Elizabeth Mary ('Lilly') Troy, (1914–2011), obstetrician and Ireland's first female medical consultant.

Early life and education

Troy was born to Joseph Troy a hatter and outfitter, and his wife Hanna ('Johanna') (née Doran) in Ranelagh on 14 September 1914. She had two sisters and two brothers. She attended school at

Loreto College, St Stephen's Green Loreto College, St Stephen's Green (sometimes referred to as Loreto on the Green) is a Catholic all-girls private school situated on St Stephen's Green in Dublin, Ireland. The school was founded at 58 Harcourt Street in 1833 as a convent and schoo ...

. Initially her mother persuaded her not to study medicine so she studied pharmacy in

University College Dublin University College Dublin (commonly referred to as UCD) ( ga, Coláiste na hOllscoile, Baile Átha Cliath) is a public research university in Dublin, Ireland, and a collegiate university, member institution of the National University of Ireland ...

and graduated first in her class c.1936. Later she went back and studied medicine gaining her MB, B.Ch. and BAO with honours from UCD in 1940). She completed her internship in both St. Vincent's University Hospital and the

Coombe Women & Infants University Hospital The Coombe Women & Infants University Hospital (; ga, Ospidéal Ollscoile Ban ⁊ Naonáin an Chúim) is a voluntary teaching hospital providing a range of medical services to both women and newborn infants in Dublin, Ireland. It is managed by D ...

, and stayed with them for her postgraduate training. She also trained with Temple Street Children's University Hospital.

Career

Troy served, with the rank of squadron leader, in the RAF as a female medical officer for three years. She was responsible for treating members both of the

Women's Auxiliary Air Force The Women's Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF), whose members were referred to as WAAFs (), was the female auxiliary of the Royal Air Force during World War II. Established in 1939, WAAF numbers exceeded 180,000 at its peak strength in 1943, with over 2 ...

and RAF. She then trained in the

Jessop Hospital __NOTOC__ The Jessop Hospital for Women was a hospital in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England. At the time of its closure in 2001, it was managed by the Central Sheffield University Hospitals NHS Trust. History Early history Following a large ...

for Women in Sheffield, and the Oxford Street Maternity Hospital in Liverpool until she became the resident obstetrician at

Royal Preston Hospital The Royal Preston Hospital or RPH, is an acute general hospital in Preston, Lancashire, England. It is managed by the Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. History The hospital was built in stages between 1975 and 1983; it was offi ...

. Her return to the Coombe as assistant master in 1949–52 made Troy the first woman to hold this post in Ireland. She finalised her MAO from UCD in July 1954 and was appointed as a consultant in 1956. Troy was a specialist in gynaecological surgery. The hospitals where she was consultant included the Bon Secours Hospital in Glasnevin and Mount Carmel Hospital in Churchtown. Despite retiring Troy continued to see her patients privately into her 90s. Angela MacNamara, the Sunday Press agony aunt often used her as the expert for advice on reproductive issues. Troy lived in

Rathmines Rathmines () is an affluent inner suburb on the Southside of Dublin in Ireland. It lies three kilometres south of the city centre. It begins at the southern side of the Grand Canal and stretches along the Rathmines Road as far as Rathgar to t ...

with her brother James. One sister Mary Patricia was a GP in Wexford after graduating from medicine from UCD in 1946 while the other sister, Ethna was a dentist. Troy was involved with several charitable bodies. She was chair of the Coombe Benefit Committee from 1959 and a patron of the National Concert Hall and of

Focus Ireland Focus Ireland is a nonprofit organisation based in Dublin, Ireland that provides services for people who are homeless and people at risk of homelessness in Ireland. It was founded by Sister Stanislaus Kennedy in 1985, and is one of the largest hou ...

. She died on 16 February 2011 in Dublin and was buried in Deans Grange Cemetery.

Sources

* Medical register (1943, 1975) * Medical directory (1950, 1956) * Thom's directory * Irish Times, 12 July 1954, 4 Oct. 2000, 20 Oct. 2008 * *

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Troy, Mary 1914 births 2011 deaths Burials at Deans Grange Cemetery Irish women medical doctors Irish gynaecologists Irish obstetricians People from Ranelagh People educated at Loreto College, St Stephen's Green Irish officers of the Royal Air Force Irish military doctors Medical doctors from County Dublin Alumni of University College Dublin 20th-century Irish medical doctors