About Bluestack Veterinary Clinic
Bluestack Veterinary Clinic has been the dream of John and Kathryn for many years. They have always wanted to establish a family run mixed practice with traditional values. They hope to deliver personal, compassionate and quality veterinary care, tailored to the needs of every client.
The surgery in Donegal town is state of the art and purpose built. It has all the modern equipment needed for practicing veterinary medicine to an extremely high standard. We have two consulting rooms, full surgical suite, digital radiography, ultrasonography, dentistry equipment, in-house blood machines and a full laboratory.
After the success in Donegal Town, Kathryn and John opened a branch practice in Ballybofey in January 2024. This practice is situated on the outskirts of Ballybofey town. The practice is well equipped with a range of equipment such as digital radiography, a dental machine, ultrasonography and surgical theatre.
The Veterinary Surgeons alternates between both practices, catering for all of our client’s needs, including our small animal, farm and equine patients.
John McAloon
Veterinary Surgeon
John has always had a passion for animals and a love of farming, so pursuing a career in Veterinary Medicine seemed to be the obvious choice! John first graduated from Mountbellew Agricultural College 2008 with a degree in Agriculture and Business and then went on to graduate from the University of Veterinary medicine in Slovakia in 2014. Since then, he has followed his love of farming and veterinary all over the UK and more recently in Co. Meath before returning to his home county in Donegal. John specialises in herd/flock health and reproduction. He has an Advanced Certificate in Dairy Herd Health and also offers a consultancy service to improve farm production targets, such as improving calving percentages and reducing empty rates, increasing farm profits.
John also has a passion for horses, being involved with racehorses throughout his life. However, he will also be found in the consulting room and in the operating theatre with dogs and cats!
Outside of work John is a keen sportsman and farmer. In his free time, he isn’t very far from livestock and in the future, he hopes to get back into football – however at the moment his and Kathryn's young family are keeping him very busy!
Kathryn McAloon
Veterinary Surgeon
Kathryn has loved horses and animals for as long as she can remember. She graduated from Sussex University in the UK with a degree in Biology in 2010 and decided to continue her education and passion for animals by studying Veterinary Medicine in Slovakia. She graduated in 2014 and since then has worked in busy mixed and Equine practices in the UK and Ireland. She has worked with top racehorses and showjumpers on the Curragh in Kildare and has a keen interest in racehorse and sports horse medicine.
Kat and John moved back to Donegal in March 2021 to pursue their dream of setting up their own Veterinary Practice.
Kat’s passion is all things horsey and small animals. She specialises in equine medicine, reproduction and lameness examinations as well as small animal surgery. Kat is currently studying towards an Advanced Certificate in Equine Medicine.
Outside of work Kat will often be found walking her dog Pip with their daughters or playing about with a Connemara pony
Laura Sheerin
Veterinary Surgeon
Laura is originally from Co Tyrone she qualified from university in Bulgaria in 2022 . Laura loves working in veterinary mixed practice. She has a special interest in sheep and goats. When she is off duty Laura loves to be outside, beach walking and farming.
Deirdre McGuinness
Veterinary Surgeon
We are delighted to welcome Deidre into our team. Deirdre grew up near Killybegs. In 2022 she qualified from UCD, Dublin, and has since been working as a vet in The Donkey Sanctuary in Devon with over 1,000 donkeys under her professional care. Deirdre's area of special interest is equinemedicine but she enjoys treating a wide range of pets and farm animals as well. In her spare time Deirdre loves horse riding, sea swimming and art.
Brian Ross
Veterinary Surgeon
Brian qualified as a veterinary surgeon in 1980 from UCD and worked in mixed practice in the border counties for 35 years based in Belleek. In 2003 Brian obtained his Masters in Fish Veterinary Medicine from Sterling University, Scotland. Presently he enjoys working all aspects of veterinary medicine including providing training for the farming community in antibiotic usage, Brian has a special interest in small animals, orthopaedic surgery and fish health. His hobbies include golf, walking, swimming and he is a very enthusiastic follower of Ulster rugby.
Grace Cassidy
Veterinary Nurse
Grace graduated from LYIT in Veterinary Nursing in 2016 and has worked in busy small animal and mixed practices throughout Ireland. Grace enjoys small animal nursing including caring for the inpatients, anaesthesiology and radiology. Outside of work Grace has a very active lifestyle and can be found at St. Johns Point kayaking or with her dog Dai. Grace also enjoys baking, crafting and all things farming. Grace has a particular interest in small animal dentistry and is hoping to expand this knowledge in the future.
Charlotte Meehan
Veterinary Nurse
Charlotte graduated from ATU Donegal in 2023 with an Honours degree in Veterinary Nursing. She has previously worked as our receptionist here at Bluestack Veterinary Clinic whilst studying her final year in Veterinary Nursing and is excited to begin her nursing career. Charlotte comes from a farming background and spends her spare time working on the family farm.
Majella Waugh
Veterinary Nurse
Majella graduated from UCD in 2008 with a Diploma in Veterinary Nursing, she has over 16years experience in mixed veterinary practice but has a huge interest in the farm animals and can’t wait to expand her knowledge on large animal parasitology. This interest comes from having grown up on a mixed farm in Co. Louth. Outside of work Majella enjoys baking, meeting up with family and friends and of course farming with her three kids and husband.
Emma Mc Loughlin
Veterinary Nurse
Emma who is originally from Leitrim, graduated as a Veterinary Nurse from ATU in 2020.
Emma joined the Bluestack team in January 2024 after working in a small animal practice
for three years
Emma is passionate about all aspects of veterinary, with particular interest in radiology,
surgical nursing and critical care.
Her love for animals came from growing up on her family farm and caring for her dog,
Copper and cat, Stitch. In her spare time you will find Emma hiking Donegal’s highest
summits or curled up with a good book.
Paul McElhinney
Pet Groomer
Paul was trained by Colm Angus in Bangor Co Down. Paul has groomed many different dog breeds over the last 20 years, whilst specialising in Scotch Terriers, and he has achieved many grooming awards. As well as being a dog lover, and being actively involved in animal welfare, his hobbies include cooking and sea swimming.
Sandra Ross
Practice Administrator/Manager
Sandra worked for many years as practice manager in the family veterinary business in Belleek, Co Fermanagh. Their three children have flown the nest to pastures green. While volunteering with the Mustard Seed honesty tearoom in Donegal Town fell in love with the area and have recently moved to town. She enjoys the bussle of veterinary practice, and outside work Sandra enjoys paddling with the Donegal Dragons, sea swimming in Mountcharles and best of all chatting with friends over a cup of tea.
Blue
Chief Spider Catcher
Blue was found abandoned on Slieve League as a 4week old kitten. She was brought into the practice by two animal loving passers-by. However, due to them being from Cork and having other cats themselves they were unable to keep her. It was decided Blue would become part of the team here at Bluestack Veterinary Clinic and she has settled in brilliantly. Anyone who visits us here can’t help to notice Blue! She’s always up for a play and a cuddle.