Throughout the history of the Royal Hospital Kilmainham, many prominent architects would be engaged in the construction, expansion and editing of the space. Bringing in different designs, ideas and tensions to the Royal Hospital, this helped to create the unique design and layout that is still visible today. This tour follows the different paths, influences and designs of several of the architects whilst also linking the Royal Hospital to buildings across both Dublin and Ireland. Focusing on aspects of the design prevalent today, as these architects worked to ensure that the focus of the building while classical in design would stay within the confines of a building engineered to be a nursing and retirement home for predominantly Irish veterans of the British Armed Forces while also bearing in mind the social season the officers and commanders brought to this space.

This building is owned by the State through the Office of Public Works (OPW).

Meeting point: The meeting space is the OPW stand in the central courtyard of the Royal Hospital beside the entrance of the Irish Museum of Modern Art.

Pre-Book Only

Accessible Toilets
Assistance Dogs welcome

A large proportion of the tour is wheelchair accessible. However entrance to the gardens will be done through steps. Furthermore the paths in the Formal Gardens are gravelled which can be unsuitable for some buggies and wheelchairs. The ground can be uneven in places and the courtyard is paved with cobblestones outside of the intended pathways.