Chan Weng Kit's Blogspot: College Hall

Tuesday, 22 August 2017

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)

The College Hall

Apparently the College Mace is not as heavy as it looks

The Council Chambers -where the various Heads gather for meetings

The Council Chambers - usually strictly off limits, except for today ;D

Mr. Harry O'Flanagan,

whose namesake we derive the O'Flanagan Lecture Theatre from

Some pics of RCSI as it was when occupied by insurgents in the 1916 Easter Uprising (below)

Some well-preserved specimens

Not something I'd be interested in if I'm honest... XD

End of tour :)

Monday, 20 February 2017

DAY 172

Feb 20

1) Today has been a really busy day for me. To start things off, we had a solid four hour block of lectures, beginning at 8.00am! The agony of waking up for the 8.00am class is real XD Anyway, at noon, we had a brief respite for lunch, and I had some chicken sandwiches with stuffing. There wasn't much time to idle about, as most of us were involved in the Interfaith Celebration event at the Unitarian Church.

2) Many of my friends were ushers, while Khee Heng was the candle bearer. I was chosen to read a text on thanksgiving for the donors, and I was accompanied by three others. By 2.30pm, the event began, with prayers, poems, reflections and choir performances to commemorate the deceased and to show our appreciation to their families for their sacrifice. Professor Clive Lee, Professor of Anatomy, RCSI - was also present to give his address to those present. It was a solemn and emotional gathering, but made all the more memorable with the presence of the surgeon prosectors and family members alike.

3) After the concluding words by Rev Bridget Spain, we were all invited to the College Hall (RCSI) where refreshments were served. Here we got an opportunity to meet up with some of the family members, and many of them thanked us for hosting this event. It gave me immense joy to know that their loved ones voluntarily donated their bodies and that they honoured their wishes. As medical students, I think it is imperative we make the connection that the "cadavers" that we study in the Anatomy Room (every Tues and Fri) are someone's brothers, sisters, spouses or relatives. It just makes us appreciate the greatest gift of them all; the gift of life. And we should never forget that.

4) Immediately after the event, I hurried over to Mercer Library, where my group and I discussed on the Team Project. Fortunately, we are almost done and just have to compile everything and proofread it before submission. Hopefully we'll complete this before our next meeting, which is after Reading Week. At 6.00pm, I was again back at the College, to meet up with the PMC Student Association, to discuss on the performance for International Night. While I still can, I aim to be as active as possible in all sorts of events, before we start doing clinical rotations in hospitals. As expected, the rest of the night will be spent trying to read up on my lessons, in preparation for Card Signing this Friday. That has been my day, and I hope you enjoyed reading about it. Thanks as always, and have a great day. Cheers!