skip to main content
RTE logo
  • News
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Business
  • Lifestyle
  • Culture
  • Gaeilge
  • Player
  • Tv
  • Radio
Weather
Profile icon
  • News
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Business
  • Lifestyle
  • Culture
  • Player
  • TV
  • Radio
  • Gaeilge
  • Weather
  • Archives
  • Brainstorm
  • History
Discover
  • RTÉ Games
  • RTÉ Archives
  • RTÉ Brainstorm
  • History
  • Gaeilge
  • RTÉ Learn
Food
  • RTÉ Food
  • RTÉ Recipes
Watch
  • RTÉ Player
  • TV
  • RTÉ One
  • RTÉ2
  • RTÉ News
  • RTÉjr
Listen
  • Radio
  • Podcasts
  • RTÉ Radio 1
  • RTÉ 2FM
  • RTÉ lyric fm
  • RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta
Services
  • Orchestra
  • RTÉ Weather
  • Century Ireland
  • RTÉ Shop
Kids
  • RTÉ Kids
  • RTÉ Learn
Help
  • Contact
  • Feedback
  • Accessibility
  • Policies and Reports
  • Complaints
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Individual Rights Guide
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Freedom of Information
Information
  • About RTÉ
  • TV Licence
  • Vacancies
  • Latest Annual Report
  • Advertise with RTÉ
  • 2rn
  • Saorview
  • Newsletters
  • RTÉ Supporting the Arts

  • Deborah Hayden

    Maynooth University

    Dr Deborah Hayden is a lecturer in the Department of Early Irish at Maynooth University, and Principal Investigator for Medieval Irish Medicine in its North-western European Context funded by a Laureate Award from the Irish Research Council

    Historical re-enactment of a surgeon operating on an archer who was wounded during an attack by the Mamluks on the monastery of the Order of the Hospitallers (1250-1291) in Acre in Israel. Photo: DeAgostini/ Getty Images

    What was it like to go to the doctor in medieval Ireland?

    Life before vaccines, modern anesthesia and popping into the chemist for some paracetamol to relieve an headache

    Medicine • 14 Nov 19

    Search RTÉ.ie

    Cant find what you're looking for?

  • News
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Business
  • Lifestyle
  • Culture
  • Player
  • TV
  • Radio
  • Gaeilge
  • Weather
  • Archives
  • Brainstorm
  • History
Discover
  • RTÉ Games
  • RTÉ Archives
  • RTÉ Brainstorm
  • History
  • Gaeilge
  • RTÉ Learn
Food
  • RTÉ Food
  • RTÉ Recipes
Watch
  • RTÉ Player
  • TV
  • RTÉ One
  • RTÉ2
  • RTÉ News
  • RTÉjr
Listen
  • Radio
  • Podcasts
  • RTÉ Radio 1
  • RTÉ 2FM
  • RTÉ lyric fm
  • RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta
Services
  • Orchestra
  • RTÉ Weather
  • Century Ireland
  • RTÉ Shop
Kids
  • RTÉ Kids
  • RTÉ Learn
Help
  • Contact
  • Feedback
  • Accessibility
  • Policies and Reports
  • Complaints
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Individual Rights Guide
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Freedom of Information
Information
  • About RTÉ
  • TV Licence
  • Vacancies
  • Latest Annual Report
  • Advertise with RTÉ
  • 2rn
  • Saorview
  • Newsletters
  • RTÉ Supporting the Arts
Follow RTÉ

© RTÉ 2025. RTÉ.ie is the website of Raidió Teilifís Éireann, Ireland's National Public Service Media. RTÉ is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

Images Courtesy of Getty Images.