OLD RICHMOND HOSPITAL

NORTH BRUNSWICK STREET

This could be described as being in Grangegorman, Smithfield or Stoneybatter.

The Richmond originally formed part of a complex of three hospitals – the others were the Whitworth and Hardwick – collectively known as St Laurence’s.

The building in my photographs was constructed in the 1890s to replace a former convent that had been there since 1807. I do not know why, but the hospital did not open until 1901 with the two wings of the U-shaped complex accommodating all of the wards. There was one window for each bed. The double loggias at the ends of the wings allowed sheltered access to fresh air for patients

In 1994, the Richmond and Whitworth hospitals were converted into business centres and a self-storage facility.

In 1996 The Richmond was leased by the Government for use as District courts. The building housed five of the Dublin District Courts until the opening of the new Criminal Courts of Justice.

In January 2014 it was announced that the building had been acquired by the Irish Nurses and Midwives’ Organisation (INMO) for use as an education and event centre. However, it appears to be unoccupied at present with some construction work ongoing.

In July 2016 I came across the following statement by the INMO - "I now wish to confirm that the refurbishment works, on the Richmond Building, will commence shortly and will take a little under six months to complete. The refurbishment works are designed to provide the Organisation with an Education and Event Centre that will allow us to greatly expand the full range of professional, educational, industrial relations and other courses that we provide to members on an ongoing basis."

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