About IRNF

In 2004 Patricia Minnock (ANP Rheumatology Rehabilitation) from Our Lady’s Hospice & Care Services, and Deirdre McNamee (Rheumatology Nurse Practitioner) from Altnagelvin in Londonderry, recognised the need to form an all-Ireland forum for nurses working in the rapidly growing speciality of rheumatology.

A meeting was arranged for May 2004 in Dublin. This was attended by 40 nurses from both the South and North of Ireland. Keynote speaker was Ms Janice Mooney, RCN, Rheumatology Nurses Forum who presented on ‘The Development and Remit of the RCN Rheumatology Nursing Forum’.

At this meeting it was agreed to establish the IRNF. The first formal meeting of the IRNF took place on 10th September 2004.