St. Mary's Hospital (Phoenix Park)

The Royal Hibernian Military School was founded in 1769 as the Hibernian Asylum, by the Hibernian Society, a philanthropic organisation founded in Ireland in 1769 after the Seven Years' War.[1] The Society petitioned the King for a charter on 18 April 1769 and the Hibernian Society was incorporated under Royal Charter on 15 July 1769.[1][2] The first meeting of the Governors was held on 6 November 1769 in Dublin Castle.[2]

In 1922 the school and boys moved to Shorncliffe and the buildings were handed over to the newly independent Irish Government.[1]

The buildings were used as a hospital by the Irish Army.[3] In 1948 it was transferred to the Dublin Health Authority and turned into a Chest Hospital.[3] In 1964 it became a facility for older patients and provides today accommodation for dependent older people.[3] It has 198 residential places.[4]

During the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic patients contracted COVID-19.[4] On 11 April 2020 it was announced by HSE that 11 patients had died in the hospital since 2 April 2020.[4] Ten patients were confirmed as testing positive for COVID-19 and the eleventh was a suspected COVID-19 case that was awaiting confirmation.[4] On 25 April 2020 HSE confirmed that 21 patients had died at the hospital since the start of April.[5] Eleven residents had died between 2 April and 17 April and a further ten had died between 17 April and 25 April.[5] All who died tested positive for COVID-19.[5]