UCD Vet School Celebrates 20 Years on the Belfield Campus - ‘Fiche bliain ag fás’
June 2022 marks 20 years since the UCD School of Veterinary Medicine moved to its new home in the Veterinary Sciences Centre on UCD’s Belfield campus.The faculty moved from Ballsbridge where the teaching of veterinary medicine had been based since 1900 when the Royal Veterinary College of Ireland on Pembroke Road and Shelbourne Road was constructed by G. & T. Crampton.
The Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at UCD was established in 1946 and was located in Ballsbridge for many years. The campaign for a new Veterinary School on UCD's Belfield campus was launched in 1992, led by Professor Michael Monaghan with the support of the late Professor Tommy McGeady. Ten years later, the new school and veterinary hospital opened there in June 2002.
As a School, we are immensely proud of our Alumni and so to mark this important milestone, we have chosen to celebrate twenty of the most exceptional alumni from across the UCD Veterinary Community on our newly installed Alumni Wall. The alumni on the walls of the Veterinary Sciences Centre have been nominated by staff, students and graduates - they have all excelled in their fields, made a positive impact in others’ lives and they exemplify our values of excellence, integrity, collegiality, engagement, creativity, diversity and innovation.
Alumni featured include Ireland’s Ambassador to China Ann Derwin, All-Ireland winning Tyrone Gaelic footballer and co-manager Brian Dooher, ‘Supervet’ Noel Fitzpatrick, renowned racehorse trainers John Oxx and Dermot Weld, Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer Patricia Reilly, internationally recognised experts in infectious diseases John and Peter Timoney and critically acclaimed concertina player Brenda Castles. For the full listing, please click here.
The Alumni Wall was launched at a special event in the School on 15 June. We were delighted that a number of the alumni featured on the Wall were able to join us for this celebratory event, along with colleagues from across UCD and the veterinary community.
Pictured are (back row, l to r): Brian Dooher, Patricia Reilly, Professor Patrick Wall, Professor Mark Rogers (UCD Acting President), Professor Michael Doherty (Dean & Head of the UCD School of Veterinary Medicine), Dr Des Rice, Dermot Weld, Mary Geary, Dr Perpetua McNamee; (front row, l to r): Hester McAllister, Dr Susie Mitchell, Brenda Castles, Samantha Feighery.
Pictured below are: Brenda Castles, Brian Dooher, Dermot Weld, Des Rice, John & Francis O'Brien (parents of Shauna O'Brien) with the Dean, Professor Michael Doherty, Mary Geary, Patricia Reilly, Patrick Wall, Perpetua McNamee, Samantha Feighery and Susie Mitchell.
