The Irish College of General Practitioners was set up in 1984 to encourage, foster and maintain the highest possible standards of care in family practice.
Prior to that general practitioners in the Republic were represented by the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP), which this year celebrates its 50th birthday. There were four faculties on the island - North, East, West and South as well as an all-Ireland council which met regularly and transcended political and practice differences.
With the formation of the Irish College, a single Republic of Ireland faculty of the RCGP was formed, which remains active. One of the founding members of the RCGP in the Republic, Dr John Fleetwood, has written a short history The Irish Faculties 1952 - 2002. Readers interested in obtaining a copy can e-mail: ireland@rcgp.org.uk