The Irish College of GPs celebrates the highest ever number of GP graduates at its graduation ceremony in Dublin, with over 230 doctors becoming members of the Specialist Register.
The Irish College of GPs is the professional body for general practice in Ireland. The College is the representative organisation for education, training and standards in general practice, with 4,600 members and associates comprising over 85% of practicing GPs in the Republic of Ireland and 1,300 GPs in training.
Today (November 1st 2025) sees the graduation of 207 GP trainees in the 2025 GP training programme, who have completed the four-year training scheme to join the Specialist Register of the Irish Medical Council, and 26 GPs in the International Medical Graduate (IMG) Rural GP programme, who have joined the Specialist Register of the Irish Medical Council after an intensive two-year programme of clinical mentorship and learning in rural practices around Ireland.
In total, 233 GPs are becoming members of the Specialist Register, and the vast majority are currently working in Ireland.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Irish College of GPs, Fintan Foy, said: “Today’s graduations represent a significant milestone in the growth of general practice in Ireland. The College has responded to the GP workforce deficit with an annual intake of 350 GP trainees; that’s an increase from 200 in 2020. Furthermore, we have developed the innovative International Medical Graduate Rural GP programme. Most of our graduates today are currently working at the forefront of general practice in Ireland in rural and urban practices, providing vital frontline GP care to our local communities.”
The Chair of the Board of the Irish College of GPs, Dr Deirdre Collins, said: “It’s an exciting day for our graduates and their families, who have supported them on this journey to becoming general practitioners in Ireland. We celebrate today by wishing them well on a career that brings real opportunities to change people’s lives. GPs provide 21 million consultations to thousands of patients all over the country, providing continuity of care and specialist knowledge of a huge range of diseases. The GP role is becoming more complex, with more diverse portfolio career roles. This diversification is essential for attracting and retaining our future GPs.”
The Vice-President of the Irish College of GPs, Dr Velma Harkins, said: “We are very pleased to welcome the 26 IMG-Rural GPs who are joining the Specialist Register. This programme has enabled doctors from many parts of the world to establish equitable careers as GPs in Ireland at a time when we have significant workforce pressures. We thank the HSE for its support of this initiative.”
The President of the Irish College of GPs, Dr Nuala O’Connor, said: “Today’s graduation ceremony is a proud moment for Irish general practice. These newly qualified GPs and now also members of the College represent the future of community healthcare in Ireland. Their dedication, resilience, and commitment to patient care will help shape a stronger, more responsive health system”.
ISSUED BY: Aileen O’Meara, Communications Consultant, Irish College of GPs. Tel. 01 2542984 / 087 2239830 Email: media@icgp.ie
Photographs supplied by David Coleman of Bobby Studios, 01 6773332.