History of St. Edmundsbury

St Edmundsbury is an acute psychiatric unit set in its own grounds just outside the village of Lucan, situated near the M50/N11 interchange and some five miles from its parent hospital St Patrick's. It was purchased by the Governors of St Patrick's in 1899 and initially served as a convalescent facility. In the early days the house was only able to accommodate 15 female patients but the surrounding farm produced food for the main hospital and raised funds by selling on surplus produce. A brochure from 1928 describes the building in 1907 of a 'Gentlemen's Villa' at St Edmundsbury to accommodate 'eight gentlemen patients' where 'Croquet and tennis courts are provided and a motor car is maintained for the use of the patients'.

In the 1980's the building of a new purpose designed accomodation block of forty four single rooms and 3 double rooms allowed for the renovation of the old house into communal and treatment areas.

For more information see "Swift's Hospital - A History of St. Patrick's Hospital, Dublin, 1746-1989" by Elizabeth Malcolm ISBN-0-7171-1501-1.