THE HISTORY OF THIS BUILDING

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A BRIEF HISTORY OF ST BRENDAN'S

I have never been able to determine if this is in reality part of the University Campus at Grangegorman. To add to the confusion I undertook a guided tour of the campus and we visited this building which was impressive and depressing at the same time.

St. Brendan's Hospital, Dublin: A Detailed History

Early Years (1815-1851)

  • 1810: The Governors of the Dublin House of Industry successfully petitioned for government funding to establish a separate asylum.
  • 1814: The Richmond Lunatic Asylum, built adjacent to the House of Industry, began receiving its first patients.
  • 1815: The Richmond Lunatic Asylum officially opened.

St. Brendan's Hospital (1851-2013)

  • 1851: The Richmond Lunatic Asylum was replaced by St. Brendan's Hospital.
  • 19th & 20th Centuries: St. Brendan's operated as a public psychiatric hospital, adhering to the principles of "Moral Management."
  • Late 20th Century: The shift towards community-based mental health care led to the gradual downsizing of St. Brendan's.

Architecture & Facilities

  • The hospital complex comprised various buildings, some of which still stand today.
  • Notable architectural features include the late 19th-century mortuary chapel.

Closure & Legacy

  • 2013: St. Brendan's Hospital officially closed.
  • The site is currently undergoing redevelopment.

Historical Records

  • Records documenting St. Brendan's Hospital's history are available at the National Archives and the Grangegorman Community Museum.

Richmond War Hospital & Shell Shock

  • 1916: The Richmond War Hospital was established within St. Brendan's to treat soldiers suffering from shell shock.
  • Research & Treatment: The hospital became a center for research into the causes and treatment of shell shock.
  • Notable Figures: Dr. William Reginald Dawson was a key figure in the research and treatment of shell shock.

Further Information

  • Slideshare: Brendan Kelly - Shell Shock and its Treatment at Dublin's Richmond War Hospital, 1916-1919: https://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/brendan-kelly-shell-shock-3615-presentation/50263373
  • St. Finan's Hospital Archives: Shell shock - St Finan's Hospital, Killarney: https://stfinanshospital.com/the-archives-of-st-finans-hospital/shellshock/