1975 FIP Congress in Dublin
The World Congress of the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) has been held in Ireland on one previous occasion; the 35th International Congress in 1975.
The conference was held from 1st to 5th September in The Burlington Hotel, Dublin with meetings also in University College, Dublin (UCD).
The (old) Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland was the organising body that year, with then PSI President Dr. W.E. (Bill) Boles chairing the local organising committee. The local committee is listed in the programme as including: MF Walsh, RJ Semple, T McGuinn, JP O’Donnell, D Corrigan, VJ Harte, JP Burke and MJ Cahill.
The Basis for the Quality Control of Medicines was the theme of the 1975 congress. The ‘inaugural address’ was given by Professor R.F. Timoney on The Quality Control of Medicines: A national and international responsibility. Richard Timoney was Professor of Pharmacy at University College Dublin and Dean of the College of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland.
The death of former President of Ireland Eamon de Valera had occurred on Friday 29th August, and relayed to FIP Council who sat that day in Dublin. Messages of sympathy were extended from Council and at the opening session delegates stood for a moment’s silence.
Read more about the 1975 FIP Congress
Interesting Facts – FIP 1975:
• 1600 delegates from 50 countries attended
• French, German and English were the official congress languages. The programme, and some abstracts, were printed in each of these languages.
• There were 27 invited speakers, including Henk J. de Jong, now Professor and FIP Scientific Secretary, and one female speaker, Mme. J. Dony, a professor of microbiology in Brussels
• A broadsheet newspaper was produced each day of the conference. It contained abstract summaries, speaker highlights, social programme news and Dublin city tourism and event information.
• A Concert of Irish Music was held on the eve of the congress at the Carlton Cinema, O’Connell Street. The Radio Éireann orchestra performed Seán Ó Ríada’s “Mise Éire”. The Chieftains were also on the programme.
• FIP Board and Bureau met with the Irish President Cearbhall Ó Dállaigh at his residence, Áras an Uachtaráin, where they were given a tour of the house and grounds.