Plaque at 1 Merrion Square
(Photo by Paul Murphy, Deputy Librarian RCSI)
Sir William Wilde LRCSI, FRCSI was born in Castlerea, County Roscommon towards the end of spring 1815. To mark this bicentenary the County Librarian organised an event in Castlerea over the weekend of April 16th-18th.
William's father Thomas was a physician and the Wilde family home fronted onto Barrack Street. There was a poignant visit to the nearby Church of Ireland cemetery to the grave of Dr Thomas Wilde which had been identified and its fractured gravestone recently restored.
William accompanied his father visiting patients throughout the countryside. From this came many of his life-long interests: country lore , healing charms, social conditions and the circumstances of people's lives.
William Wilde was destined for great things. His father had steered him towards Surgery and having obtained his medical education at RCSI he trained in Vienna under the leading eye and ear surgeons of the day. On his return to Dublin Wilde established a dedicated eye and ear hospital and became a pioneer of aural surgery.
A versatile genius, Sir William pursued a vast range on interests, studies and activities. He was an antiquarian, writer and collector. His brilliance has been, temporarily perhaps, eclipsed by that of his son Oscar. Sir William Wilde, fortune long gone, died at his home 1 Merrion Square on 19 April 1876. His was a life that fascinates.
The home of William Wilde
(Photo by Paul Murphy, Deputy Librarian RCSI)
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