Chan Weng Kit's Blogspot: DAY 354/355

Aug 21 & 22

1) As part of the National Heritage Week 2017 at RCSI, the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland has opened its historic doors to the public for three days, from Monday to Wednesday. Free tours of the building will take place at 11am, 2pm and 5pm on each day departing from the main entrance to the College on St Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2. As a student here, I thought it would be nice to learn a bit more about the history behind such an old and prestigious school.

2) The tour that I attended today was conducted by Mr. Bryan Sheils (Front of House Manager, RCSI) and Mr. Frank Donegan (Head Porter, RCSI). We started off at the entrance to the College (the old part of the building), as Mr Donegan explained more about the history behind our surroundings. We then proceeded upstairs to the Board Room, and subsequently the College Hall. We were especially lucky this time around as the RCSI Mace was on display for the week - something that doesn't happen save for really special occasions.

3) We passed through the Atrium and around the corridors as the tour drew to a close. In summary, we learnt the history behind the College Arms of RCSI, how it was founded after a Royal Charter granted by King Louis III, and its construction on an abandoned Quaker burial ground. As Mr Donegan so rightly pointed out, many of the pioneering inventions in surgery/ medicine can be traced back to Fellows and Members of the College. All in all, it was a great experience, and one that I cannot recommend highly enough.

Here's the website if you would like to book a tour for yourself, but be warned - the last tour ends tomorrow. http://rcsi.ie/heritageweek

Thanks very much for visiting, and enjoy the pics. Cheers!

With Mr Frank Donegan, Head Porter of RCSI

The main entrance to RCSI,

with the Robert Smith Room to the left, and Abraham Colles Room to the right

(medical students might remember a Smith's fracture and a Colles' fracture, attributed to both of these surgeons respectively)

Exact replica facsimile of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland Charter,

granted by King George III

Consilio Manuque - scholarship and dexterity (Motto of RCSI)

Apparently the artist commissioned with painting the portraits of the past RCSI presidents, also does the Royal Family portraits as well

Mr Donegan has been serving RCSI for 23 years

(here he is explaining the significance of the patterns on the steps)

Barber poles - due to the fact that since medieval times, the practice of surgery was licensed by the Barber-Surgeons' Guild

(red represents blood, and white represents the bandages used to wrap the wounds)

The Board Room

According to Mr Donegan, when First Lady Nancy Reagan visited RCSI, she fell in love with the three large carpets covering the hall (accordingly, she commissioned the exact same carpets to be made and they now adorn the Ambassador's office in the U.S. Embassy in Ireland)