Drumcondra Hospital
Encyclopedia
Drumcondra Hospital was a voluntary hospital on Whitworth Road in Dublin, Ireland
, that became part of the Rotunda Hospital
in 1970.
in 1793 a dispensary was provided at Cole's Lane to serve the poor of this and neighbouring parishes on the north side of Dublin. This proved insufficient for the increasing number of cases. A few years later, shortly after the establishment of the Cork Street Fever Hospital
, an infirmary, St. George's Fever Hospital, was opened in Lower Dorset St. It was succeeded in 1818 by the Whitworth Fever Hospital, built alongside the north banks of the Royal Canal and named after the lord lieutenant. It was founded in order to have a hospital on the north side of the city like the Cork St. Hospital on the south side. A period of great distress and epidemic, due to poverty among other things in those days, showed the advantages of such a hospital.
The hospital was administered by a board of fifteen prominent Dublin gentlemen, presided over by the Duke of Leinster
. The first staff were: physicians: J. Leahy, William J. Mangan, Robert J. Graves
, Thomas Lee. Surgeons: Robert Adams
and W. Wright. Resident physician: James Jackson.
The hospital was first open only to poor patients who were unable to pay for medical attendance or proper treatment in their own homes. It later moved to a location on Whitworth Road that had originally been acquired in the 18th century for the new church of St. George. The burial ground of St. George was located behind the hospital.
At that time the hospital depended on support on voluntary subscriptions, as no grant from the government or other public funds were available. In 1834 a small number of paying wards were set up also.
In 1846-47, the time of the Irish Famine, fever epidemics carried off victims by the hundred. The hospital quickly filled up, and fever sheds were erected along the canal bank for those for whom there was no space in the hospital.
In 1852 the hospital ran out of money and was closed. It was taken over shortly afterwards by doctors dealing in deformities and re-named the Whitworth General Hospital. In 1860 it re-opened as a general hospital.
Towards the end of the 19th century it came under the patronage of the Drumcondra Town Commissioners, and the name was changed (as there was another Whitworth hospital on the north side of the city). Money was raised from fetes, concerts, bazaars (the "Drum bazaar") and musical events.
In 1911 staff were: Sir John William Moore, William Stoker, E. MacDowel Cosgrave, George O'Keeffe Wilson.
At outbreak of World War I a small number of beds were set aside for wounded soldiers.
The number of patients increased steadily through the first half of the 20th century. However costs also increased and the hospital was constantly appealing for volunteers to help with collections - it remained a voluntary hospital.
The hospital became an annexe of the Rotunda in the 1970 and the building was sold to the National Council for the Blind of Ireland
(NCBI) for £281,000 in 1987.
, died in December 1931 in the Hospital.
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
, that became part of the Rotunda Hospital
Rotunda Hospital
The Rotunda Hospital is one of the three main maternity hospitals in the city of Dublin, the others being the The Coombe and The National Maternity Hospital...
in 1970.
History
At the time of the founding of the parish of St. GeorgeSt. George's Church, Dublin
St. George's Church is a former parish church in Dublin, Ireland, designed by Francis Johnston, which is considered to be one of his finest works. It is located at Hardwicke Place, just north of the city centre. The elegant spire, high, became a landmark of the north inner city.-The...
in 1793 a dispensary was provided at Cole's Lane to serve the poor of this and neighbouring parishes on the north side of Dublin. This proved insufficient for the increasing number of cases. A few years later, shortly after the establishment of the Cork Street Fever Hospital
Cork Street Fever Hospital, Dublin
The Fever Hospital was a hospital that opened in Cork St. in Dublin, Ireland on 14 May 1804. The hospital was located in a poor densely-populated part of the Dublin Liberties, though it had large grounds...
, an infirmary, St. George's Fever Hospital, was opened in Lower Dorset St. It was succeeded in 1818 by the Whitworth Fever Hospital, built alongside the north banks of the Royal Canal and named after the lord lieutenant. It was founded in order to have a hospital on the north side of the city like the Cork St. Hospital on the south side. A period of great distress and epidemic, due to poverty among other things in those days, showed the advantages of such a hospital.
The hospital was administered by a board of fifteen prominent Dublin gentlemen, presided over by the Duke of Leinster
Duke of Leinster
Duke of Leinster is a title in the Peerage of Ireland and the premier dukedom in that peerage. The title refers to Leinster, but unlike the province the title is pronounced "Lin-ster"...
. The first staff were: physicians: J. Leahy, William J. Mangan, Robert J. Graves
Robert James Graves
Robert James Graves, M.D., F.R.C.S. was an eminent Irish surgeon after whom Graves' disease takes its name. He was President of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, Fellow of the Royal Society of London and the founder of the Dublin Journal of Medical Science...
, Thomas Lee. Surgeons: Robert Adams
Robert Adams (physician)
-Life:He was born in Ireland, studied at Trinity College, Dublin between 1810 and 1814 and received his B.A. in 1814. He began his medical training under William Hartigan and George Stewart, leading Dublin surgeons...
and W. Wright. Resident physician: James Jackson.
The hospital was first open only to poor patients who were unable to pay for medical attendance or proper treatment in their own homes. It later moved to a location on Whitworth Road that had originally been acquired in the 18th century for the new church of St. George. The burial ground of St. George was located behind the hospital.
At that time the hospital depended on support on voluntary subscriptions, as no grant from the government or other public funds were available. In 1834 a small number of paying wards were set up also.
In 1846-47, the time of the Irish Famine, fever epidemics carried off victims by the hundred. The hospital quickly filled up, and fever sheds were erected along the canal bank for those for whom there was no space in the hospital.
In 1852 the hospital ran out of money and was closed. It was taken over shortly afterwards by doctors dealing in deformities and re-named the Whitworth General Hospital. In 1860 it re-opened as a general hospital.
Towards the end of the 19th century it came under the patronage of the Drumcondra Town Commissioners, and the name was changed (as there was another Whitworth hospital on the north side of the city). Money was raised from fetes, concerts, bazaars (the "Drum bazaar") and musical events.
In 1911 staff were: Sir John William Moore, William Stoker, E. MacDowel Cosgrave, George O'Keeffe Wilson.
At outbreak of World War I a small number of beds were set aside for wounded soldiers.
The number of patients increased steadily through the first half of the 20th century. However costs also increased and the hospital was constantly appealing for volunteers to help with collections - it remained a voluntary hospital.
The hospital became an annexe of the Rotunda in the 1970 and the building was sold to the National Council for the Blind of Ireland
National Council for the Blind of Ireland
The National Council for the Blind of Ireland is a not for profit charitable organisation which provides support and services to people experiencing sight loss in Ireland...
(NCBI) for £281,000 in 1987.
Notable patients
John Stanislaus Joyce, father of James JoyceJames Joyce
James Augustine Aloysius Joyce was an Irish novelist and poet, considered to be one of the most influential writers in the modernist avant-garde of the early 20th century...
, died in December 1931 in the Hospital.