Royal Hibernian Military School

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]

Medical use

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] St Mary’s Hospital undertook a major renovation in late 2020 bringing facilities to that of a modern healthcare facility. St Mary’s Hospital has increased its inpatient capacity from 48 to 101 sub-acute rehabilitation beds providing support to acute hospitals in the region. Phase 2 of the infrastructure upgrade is to include the expansion and modernisation of the hospital's x-Ray department.^[4] The Phoenix Park Community Nursing Unit (PPCNU) has 150 beds and provides residential care to older adults.^[5]

COVID-19 pandemic

During the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic patients contracted COVID-19.^[6] On 11 April 2020 it was announced by HSE that 11 patients had died in the hospital since 2 April 2020.^[6] Ten patients were confirmed as testing positive for COVID-19 and the eleventh was a suspected COVID-19 case that was awaiting confirmation.^[6] On 25 April 2020 HSE confirmed that 21 patients had died at the hospital since the start of April.^[7] Eleven residents had died between 2 April and 17 April and a further ten had died between 17 April and 25 April.^[7] All who died tested positive for COVID-19.^[7]