Maurice Neligan
Encyclopedia
Maurice Neligan was an Irish heart surgeon, activist, newspaper columnist and media commentator. He was considered one of Ireland's most recognisable doctors - "Ireland's answer to Dr Christian Barnard
" - and performed a number of firsts in Irish medicine. It is thought that he performed 14,000 - 15,000 heart operations during his career. After his death in 2010, Fine Gael
leader Enda Kenny
described him as "the first superstar of Irish medicine".
In 1974, Neligan performed Ireland's first open-heart surgery for congenital heart defect
s. In 1975, he performed Ireland's first coronary artery by-pass graft. In 1985, he carried out the first heart transplant in the country's history, and was given no assistance by the Department of Health in doing so. Neligan also co-founded the Blackrock Clinic
. From 1971 until 2002, he was consultant cardiac surgeon at the Mater Hospital and, from 1974 until 2002, he served at Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children in Crumlin
in Crumlin
, Dublin.
Neligan was originally from Booterstown
, County Dublin
. He attended Blackrock College
. He studied medicine at University College Dublin
(UCD), from where he graduated successfully in 1962. He married Pat, a fellow doctor. They met in the accident and emergency unit of St Vincent's Hospital
when Pat crashed her father's car on her graduation day - "I hobbled off on my crutch, and he came after me and said, would you like to go out?", Pat later told Miriam O'Callaghan
. The couple went on to have seven children. Three were sons and four were daughters. Daughter Sara was murdered in 2007. 12,000 letters were sent to the family by members of the public.
After his retirement from surgery Neligan maintained a public profile and contributed a column to the health supplement which comes with The Irish Times
. He loved to read and appreciated poetry. He became an ardent critic of government health policy and campaigned for the retention of patient services when the government threatened to cut them. In his final year he was interviewed for a book, Insights into Leadership in Ireland: Insights from Contemporary Leaders in the Public, Private and Voluntary Sectors, launched by Martin McAleese
in September 2010.
After retiring Neligan was often seen in Glenbeigh
, County Kerry
. He died suddenly at home at the age of 73 on the morning of 8 October 2010. The day before he had met with former Blackrock College classmates for a 55th year reunion. The day after his death he had been expected to address GPs in Kilkenny
. Fine Gael health spokesperson Dr. James Reilly said "medicine has lost a great pioneer and a leading thinker".
Christiaan Barnard
Christiaan Neethling Barnard was a South African cardiac surgeon who performed the world's first successful human-to-human heart transplant.- Early life :...
" - and performed a number of firsts in Irish medicine. It is thought that he performed 14,000 - 15,000 heart operations during his career. After his death in 2010, Fine Gael
Fine Gael
Fine Gael is a centre-right to centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland. It is the single largest party in Ireland in the Oireachtas, in local government, and in terms of Members of the European Parliament. The party has a membership of over 35,000...
leader Enda Kenny
Enda Kenny
Enda Kenny is an Irish Fine Gael politician, and has been the Taoiseach since 2011. He has led Fine Gael since 2002. He served as Minister for Tourism and Trade from 1994 to 1997. He is also a two-term Vice President of the European People's Party.Kenny has been a Teachta Dála for Mayo since...
described him as "the first superstar of Irish medicine".
In 1974, Neligan performed Ireland's first open-heart surgery for congenital heart defect
Congenital heart defect
A congenital heart defect is a defect in the structure of the heart and great vessels which is present at birth. Many types of heart defects exist, most of which either obstruct blood flow in the heart or vessels near it, or cause blood to flow through the heart in an abnormal pattern. Other...
s. In 1975, he performed Ireland's first coronary artery by-pass graft. In 1985, he carried out the first heart transplant in the country's history, and was given no assistance by the Department of Health in doing so. Neligan also co-founded the Blackrock Clinic
Blackrock Clinic
Blackrock Clinic in Blackrock, Dublin was co-founded in 1984 by surgeons Joseph Sheehan, his brother Jimmy Sheehan, Maurice Neligan and Nuclear Medicine Specialist George Duffy as a private, high-tech hospital offering healthcare to privately insured patients....
. From 1971 until 2002, he was consultant cardiac surgeon at the Mater Hospital and, from 1974 until 2002, he served at Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children in Crumlin
Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children in Crumlin
Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children in Crumlin, Dublin is Ireland's largest and best known paediatric hospital. It has been caring for Ireland's youth since 1956. It has almost 1200 staff and 243 beds all dedicated to the care of children.-External links:...
in Crumlin
Crumlin, Dublin
Crumlin is suburb in Southside Dublin, Ireland. It is the site of Ireland's largest hospital for children.-Location:Crumlin covers the area from the River Poddle near the KCR to the Drimnagh Road, to Bunting Road, and is situated not far from the city centre, on the Southside of Dublin city....
, Dublin.
Neligan was originally from Booterstown
Booterstown
Booterstown,, is a coastal townland and civil parish, situated in the Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council area of the former County Dublin, about south of the city of Dublin in Ireland.-Location and access:...
, County Dublin
County Dublin
County Dublin is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Dublin Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the city of Dublin which is the capital of Ireland. County Dublin was one of the first of the parts of Ireland to be shired by King John of England following the...
. He attended Blackrock College
Blackrock College
Blackrock College is a Catholic voluntary secondary school for boys aged 14–18, located in Williamstown, Blackrock, County Dublin, Ireland. The College was founded by French missionaries in 1860, to act as a school and civil service training centre. Set in of grounds, it has an illustrious...
. He studied medicine at University College Dublin
University College Dublin
University College Dublin ) - formally known as University College Dublin - National University of Ireland, Dublin is the Republic of Ireland's largest, and Ireland's second largest, university, with over 1,300 faculty and 17,000 students...
(UCD), from where he graduated successfully in 1962. He married Pat, a fellow doctor. They met in the accident and emergency unit of St Vincent's Hospital
St. Vincent's University Hospital
St. Vincent's Hospital is a teaching hospital located at Elm Park, south of the city of Dublin, Ireland. It is at the junction of Merrion Road and Nutley Lane opposite the Merrion Centre and adjacent to Elm Park Golf Club.-History:St. Vincent's Hospital was founded in 1834 on St...
when Pat crashed her father's car on her graduation day - "I hobbled off on my crutch, and he came after me and said, would you like to go out?", Pat later told Miriam O'Callaghan
Miriam O'Callaghan
Miriam O'Callaghan is an Irish television current affairs broadcaster, chat show host and radio presenter with Raidió Teilifís Éireann . She has presented the leading current affairs show, Prime Time, since 1996, and her own chat show, Saturday Night with Miriam, since 2005...
. The couple went on to have seven children. Three were sons and four were daughters. Daughter Sara was murdered in 2007. 12,000 letters were sent to the family by members of the public.
After his retirement from surgery Neligan maintained a public profile and contributed a column to the health supplement which comes with The Irish Times
The Irish Times
The Irish Times is an Irish daily broadsheet newspaper launched on 29 March 1859. The editor is Kevin O'Sullivan who succeeded Geraldine Kennedy in 2011; the deputy editor is Paul O'Neill. The Irish Times is considered to be Ireland's newspaper of record, and is published every day except Sundays...
. He loved to read and appreciated poetry. He became an ardent critic of government health policy and campaigned for the retention of patient services when the government threatened to cut them. In his final year he was interviewed for a book, Insights into Leadership in Ireland: Insights from Contemporary Leaders in the Public, Private and Voluntary Sectors, launched by Martin McAleese
Martin McAleese
Martin McAleese is a member of Seanad Éireann and the husband of the former President of Ireland, Mary McAleese.-Early life and education:He played with the Antrim Minors and was captain of the team in 1969. He trained and worked as an accountant and then qualified as a dentist.He practiced as a...
in September 2010.
After retiring Neligan was often seen in Glenbeigh
Glenbeigh
Glenbeigh or Glenbei is a village in County Kerry, Ireland. Many of its visitors are there to tour the Ring of Kerry.-References:...
, County Kerry
County Kerry
Kerry means the "people of Ciar" which was the name of the pre-Gaelic tribe who lived in part of the present county. The legendary founder of the tribe was Ciar, son of Fergus mac Róich. In Old Irish "Ciar" meant black or dark brown, and the word continues in use in modern Irish as an adjective...
. He died suddenly at home at the age of 73 on the morning of 8 October 2010. The day before he had met with former Blackrock College classmates for a 55th year reunion. The day after his death he had been expected to address GPs in Kilkenny
Kilkenny
Kilkenny is a city and is the county town of the eponymous County Kilkenny in Ireland. It is situated on both banks of the River Nore in the province of Leinster, in the south-east of Ireland...
. Fine Gael health spokesperson Dr. James Reilly said "medicine has lost a great pioneer and a leading thinker".
External links
- "Maurice and Pat Neligan" - Miriam Meets...Miriam Meets...Miriam Meets... is an Irish radio talk show. The programme began initially in July 2009, as a summer filler, presented by Prime Time and Saturday Night with Miriam presenter Miriam O'Callaghan. The show is broadcast on a Saturday morning....
- "At Home with Maurice Neligan" - Would You BelieveWould You Believe (TV series)Would You Believe is an Irish religious television series broadcast on RTÉ One. It currently airs on Sunday nights at 22:40. A new series of 12 films began airing on September 21, 2008.-Archive:- 2009 - 2010 :...