Des Gogarty, who died on May 21st, aged 78, was a prominent and popular dentist with a very successful practice in his native town of Drogheda. He was also the dental surgeon for Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital.
In 1960 he became one of the youngest presidents of the Irish Dental Association and hosted the first international dental congress to be held in this country. He was also appointed to the board of the new dental hospital at the time.
His skilled craftsmanship, together with his acute interest in science, made him a champion of modern dental practices and prompted him to help pioneer an autogenous implant technique. At a time when antibiotics were not readily available he was at the forefront in practising and promoting restorative dentistry. In the 1970s he established a local engineering company manufacturing ergonomic dental units and chairs to his own design, which were exported throughout the world.
Faced with the problem of rearing and providing for Brian, his autistic son, Des became one of the leading members of the Irish Society for Autism and played an active role in the establishment of Dunfirth, a care centre for autistic youths in Co Kildare. At a time when the term autism was unheard of in Ireland he, along with other key individuals, spearheaded the establishment of the society in 1963 to provide necessary facilities for children suffering from autism.
At the time many autistic adults and children were being housed in psychiatric hospitals which were totally unsuitable for their treatment. This pioneering work has led to the establishment of many autism centres around the country where residents can get involved in farming and creative arts, making a positive contribution to the local community.
Des later became chairman of the society and also served as a long-term member of its board of directors. He was vice-president of the society up until his death. Without financial help from the Government, fundraising was a key issue. Des organised many of the successful gala balls held in Slane Castle and other venues over the years.
Always a keen yachtsman, Des was one of the founding members of the Boyne Yacht Club in 1955 and later became its commodore. Although the Boyne estuary was a forbidding place to develop a sailing club, the determination of a small group of people led to burgeoning interest in the sport. His passion for the sea did not end there: he busied himself with the design of innovative fishing equipment and even opened a small boatyard close to his home in Mornington along the Boyne estuary.
After his retirement in 1986, he devoted much of his considerable energy and ability to producing award-winning sculptures, often adapting novel techniques in his search for artistic fulfilment. His sculptures can be seen in Kilrush Millennium Park as well as private and commercial premises.
A convivial and sociable man, he enjoyed life and conveyed his good humour, enthusiasm and positive thinking to those around him. His youngest daughter, Deidre, won the world featherweight boxing championship in Miami in 1997. He will be sorely missed by a wide range of friends and acquaintances both at home and abroad.
He is survived by his wife Edie and seven children.
S.G.