This tour explores the rich history of both the Royal Hospital Kilmainham and its grounds. Designed as a nursing and retirement home for predominately Irish veterans of the British Armed Forces, while not the first phase of activity on the site, it would be its primary function for nearly 250 years. Monks, Vikings and Knights Hospitallers had all in turn used the space for a variety of reasons. Taking place both indoors and outdoors, this tour discusses the use, development and importance the Royal Hospital Kilmainham alongside the many colourful characters who inhabited these walls during its use. Looking at the rapidly changing uses over the years to discuss how and why the Royal Hospital came to be, where it was and the design it was whilst also looking into its rapidly expanded roles and what that meant for the inhabitants on the site.

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

Meeting Point: The OPW stand in the central courtyard of the Royal Hospital beside the entrance of the Irish Museum of Modern Art.

Drop-in

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.