Prof Dara Kilmartin, a leading consultant ophthalmologist and retinal specialist, is running for the National University of Ireland (NUI) constituency in the upcoming Seanad elections. Grandson of former Roscommon Town GP, Dr Edward John Kilmartin, Professor Kilmartin says he is extremely proud of his Roscommon roots, which according to the Seanad candidate date back as far as the mid-1600s in Kilteevan, near Roscommon Town.
Prof Kilmartin has led an exceptional career in medicine and has a deep passion for the environment. Speaking to the Roscommon People, his connection to his heritage was very evident. Kilmartin is seeking to bring his “expertise and fresh perspective” to Seanad Éireann.
Born and educated in Dublin, Kilmartin attended St Mary’s College CSSp, Rathmines. His childhood summers were spent on Mweenish Island, Carna, in Connemara and visiting his Roscommon-based grandparents. His grandfather Dr Edward John Kilmartin served as Roscommon Town’s local dispensary doctor from the 1930s into the 1970s.
Dr Edward Kilmartin was a well-respected figure in Roscommon, initially practising medicine from above the public house which today is known as Regan’s Bar. His wife, Catherine “Kitty” Kilmartin, ran the pub on the ground floor of the landmark building while her husband ran his GP practice overhead. According to Prof Kilmartin, she was a proud Limerick woman and daughter of a Latin scholar and active nationalist.
In the early 1940s, Edward purchased what is today Gleeson’s Townhouse in Roscommon town, where he continued his practice. Kitty instilled in her grandchildren a love of education and a determination to succeed, values that have guided Prof Dara Kilmartin throughout his life.
Early inspiration
Prof Dara Kilmartin’s interest in medicine began in childhood. Speaking to the Roscommon People, he recalls being fascinated by the equipment in his grandfather’s surgery, though it was “off-limits” to the grandchildren. A pivotal moment came when, at the age of ten, he accompanied his grandfather on a house call to a Traveller encampment outside Roscommon Town. He says on this occasion he witnessed the community’s deep respect for his grandfather, which reinforced his decision to pursue a career in medicine: “He passed away six months later and I remember the large number of members of the travelling community who attended his funeral.”
After his grandfather died in 1977, Dara inherited his journals and books, further cementing his ambition. He went on to graduate from UCD Medical School in 1991 with first-class honours, later earning a Master’s in Physiology in 1993. His training included stints in Ireland, the US, the UK, and Australia, and he holds multiple fellowships, including FRCSI and FRCOphth (UK). In 2002, he was appointed consultant eye surgeon and retinal specialist at the Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital in Dublin, the country’s leading eye care institution.
Dr Kilmartin’s expertise extends internationally. His research, supported by a Wellcome Trust Fellowship, has been widely published in high-impact medical journals. He also represents Ireland on the Board of International Retinal Societies.
Beyond medicine
Beyond his medical achievements, Prof Kilmartin is deeply committed to environmental sustainability. He maintains 20 beehives across Dublin, Wexford, and Connemara, combining his passion for nature with a keen interest in ecological wellbeing. Beekeeping, he says, fosters his understanding of environmental balance and sustainability, values he intends to champion in the Seanad.
Prof Kilmartin is also an avid runner and has participated in various marathons. In 2022, he attended the Chicago Marathon Expo and a talk by Kenyan runner Wesley Korir, who spoke about how an Irish priest gave him his first running shoes. By chance, through his ongoing volunteerism as a doctor in Kenya, Prof Kilmartin met the very priest, Father Willie Walsh, who had inspired Korir’s journey to winning the 2012 Boston Marathon. This chance connection reaffirmed Prof Kilmartin’s belief that “certain things don’t happen by accident, and there must be a higher meaning to life.”
Seanad vision
This is Prof Kilmartin’s first foray into politics, although he has long admired the work of Seanad Éireann. He previously assisted Senator Fergal Quinn in election campaigns and was inspired by Senator John Crown’s advocacy for health reform. Prof Kilmartin believes that the Seanad needs “fresh voices” and sees it as a forum for expert advisory opinion, particularly in areas like healthcare, sustainability, and public policy.
Despite his busy career, Dr Kilmartin is confident he can balance his work as a consultant ophthalmologist with the responsibilities of a Senator: “I love my job, and I believe I can continue my medical work while also contributing to the Seanad.”
