More than 200 medical graduates and their guests travelled from across the globe the for RCSI's Alumni Weekend 2011, which took place from Thursday, 15 to Saturday 17 September.

Graduates came from Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Ireland, Malaysia, Northern Ireland, Norway, South Africa, UK and USA to be stimulated and entertained, revisit old places and renew acquaintances, during the three day event which took place in Dublin.

This year's Alumni Weekend, celebrated, in particular, the classes who graduated in 1951, 1961,1966,1971,1976,1981,1986,1991 and 2001 who held reunion dinners during the event.

Throughout the three days, graduates enjoyed various activities such as a golf outing to Carton House, a tour of the National Stud, Japanese Gardens in Kildare and Kilmainham Gaol, as well as walking and water-based tours of Dublin and a reception and gala dinner held in the College on Saturday evening.

On Friday, 16 September the RCSI scientific meeting brought another dimension to the weekend with talks and poster presentations given by former graduates and leading medical professionals and academics from RCSI. Among the speakers were Professor Hannah McGee, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, RCSI, who spoke on the topic 'RCSI: Education Today's Students as Tomorrow's Leaders'; Professor John Kelly, Director of Research at RCSI, who provided the group with an update on research at RCSI; and Professor James Lucey, Class of 1983 and Medical Director of St Patrick's University Hospital, Dublin, who delivered a talk on ‘Minding your health while you're minding others".

Professor Hannah McGee said: "It has been a privilege to welcome our graduates back to RCSI for this special event which provides opportunities to rekindle relationships and affiliations as well as networking amongst peers. RCSI has a proud tradition of educating some of the finest medical professionals and currently has over 18,000 alumni throughout the world. The graduates here this weekend are a reflection of this educational ethos."

RCSI gratefully acknowledges the generous support of the sponsors and friends for Alumni Weekend which were: A. Menarini Pharmaceuticals Ireland; Association of Graduates, RCSI; Fáilte Ireland; Global Medical; Hermitage Medical Clinic; Lundbeck; and Pfizer.