Where I’m staying is a very interesting place. Part of the hotel used to be an infants hospital. That building was incorporated into the new hotel. It is now used for rooms.
In 1919 Sinn Fein, a political party instrumental in establishing the Irish Free State, set up a womens committee. They, along with two women doctors set up St. Ultans Infants Hospital. That building is now part of the hotel.
Interestingly, their first concern was treating women and infants who contracted venereal diseases from returning soldiers from world war 1. That was the basis of them wanting to focus on women and infant care. It was a big problem. They did lots of education.
One of the doctors, Katherine Lynn, worked with the rebels during the fight to free Ireland from English rule. She was jailed afterwards.
They wanted the hospital to be a “university for mothers”. They started educational “babies clubs” for mother to decrease infant mortality. They encouraged breastfeeding.
By the the late 1930’s, the hospital had 35 beds. They became leaders in TB research. They pointed out the connection between poverty and disease.
Most of all they were a women established hospital dedicated to the needs of women and children. It changed Ireland and Irish medicine.
How did I discover all this? I noticed this unusual part of the hotel and asked someone at the desk about it. Then I looked it up on the internet and learned the story.
Below is what it looked like way back then. The hospital name is in Irish. There’s a picture of it as part of the hotel. Last is some of the nurses and babies.
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