Plaque to honour suffragist and first female member of Waterford Corporation to be unveiled

This year’s Alan Howard Memorial Lecture is set to feature the special unveiliing of a Waterford Civic Trust Heritage Blue Plaque in commemoration of medical and public health pioneer, Dr Mary Strangman. 

Born in 1872 at Carriganore House, Dr Strangman became a doctor, a champion of public health and better housing, a suffragist and the first woman to be elected to Waterford Corporation in January 1912. 

In recognition of her notable achievements, particularly around public health, the Nutrition Research Centre Ireland (NRCI) and Waterford Civic Trust are set to unveil the plaque at her historical family home, Carriganore House, SETU West Campus on Friday, 18 August.  

Medical and public health pioneer, Dr Mary Strangman. Photo courtesy The Poole Photographic Collection. 

Speaking in advance of the event, Founder and Director of the NRCI, Professor John Nolan explained how, “Over the last decade, researchers from the Nutrition Research Centre Ireland (NRCI), based at Carriganore House, SETU West Campus have conducted scientific research studies that have informed healthcare on ways to use nutrition and nutritional supplements to improve and protect eye and brain health, with innovation that has greatly enhanced health and quality of life of people from all over the world.  

“As part of our ongoing commitment to the annual Alan Howard Memorial Lecture, this year’s lecture will recognise and tell the remarkable story of Dr Mary Strangman, medical and public health pioneer, who was born at Carriganore House in 1872.” 

Prof Nolan continued: “As the director of the NRCI, it is an honour for me to remember and acknowledge my late colleague and friend, Dr Alan Howard, for his legacy contributions to our research field and research at the NRCI. This will be a special day at Carriganore House, as it will remember brilliant past individuals, from different times, who have contributed so much to people’s health, and I believe it will also inspire current and future scientists working at Carriganore House to be the next health scientific innovator for public health.” 

Delighted that Waterford Civic Trust has chosen to dedicate a Heritage Blue Plaque in her memory, Chairman of the trust, Dr Eugene Broderick said: “Dr Strangman’s professional and political career was dedicated to the betterment of the human condition and the empowerment of women. In particular, she campaigned for the provision of improved medical services to tackle the scourge of tuberculosis, which blighted the lives of so many in the early decades of the twentieth century.  

“She faced public and political hostility in her campaign, not least because of her commitment to female suffrage.”  

“A Heritage Blue Plaque is intended to recognise and honour those whose lives made a difference, and certainly, Mary Strangman is a most worthy recipient. This plaque will serve as a reminder of a woman who, in her time, challenged the inequalities and disadvantages endured by so many of her fellow citizens,” Dr Broderick stated.