MB BCh BAO
Dr Eamonn O’Shea returned to the practice in 2003, having completed much of his training in the practice between 1996 and 1999. He oversaw the computerization of all practice records, thus facilitating the speedy return of laboratory and X-ray results. Eamonn is a Programme Director of the Western Training Programme in General Practice and a Continuing Medical Education Tutor for Galway GPs. He has particular interest in child health and development, sports medicine, Occupational health, medico-legal assessment and the management of chronic disease in the community such as diabetes, high blood pressure and asthma.
MB BCh BAO
Dr Rita Halloran has many years of experience working in general practice, and joined the practice in 2007. Areas of particular interest include Dermatology, Minor surgery, Musculoskeletal conditions and children’s health. She is a trainer in Western Region Training Programme in General Practice which involves the supervision of doctors completing their specialist training in General Practice.
MB BCh BAO
Dr Noel Howard has been working in Galway City as a GP since 2007, and joined the Claddagh Medical Centre in 2018. He has a particular interest in occupational medicine, as well as specialising in children’s health and older age medicine. He has also worked for many years with Jigsaw, so has a lot of experience helping young people with mental health issues or difficulties.
MB BCh BAO
Dr Emma Kilgarriff is a graduate of NUI Galway and specialised in family medicine through the Western Training Programme in General Practice. She has many years experience in general practice and has worked as a GP in Galway city since 2005. She has a special interest in Women’s and Children’s Health, and has lectured in NUI Galway in Women’s Health and Child Development. She is a member of the Reproductive and Sexual Health Committee of the Irish College of General Practitioners, and is an ICGP tutor in long-acting reversible contraception.
Tá Gaeilge líofa aici.
MB BCh BAO
Dr Claire Gaffney graduated with Honours from NUI Galway in 2007. She initially specialised in the area of Paediatrics and spent a number of years working in Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital ,Crumlin and the Children’s University Hospital, Temple Street in Dublin. She subsequently completed specialist training in General Practice and graduated from the Western Training Scheme in 2021. She has a special interest in childrens health, childhood development, pregnancy and newborn care. She is also interested in chronic disease management. She spent a portion of her GP training in Claddagh Medical Centre in 2019 and was delighted to return to the practice in 2022.
As a training practice we are in the happy position of taking a GP Registrar each year from the Western Training Programme in General Practice. This is a fully qualified doctor who has spent usually three or more years gaining experience in hospital posts in Paediatrics, Medicine, Psychiatry, Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Emergency Medicine as well as spending a year in another General Practice surgery. They come to us for a year to hone their skills in General Practice and to add their enthusiasm and up to date knowledge to our team.
The practice has had close links with the local University Medical School and the Western Training Programme in General Practice. This means that the Claddagh Medical Centre is a teaching practice and a designated academic centre affiliated to NUI Galway. As such it is involved in education and research. The practice takes medical students on a regular basis for training in a community setting and you will encounter students in the practice from time to time. You will be advised by receptionist when students are in practice. If you do not want to have a student present when you consult, please let the receptionist know in advance and we will ensure that a student is not present in the consulting room with you. We also train junior doctors (Interns). The practice is a member of a general practice based research network, (WestREN). The practice initiates it’s own research and participates in larger research projects distributed across several practices. Our research has continued to prompt improvements in our own practice. If ever you are being considered for involvement in research you will be fully informed and we will only proceed with your informed consent.