Temple Street have kept us going. Their everyday has been to care, to help, to heal, to comfort. We bring our babies into this world and we rely so much on those in the wards to help keep them there…From then to now there are catalogues of evidence of the wonderful, beautiful, magical, heart-lifting and heart-breaking stories of those who passed through its halls and inhabited its rooms; stories which have remained silent for so many years. You know the expression, if those walls could talk….Well, now they are talking, on the pages of this book.' – Cecelia Ahern
Founded in 1872, Temple Street is now one of Ireland’s best recognised children’s hospitals. From the nurses who used to smuggle ‘Penny Horribles’ onto the wards, to the child whose journey to Dublin took seven hours on a turf-fired train, memories of Temple Street are as rich as they are varied. Today, the old buildings still resonate with stories but one tradition has not changed – a deep commitment to the well-being of Irish children.
Drawing on sparkling interviews with past patients, retired staff members and others, this book takes a unique look past the hall door to uncover the life of a place that started as a private residence but has since become a world-class hospital.
Illustrated throughout by beautiful photographs and images from the history, past and present of the hospital, Temple Street Hospital: An Illustrated History is a beautiful and engaging tribute to this brilliant institution and its wonderful staff.