his predecessor, former IFA general secretary Pat Smith.

Mr McDonald, 44, is chief executive of Horse Sport Ireland, the governing body for the sport horse sector in Ireland. Prior to this he was CEO of Macra na Feirme from 2001 to 2007.

He also previously worked for the IFA from 1999 to 2001 in the position of livestock services manager where he worked in the areas of direct payments and animal health.