Exhibition on pioneering Tipperary woman is displayed at the Tipperary Excel

The marvellous story of Aleen Cust, Britain and Irelan’'s First Female Vet, is currently on display at the Tipperary Excel.

A native of Cordangan, just outside of Tipperary Town, Aleen became a vet at a time when it was not considered a suitable role for a woman.

I first came across Aleen’s story when I was researching people for my book Tipperary People of Great Note.

I considered that Aleen was very worthy of inclusion, and so was one of the 86 people included in the book which I published in 2020.

Not many people knew of Aleen at the time, but since then she has been brought to further prominence through the work of

The Aleen Cust Memorial Society, a small group of semi-retired veterinary surgeons from county Galway, who came together to remember Ms Cust, who was underappreciated in her lifetime and largely forgotten in her death.

With the support of Galway, Roscommon and Tipperary County Councils and from the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, they have succeeded in hosting a major Conference that centred around Aleen’s life and works and they have an exhibition which tours the country and is currently at the Tipperary Excel.

They have also managed to locate Aleen’s grave in Jamaica where she was interred. There has been a lot of media exposure about Ms Cust in recent times including an RTE Nationwide Programme.

Aleen Isabel Cust was born on February 7, 1868 at Cordangan Manor, Tipperary. She was one of six children of Sir Leopold and Lady Isabel Cust.

Her father, a land agent for the Smith-Barry family, died when Aleen was just 10 years old and her mother took the family to England. She commenced her studies in veterinary science at the New Veterinary College in Edinburgh in 1894.

Aghast at her choice to study to be a vet, she was disowned by her family. However she continued her studies and qualified in 1900 but was not allowed to call herself a veterinary surgeon as the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) claimed to have no power to admit women.

After over 20 years of fighting, Aleen Cust was finally awarded her qualification in December 1922.

Destined for a life of privilege, but instead courageous and determined, Aleen dedicated herself to caring for horses and cows in largely poor rural areas of Roscommon and Galway.

Also in 1915, she took a leave of absence from Galway County Council and drove her own car to Abbeville, France, to volunteer in the treatment and care of horses on the Western Front. She sold her practice in Ireland in 1924 and moved to Plaitford, Hampshire, England.

She died in Jamaica on January 29, 1937.

In her will she left £5,000 for a scholarship in veterinary research (with a preference for female candidates), and £100 for a kennel at the RCVS in memory of her spaniels.

Tipperary Town can be rightfully proud of Aleen and of her determination, courage and achievements.

The exhibition which tells her life story is on display at the Tipperary Excel and is well worth a visit.