Peter Boylan

{{Short description|Irish obstetrician}}

{{About|the Irish obstetrician|the United States Army officer|Peter J. Boylan}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

{{Infobox officeholder

|honorific_prefix = Doctor

|name = Peter Boylan

|known_for = {{hlist|Obstetrics|Abortion rights campaigning}}

|office = Master of National Maternity Hospital

|term_start = 1991

|term_end = 1997

|successor = Declan Keane

}}

Peter Boylan is a retired Irish consultant obstetrician, and former master of the National Maternity Hospital, Dublin (Holles Street Hospital).{{cite news|url=https://www.imt.ie/features-opinion/dr-peter-boylan-a-master-retires-30-11-2016/|newspaper=Irish Medical Times|date=20 November 2016|title=Dr Peter Boylan: A Master retires|first=June|last=Shannon}}

He was born in Dublin to Henry Boylan and his wife Patricia Boylan ({{née}} Clancy). He was educated at St. Mary's College, Rathmines and University College, Dublin.{{cite news |title=Dr Peter Boylan profiled: 'Captain' who delivered 6,000 babies is married to sister of current Master |url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/health/dr-peter-boylan-profiled-captain-who-delivered-6000-babies-is-married-to-sister-of-current-master-35654878.html |work=Irish Independent |date=26 April 2017}} On qualifying as an obstetrician in 1974 he practised in the United States and in Britain before returning to Ireland. He became master of Holles Street in 1991, holding the post for seven years.

Boylan was opposed to the plans to transfer ownership of the National Maternity Hospital to the Religious Sisters of Charity,{{cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/peter-boylan-new-maternity-hospital-should-not-be-given-to-sisters-of-charity-1.3055744|title=Peter Boylan: New maternity hospital should not be given to Sisters of Charity|first=Peter|last=Boylan|newspaper=The Irish Times|date=21 April 2017}} eventually resigning from the board of the hospital over the issue.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/apr/27/doctor-resigns-dublin-hospital-nuns-sisters-of-charity-dr-peter-boylan|title=Senior doctor resigns over plan to hand Dublin hospital to order of nuns|newspaper=The Guardian|date=27 April 2017|first=Henry|last=McDonald}} He campaigned for a Yes vote in the 2018 Irish abortion referendum, and participated in several TV debates.{{cite news|title=There were some strong reactions to last night's Late Late Show 8th referendum debate|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/examviral/there-were-some-strong-reactions-to-last-nights-late-late-show-8th-referendum-debate-839804.html|accessdate=23 May 2018|work=Irish Examiner|date=28 April 2018}}{{cite web|title=People were furious after the referendum debate on Claire Byrne Live last night {{!}} Her.ie|url=https://www.her.ie/news/people-furious-referendum-debate-claire-byrne-live-last-night-403533|website=Her.ie|date=15 May 2018|accessdate=23 May 2018|language=en}}{{cite news|title=Everyone is talking about the audience during Claire Byrne's referendum debate|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/examviral/everyone-is-talking-about-the-audience-during-claire-byrnes-referendum-debate-842958.html|accessdate=23 May 2018|work=Irish Examiner|date=15 May 2018}}