Liam Kirwan, professor of surgery at CUH, 'worked tirelessly for the people of Munster'
Professor Liam Kirwan would have been humbled by the many tributes paid to him on his passing by grateful patients. Picture: Gerard McCarthy
Liam Kirwan, who has recently died at the age of 82, was Professor of Surgery at Cork University Hospital and UCC and a leading figure in the development of surgical services across Munster and Ireland.
He grew up in Grenagh, Co. Cork, was educated at the local national school and St Coleman’s College, Fermoy, after which he graduated medicine at UCC.
A former medical classmate recalls that “it was evident to all of us in that 1966 graduation class that Liam was going to be a surgeon and was first out of the blocks in our class to get his primary FRCS”.
His training was impeccable — Edinburgh was where he performed clinical studies on diverticular disease and colonic function that remain classics to this day followed by a colorectal surgery fellowship at the Cleveland Clinic, the foremost programme in North America, where he is fondly remembered.
He returned to Cork in 1977 to take up the post of general surgeon at St. Finbarr’s Hospital — later transferring to the now Cork University Hospital. His passion was for patient care and for the next 33 years, he worked tirelessly for the people of Munster.
He would have been humbled by the many tributes paid to him on his passing by grateful patients, many anonymous, claiming that he had saved their lives. During a long and distinguished clinical career Liam expressed the honour he felt in serving those in his care.
According to Professor Eamonn Quigley, past President of the World Gastroenterology Organisation and a former colleague: “Liam Kirwan was one of the finest GI surgeons I have ever had the privilege to work with. While his surgical skills were legendary; as important to me was that he was a fine doctor.
"You did not send a patient to Liam Kirwan for an operation, but for his opinion which might or might not include an operation. To me he was one of the greatest figures to grace Cork medicine; he set standards in surgery, patient care, professionalism and education that we all aspire to but did so with wit, and humour, compassion and collegiality”.
As becomes an outstanding surgeon, Liam was confident and decisive but never arrogant. He liked to portray himself as the institutional conservative who hankered after the old days (and wrote about it!) but in reality he was no Luddite; his background in research made him ever supportive of, and willing to explore, new ideas.
His publications numbered in the hundreds and he was always most supportive and encouraging that his trainees should become involved.
Liam’s surgical expertise was most obvious to those who worked with him in the operating theatre, variously describing him as “incredibly gifted”, “one of the finest surgeons I have known”, “a master of the art”, “a brilliant surgeon”.
One former trainee explained that “I probably learned more from him than any other trainer in my career including lessons in life”.
Nationally, Liam fulfilled many roles with great success and with no little aplomb. He served on the Council of the Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland from 1992-2008, and held leadership positions in the Irish Society of Gastroenterology, and the Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland serving the latter as President in 1994/95.
On retirement from CUH and UCC, he was to go on to thrive in yet another leadership role as Professor of Surgery at the Irish-owned Penang Medical College and bestow his talents as a teacher to another generation. It is in the careers and successes of those that he trained and mentored, and the example that he set that his legacy will live on for generations to come.
Outside of the hospital Liam was dedicated to his family, and enjoyed golf and writing — two books are his commentaries on medicine in Irish life and .
He is sadly missed by his wife, Marie, chIldren Janet, David, William and Nicholas, sister Mary, his nine grandchildren as well as his many friends and colleagues.
