On Saturday, 03 October 2026, The Irish College of GPs hosted its Graduation Ceremony for the award of its Membership of the College to 242 trainees who successfully completed the National GP Training Programme and 32 graduates who successfully completed the International Medical Graduate (IMG) Rural Programme. The ceremony was held at the Convention Centre Dublin.
Mr Fintan Foy, CEO of the College said, ‘this is the largest graduation in the College's history, and behind that are 274 new specialist GPs who will care for patients and families in communities right across Ireland. These GPs will help to address the GP workforce crisis and to ensure that we have sufficient specialist GPs to care for our population. I congratulate every one of them, and the families and friends who supported them along the way.
Dr Velma Harkins, President of the Irish College of GPs said, ‘To the graduates of The IMG Rural GP Programme, you have given rural Ireland something precious. You have kept its doctors' surgeries open. Thank you.’
Dr Knut Moe, Chair of the Board of the College said, ‘I want to thank the Minister for Health, the Department and the HSE for backing the expansion of GP Training. Above all, I thank the Scheme Directing Teams, trainers and administrators who took on that growth.’