Arklow born Surgeon Is Included In Tallaght Hospital Staff Hero Award Winners for 2026

Tallaght University Hospital (TUH) announced its Staff Hero Award Winners for 2026 at a ceremony in the Hospital.

The annual awards celebrate staff who go above and beyond in their jobs to ensure patients receive exceptional care

Among this year’s award winners were Mr Dara Kavanagh, a Consultant Surgeon who is originally from Arklow in Co Wicklow.

Dara won the Patient Experience Award which asks patients and their families to nominate a person whose care has delivered an exceptional patient experience.

In proposing that Dara should win the category, one of his patients said: “Mr Kavanagh is the kindest man; nothing is ever a problem. I’ve had a good few surgeries since 2017, and Mr Kavanagh has always gone above and beyond for me. His bedside manner is amazing, and this goes a long way when you’re feeling very low and sick. ”

Presenting the awards to the winners, the TUH CEO Barbara Keogh Dunne said:

“All of those being recognised at these awards are a powerful example of what it means to go that extra mile for the patient, the community we serve and their colleagues.  I am proud and privileged to work alongside them.”

Dara is a Consultant Colorectal Surgeon at Tallaght University Hospital where he was appointed in 2013. He is a graduate of University College Dublin in 2000.

He has a specialist interest in minimally invasive surgery for colorectal cancer & Inflammatory Bowel Disease with particular emphasis upon transanal minimal access surgery (TEMS/TAMIS).

He was appointed a Consultant Surgeon at Tallaght University Hospital in 2013. He is a Clinical Lecturer in Surgery and Head of Surgical Research at RCSI.

His main research interests include simulation in surgery and surgical outcomes. He has published 66 peer-reviewed medical journals. He is currently a principal and research supervisor at RCSI, Department of Surgical Affairs.