Our history
The Mater Hospital was founded by the Sisters of Mercy in 1852. In 1861, the hospital officially opened its doors, providing the best in medical care to all those who needed it - irrespective of their means. This philosophy and mission continues to this day.
The hospital has witnessed many of the most dramatic events in the nation's history. These included the cholera and Spanish flu epidemics, as well as the events of the revolutionary period and more recent troubles.
Centenary remembrance
The Mater Hospital, along with many of the other hospitals, cared for the dying and wounded of the 1916 Rising. As it is the last remaining adult hospital from that period still operating on its original site, the staff decided to organise a number of events on the occasion of the centenary. These included:
- A display documenting the events in and around the hospital before and during the Rising
- A play, co–written by a relative of the 1916 leaders, performed by staff in the Freeman Auditorium
- A mass in remembrance of those killed in the rising
See the Stories from 1916 website here for accounts and a podcast recording of a member of staff working in the Mater Hospital during the 1916 Rising.
Plans for our heritage centre
Building on the work of Sr Eugene Nolan and others, the Mater Hospital is planning to establish a heritage centre at the hospital. This heritage centre will serve as a focal point where staff, patients and the general public can learn more about the hospital and it's rich history. The heritage centre will host exhibitions and displays and will demonstrate how the hospital has engaged with the social, political and medical changes in Ireland for over 150 years.
The heritage centre will also be responsible for the care and maintenance of the hospital archives. In the future, we hope to make these archives available to the general public for research.
Our hospital's timeline
| 2016 | 125th anniversary of nursing in the Mater Hospital |
| 2015 |
30th anniversary since the first heart transplant was carried out in Ireland at the hospital 10th anniversary of the first lung transplant at the Mater Hospital Opening of new hematology/oncology day ward |
| 2013 |
Transformation Office Lean academy established |
| 2012 | Opening of the new Whitty Wing |
| 2010 |
Mater Smithfield Rapid Injury Clinic opened Rapid Access Prostate Clinic and Rapid Access Lung Clinic opened |
| 2008 | Neurological Institute officially opened by President of Ireland, Mary McAleese |
| 2007 |
First double lung transplant performed Family Heart Screen Clinic opened |
| 2006 |
Clinical Research Centre established Centre for Nurse Education opened |
| 2005 |
First lung transplant procedure performed BreastHealth Mater Unit opened |
| 2003 | Pulmonary Hypertension Unit officially opened by President Mary McAleese |
| 1993 | National Spinal Injuries Unit opened |
| 1989 | New extension built with over 300 beds |
| 1985 | Heart transplant programme started |
| 1972 | Shooting attempt in hospital in an attempt to free an IRA prisoner |
| 1955 | Physiotherapy School opened |
| 1952 | First heart surgery procedure performed (mitral valvotomy) |
| 1940 | Physiotherapy Department opened |
| 1935 | First time blood transfusion is possible |
| 1927 | Insulin first introduced in Ireland at the Mater |
| 1916 | Hospital cares for dead and wounded from the Easter Rising |
| 1914 - 1918 | WW1 "hospital ships" bring injured soldiers to the Mater Hospital, and Mater doctors and nurses travel to the front lines to treat injured soldiers |
| 1911 | Golden Jubilee year (annual cost per bed £29-15-7d) |
| 1906 | Small purpose-built X-ray Department completed |
| 1900 | Queen Victoria visits |
| 1891 | School of Nursing opened |
| 1888 | First full-time pathologist in Ireland appointed |
| 1878 | First medical specialist appointed (obstetric physician) |
| 1871 | Smallpox epidemic – 800 patients admitted |
| 1866 | Cholera epidemic – 206 cholera patients admitted (annual budget £3,818-7-5d) |
| 1861 | Hospital formally opened on 24th September |
| 1851 | Land on Eccles Street acquired |
| 1845 | Permission to build a hospital granted |