About Us

The Rural, Island and Dispensing Doctor’s of Ireland is in existence since 1984. The need for rural, island and isolated populations to continue to get a proper standard of medical care locally is our main objective. This requires the resources necessary to sustain our local population of rural dwellers.

The issue of rural depopulation and the need for adequate support of local services, particularly those provided by the local GP (including dispensing), is of major concern to ensure the cycle of further erosion of services and depopulation is broken.

Our first Annual Conference was held in Mulranny, Co. Mayo in October 1984 and has continued ever since with the 30th Anniversary in Mulranny in October 2015. The Annual Conference has been held in locations such as Mayo, Clare, Galway, Limerick and Westmeath. It provides an opportunity for all Irish rural, island and dispensing doctors to meet and discuss matters of common interest and concern in a social setting with a strong academic programme included.