DR CAHAL OWENS, a retired dental surgeon, died on March 17th, at the age of 88 years. Cahal was born in Monaghan, one of five siblings. Both of his parents were national school teachers.
He was educated locally by the Christian Brothers and then, deciding to become a doctor, he entered the Medical School of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) in January 1943, graduating in November 1948. He did his intern year in St Laurence’s (Richmond) Hospital in Dublin, and then prepared himself for general practice, training in Liverpool, Lisnakea, Co Fermanagh, and Dublin. He then had a change of heart and decided he wanted to become a dentist. He enrolled in the RCSI dental school and qualified LDS RCSI in 1957. He went into a general dental practice in Cambridge for two years, and then started his own practice in Rathgar Road, Dublin, in 1959. He had a large general dental practice and was exceptionally skilled in all aspects of dentistry at that time. His patients appreciated his quiet skill and jovial, confident manner and remained loyal to the practice, which showed they knew what to expect when they visited his surgery. He was on the attending staff of the Dublin Dental Hospital for two years, during which time he was a very popular teacher and instructor for the dental students. He applied his manual skills at home, where he enjoyed performing DIY tasks. He retired from dentistry in 1990.
During his very happy years at RCSI, he met Monica Freeman, a fellow student, and this college romance blossomed into a very happy and successful marriage in 1952, which was only terminated by his death just short of their 60th wedding anniversary.
His terminal illness was suffered with characteristic patience, tranquillity and compliance, and he was inwardly fortified by his strong religious beliefs right to the end.
Monica and Cahal had six children, and 12 grandchildren.
Monica, who was a dental surgeon too, instead devoted herself to her family and supported and nursed Cahal in his final illness and was there with him to the end.
Cahal was a very popular and well-known figure in Dublin. In his leisure time he indulged in tennis, golf and horse racing, and was a member of Carrickmines and Fitzwilliam tennis clubs and the Milltown golf club. Both Cahal and Monica were well known and appreciated for their generous hospitality at home in Clonskeagh. They shared an encyclopaedic knowledge of the family trees of their large circle of friends and relations and were reputed to have rarely if ever missed a “good funeral”.
He is survived by his wife Monica and six children – Owen, Edward, Emily, Catherine, Christopher and Elizabeth. The large attendance at the removal and funeral service were testimony to the depth of the affection and respect for Cahal and Monica.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a h-anam dílis.