SCHOOL OF
Dental Science
Obituaries
(L-R): Gerry O’Meara, Dinah O’Meara, Brendan Joyce, Michael Maguire, Oola Maguire and John McAlister.
John McAlister John McAlister came from Athlone to Dublin in 1947 to study dentistry and graduated BDS from UCD in 1952. Among his classmates and lifelong friends were Brendan Joyce, Michael Collins and the late Michael Maguire and Philip Galligan. He worked in Gloucester and in Ballymena before setting up a practice in Walkinstown in 1954. John worked for 50 years in practice before retirement in 2004. In the late 1950’s and early 60’s he was a part-time staff member at the Dental Hospital. During his long career, he served on various committees and as Honorary Secretary of the Irish Dental Association. He was elected to the Dental Council in 1985 and served for two terms. In his second term, he was chairman of the Fitness to Practice Committee. He was also a member of the Board of the Dublin Dental Hospital. John married Nuala O’Dowd in 1955 and they had five children, two of whom (Conor -1979 and Triona -1983) followed him into the dental profession. His granddaughter Aisling Cant (2015) is currently a House Officer in the Dental Hospital. Known as Johnny to his family and friends, he lived life to the full despite failing eyesight
Professor Norman P. Butler
in his latter years. A man of varied interests, he attended and enjoyed many alumni events over the years. He died on 6 June 2015 - coincidentally his 60th wedding anniversary.
He returned to Cork where he was appointed Professor of Dental Surgery at the University. In 1964, Professor Butler was appointed Professor/Consultant in Conservative Dentistry at The Dublin Dental Hospital.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.
Norman was a confident man with a commanding presence. He spoke with eloquence and was never at loss for a word. This may account for the large number of committees and representative bodies he served on. During his professional career he was Dean, Faculty of Dentistry at the RCSI; President Irish Dental Association; Chairman, Specialist Advisory Committee on Community Dental Health as well as some twenty other similar committees or Office held.
Professor Norman P. Butler Professor Norman P. Butler recently deceased, was Professor of Conservative Dentistry at the University Dental School and Hospital Dublin, 1964-1989. Professor Butler studied Dentistry at University College Cork, obtaining his dental degree in 1956. Following graduation, Professor Butler travelled to London to The Eastman Dental Clinic and The Royal Victoria Hospital, East Grinstead, for post graduate training. Professor Butler obtained his Fellowship of The Royal College of Surgeons of England in 1958, a Masters in Dental Surgery from UCC in 1959 and a Foundation Fellowship from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland in 1964.
Professor Butler spent four years in Saudi Arabia when he left the Dental School; he was Professor at the King Abdulla University, and Chief of Dental Surgery at The Armed Forces Hospital. Away from Dentistry his sporting activities were innumerable in his youth, but later in life were “reduced to communicating with nature while attempting to play golf.” Dr Joseph Creavin
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