McKee Barracks, Dublin, 27th August 2026 – The Defence Forces and the Irish College of GPs celebrated the conferring of Membership of the Faculty of Military Medicine of Ireland (MFMMI) on Comdt (Dr) Shane Brady. The event marked the continuation of the close relationship between the Irish Defence Forces Medical Corps and the Irish College of GPs in the delivery of modern specialist healthcare. The event took place in McKee Barracks, Dublin, where Comdt Brady was formally admitted as a Member of the Faculty, following successful completion of the training programme and its assessments.
The FMMI was established to advance the integration of specialised medical training within the Defence Forces, and is dedicated to fostering excellence in healthcare for military personnel. Comdt Brady’s achievement underscores the importance of this initiative, showcasing the unique blend of primary care, clinical expertise and operational readiness that military medicine demands.
Speaking at the ceremony, Dr Cathy Cullen, National Director of Specialist Training in General Practice, said the programme was the result of a close collaboration between the defence forces and the Irish College of GPs, focusing on the importance of primary care and the vital role of specialist GPs in taking care of defence forces personnel, as well as other potential patient groups they come into contact with during their outreach work.
Speaking at the ceremony, Col (Dr) Anthony Corcoran, Director Medical Branch of the Irish Defence Forces, acknowledged the hard work, commitment, and perseverance of all those organisations and individuals who had contributed to this event, including the Irish College of GPs, the Medical Council, the Defence Forces and Dept of Defence. Speaking at the event, he said, ‘This training programme aims to further develop the standards of the Defence Forces Medical Services in order to best serve the healthcare needs of our patients and demonstrates the recognition that Primary Care is a cornerstone of the delivery of healthcare in a military environment’.
Through the successful completion of the training programme, Comdt Brady has now achieved dual specialist qualification in both General Practice and Military Medicine, demonstrating the integral role that General Practice plays in the delivery of modern military healthcare. As well as Primary Care, Military Medicine training encompasses a wide range of disciplines, from emergency medicine and trauma care to occupational medicine, public health and operational planning, which prepare graduates to deliver medical care in diverse and challenging environments at home and abroad.
In his remarks, Comdt Brady thanked the Faculty of Military Medicine of Ireland, the Irish College of GPs and all those organisations and individuals who had contributed so much to the delivery of the training programme. Comdt Brady said, ‘The scheme afforded unique and challenging opportunities that are not available in other training schemes, such as serving overseas on peacekeeping missions in Lebanon, an experience for which I was honoured to receive my overseas service medals. It has been an immensely rewarding experience, both professionally and personally.”
Dr Aisling Ni Shuilleabhain, GP Training Scheme Director, Trinity College Dublin, which is paired with the Military Medicine programme, said, ‘The Military Medicine Training Scheme and Specialist GP Training scheme elements of the programme complement each other, producing highly skilled graduates, who provide excellent care to their patients in the Defence Forces, and to the public that they encounter in the course of their duties’.
The Irish College of GPs and the Faculty of Military Medicine of Ireland look forward to shortly opening the competition for 2027.
[Pictured L:R; Col (Dr) Anthony Corcoran, Dr Deirdre Collins, Comdt (Dr) Shane Brady, Dr Cathy Cullen, Dr Aisling Ni Shuilleabhain]