Born: 1863, Ireland (assumed)
Died: 2 August 1931
Country most active: Ireland
Also known as: NA
The following was written by Mary Monro and is republished here with her permission.
Dr Katharine Marian Neril Maguire (1863-1931) was Ireland’s first female Paediatrician and a prize winning biology and medical student, who was primarily interested in social medicine. An obituary in the British Medical Journal (22.viii.1931) says “Her kindness and sympathy for her patients, especially the poor, were unbounded. Early in her career she opened a free dispensary for women and children.” She was president of the Association of Registered Medical Women (ARMW), an organisation dedicated to the professional development of women doctors and to the health of women in general. It survives today as the Medical Women’s Federation. She was a friend of Matilda Knowles. She was a member of the founding committee of St Ultan’s and influenced Dorothy Stopford Price, who joined St Ultan’s in 1923, in conducting and publishing research.
Her obituary from the British Medical Journal, published 22 August 1931 reads as follows:
It is with deep regret that we announce the death of Dr Katharine Maguire, which took place on August 2nd at Fayrefield, Tyrellspass, Co.Westmeath, to which she had retired in November last.
Dr Maguire was the youngest daughter of the Rev. John M. Maguire, rector of Boyle, Co. Roscommon.
Her career as a student was very brilliant. She was the first and only woman to win the Hudson Scholarship at the Adelaide Hospital; and she obtained first place at the M.B., B.Ch., and B.A.O examinations of the Royal University of Ireland in 1892, taking her M.D. three years later.
After qualifying she spent some time in Vienna, and then set up in private practice in Upper Mount Street, moving some years later to Merrion Square, where she remained until she ceased work.
Her kindness and sympathy for her patients, especially the poor, were unbounded. Early in her career she opened a free dispensary for women and children in Harold’s Cross, and, being much interested in housing, bought four tenement houses in Tyrone Street, managing them herself, and letting the rooms at a minimum rent. All her tenants loved her, and at Christmas many of them had blankets, food, and clothes at her expense.
As lecturer on hygiene in Alexandra College for a long period she became well known as an exceptionally gifted teacher.
She was a member of the Academy of Medicine, and attended its meetings regularly, but her self-effacing disposition did not often permit her to speak or to show cases.
In spite of her extraordinary devotion to her professional work, Dr Maguire found time to cultivate many other interests. She had an ardent enthusiasm for women’s political rights, and before the war was a keen but non-militant suffragette. There are hundreds of people in Dublin to-day who feel they have lost a friend and adviser who can never be replaced.”