Recently on Nationwide, we were introduced to Ms Aleen Cust - Ireland and the UK’s first female veterinary surgeon.
Born in Co. Tipperary, she was a pioneering Irish woman who studied veterinary back in 1896 at the Veterinary College in Edinburgh. Despite qualifying in 1900, she was not permitted to enter the male dominated register until 1922. This was after the passing of the sex disqualification act in 1919.
Broadcaster Mary Fanning traveled to Athleague in Co. Roscommon to re-trace her steps to find ut where she worked alongside a forward-thinking vet, William Byrne, and was accepted by the farmers of the West of Ireland.
Images and footage in video thanks to Getty, National Library, Royal Veterinary College London, RCVS Knowledge, UCD archives, Alchemy, and Aleen Cust memorial committee.
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