Celebrating its 25th anniversary, the Irish Division of the International Association for Dental Research (IADR) annual scientific meeting was hosted by the divisional president, Dr Gerry Kearns, and was held in Thomond Park, Limerick, on 15 and 16 October.

A large number of research abstracts were presented during the meeting, for both prize and non-prize categories.

The successful prize-winners were:

Proctor & Gamble Undergraduate Professional Oral Health Award
1st  P Hooi, Trinity College Dublin
2nd K O'Donnell, Queen's University Belfast

Dental Health foundation Award
1st  C Parnell, University College Cork
2nd G McKenna, University College Cork

Irish Division Clinical Award
1st  JE O'Connell, University College Cork
2nd R Ni Riordan, University College Cork

Irish Division Postgraduate Award (sponsored by Colgate)
1st   EL McGinley, Trinity College Dublin
2nd EP Kavanagh, University College Cork

Hatton Travel Award
1st P Hooi, Trinity College Dublin
2nd EL McGinley, Trinity College Dublin

The standard of the research presented was very high, which was commented on by the judges of the prize categories. The judges included Professor Finbarr Allen, Professor June Nunn, Dr Chris Irwin, Dr Michael O'Sullivan, Dr Christine McCreary, Dr Wil Coulter, Professor Denis O'Mullane, Professor John Clarkson, Dr Seamus O Hickey, Dr Fionnuala Lundy.

In addition, to the prize categories, awards for ‘Outstanding Service' to dental research and the Irish Division were awarded by Dr Gerry Kearns to three founding members of the Irish Division, Professor John Clarkson, Professor Denis O'Mullane and Dr Seamus Keating.

Recipients of the ‘Outstanding Service Awards' by the Irish Division IADR (L-R): Professor Denis O'Mullane, Dr Seamus O'Hickey and Professor John Clarkson

During the presentation, Dr Kearns thanked them for their dedication to the Irish Division and enthusiasm for dental research, following which they each entertained the audience with warm anecdotes recalling the early days of the Division.

Further details on membership and activities of the Irish Division of IADR may be obtained at the website www.iadrireland.com.