Education
He attended Blackrock College. He studied medicine at University College Dublin (University College Dublin), from where he graduated successfully in 1962.
He attended Blackrock College. He studied medicine at University College Dublin (University College Dublin), from where he graduated successfully in 1962.
He was considered one of Ireland"s most recognisable doctors – "Ireland"s answer to Doctor Christian Barnard " – and performed a number of firsts in Irish medicine. lieutenant is thought that he performed 14,000 – 15,000 heart operations during his career. In 1974, Neligan performed Ireland"s first open-heart surgery for congenital heart defects.
In 1975, he performed Ireland"s first coronary artery by-pass graft.
In 1985, he carried out the first heart transplant in the country"s history, and was given no assistance by the Department of Health in doing southern Neligan also co-founded the Blackrock Clinic.
From 1971 until 2002, he was consultant cardiac surgeon at the Mater Hospital and, from 1974 until 2002, he served at Our Lady"s Children"s Hospital, Crumlin, Dublin. Daughter Sara was murdered in 2007.
After his death in 2010, Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny described him as "the first superstar of Irish medicine". Fine Gael health spokesperson Doctor James Reilly said "medicine has lost a great pioneer and a leading thinker".
Quotations: "medicine has lost a great pioneer and a leading thinker".
12,000 letters were sent to the family by members of the public.