Our Lady’s Hospice
Our Lady’s Hospice in Harold’s Cross, Dublin, was founded in 1879 by the Congregation of the Religious Sisters of Charity, established by Mary Aikenhead in 1815 to address urban poverty. Aikenhead, originally from Cork and a convert to Catholicism, founded numerous charitable institutions, including St. Vincent’s Hospital in 1834, Ireland’s first hospital run by women.
In 1845, Aikenhead acquired “Greenmount” in Harold’s Cross, renaming it “Our Lady’s Mount.” This became the Mother House of the Congregation. The site saw additions including a night school, a Sunday School, and a day school.
In January 1879, an outbreak of smallpox at the hospital led to the infection of several Sisters, prompting the move of the Congregation to a new property in Milltown, renamed Mount St. Anne’s. The Sisters, recognising the need for a hospice for those who were incurable and lacking proper care, had long envisioned such a facility. Despite various challenges and delays, the Hospice was finally established in 1882, providing essential care for the city’s sick, destitute, and dying, addressing a critical need of that era.
Association with Poddle
The Poddle splits at the near the entrance of Mount Jerome cemetery, the main river going parallel close to Harold’s Cross Road. The second part, is the start of the Abbey Stream, which historically was a mill race through the cemetery and enters the Hospice ground into a mill pond a the end of the Hospice land. Both the mill-race and pond have been long since culverted and none of the Poddle is visible on the grounds of Harold’s Cross Hospice anymore.
What the Newspapers Say
- Dublin city councillors are opposing plans to cover more of the Poddle River with concrete culverts, particularly a section running through the Harold’s Cross hospice. Much of the river has already been buried due to urban development. Councillors Eric Byrne and Ciaran Cuffe have expressed concerns about the loss of amenity value and have called for a full report on the proposal. Assistant City Manager William Soffe has agreed to provide this report, and a decision on the tender has been postponed. Recently, part of the river was uncovered during roadworks near Saint Patrick’s Cathedral.