royal hospital kilmainham

James Butler, Duke of Ormonde, founded the Royal Hospital at Kilmainham having first obtained a charter from charles II in 1680.

The Duke's plans for a hospice for pensioner soldiers was based on the institution of 'Les Invalides' in Paris. The Royal Hospital is now the oldest surviving fully classical building in Ireland. It is also the largest 17th century building.

Ranged around the quadrangle, the building includes the Master's Quarters for the governor of the hospital, and the Great Hall containing splendid portraits of monarchs and Lord Justices of Ireland. The chapel is adorned with the most spectacular baroque ceiling which is a fine composition of vegetable and floral motifs. Stained glass windows and fine wood carvings by the Huguenot craftsman, James Tarbaret, also feature.

The Royal Hospital was awarded the 1985 Europa Nostra award for the restoration of the building. The Government has designated it as the National Centre for Culture and the Arts.