A part of our sad history brushed under the carpet. Many committed by families for no other reasons but greed . Having worked in some state institutions I think we all should be ashamed. Horrible isn’t close
Why should we 'all' be ashamed? We didn't have anything to do with it. Those families, the workers and the ones who made them and allowed it are to blame. I wouldn't put anyone in a place like that. I wouldn't even put my family in a nursing home. I'm not taking any blame.
Love this Kevin. It's about time somebody catalogued St Anne's and the even more foreboding St Kevin's complex. I remember you from years ago. I'm glad to see you doing so well pal. 😊
Beautifully shot and executed. I used work nearby this building, one of the longest in Europe I think. It held constant fascination along with the red brick St. Kevin’s, a purpose built asylum in the late nineteenth century. I’ve heard all kinds of stories and they certainly give you a creepy feeling. I remember watching the fire and thinking it should be burned to the ground after what went on there.
Very well done indeed....a badly needed look back at these institutions and system and the society that pretty much sanctioned it all. Ironically these asylums when first opened were a vast improvement on the way people with mental illness were 'treated' previously. Unfortunately the system of care and it's institutions then stagnated and among other ills became a dumping ground / hiding place for not just the mentally ill but for people with intellectual disabilities, alcoholics and others who should never have been placed there. Many many inmates worsened due to their incarceration in these places. There was little or no hope for many. It is difficult to believe that it is only very recently that we moved away from institutional care of this kind. One can only imagine the suffering, desperation and loneliness these people endured...God be good to them all now.
It absolutely blows my mind to think of the selfishness involved in placing a vulnerable, intellectually disabled person into a hellhole like this KNOWING they were hellholes. As usual, people putting their own comfort and happiness over that of those who need us most. Couldn't and wouldn't be me.
That is a super presentation about a wonderful building, albeit with a sad history. I hope you will do more like these, especially about Cork specific locations but one way or the other more please Kevin ;-) Talented man. Regards John.
Absolutely fantastic. Everything from cinematography to narration and presentation to music/sound effects choice were brilliant, brought back some serious chills when reminded of the trauma of going there at night as a teenager 🥲 keep it up, you have a serious talent.
Every time I drive along the straight road I see this building. I have never gone up to it so this is very cool to see. Never knew this was an asylum. This also gives me a newfound view on the building, quite scary.
Perfectly filmed and edited, that eerie soundscape is perfect. Yet a horrible place (I walked around there recently, on a grey and dark day. I would never dare to live in one of those apartments, so much pain stored within those walls… - at DAFT I saw some of those apartments offered for sale, the BER rating is spooky too, cold, cold, place)
I used to live in the Block of flats behind the hospital around 2004. We used to get drunk and explore. Was alright till the kids started showing up and burning cars out. Pretty creepy place after hearing the history. I do miss Cork but my feet was to itchy.
My granda worked in that hospital as a chef years ago he played the local guardi in a soccer match as a staff vs garda match he tells me in his storys of the past
phenomenal video mate, absolutely no idea how this has such little views this is masterpiece, you deserve much more attention. Also sorry about the smart asses in the comments here, regardless of what information is correct or incorrect it does not change the quality of the masterclass video and its very interesting to see the inside of this place, which, is the main point of this video. Thanks very much tho for the vid mate, very enjoyable watch!
It was an extension of the British empire that every county in Ireland had at least one "lunatic asylum" . You said that the building's were connected by tunnel's? That suggests under ground passages but clearly those passages are above ground making them long corridor's. This is sad but has to said a lot the inmates of those asylum's were the results of inbreeding familys which was more common in Ireland then , Ireland does not want to remember that now. These days Ireland as an island nation has become one massive lunatic asylum for all the other countries of the world. The cream of the Irish people have been forced into emigration for century's for what? Nothing. For as the British empire rolled out of Ireland the Catholic church rolled right on in with their industrial school's and home's (Laundry's) for unmarried mothers . My home nation built on the blood, sweat, and tears of many generations of the finest gallant work hungry men has been simply given away by the politicians who's family's never did a days work in their lives.
2/3 of the asylum is restored in so much as that its apartments inside. Atkins Hall if you want to have a look on Daft at some of them. Hopefully the last section will find some love too.
I worked in Our Ladies Hospital from 1971 to 2018 . I watched your video last evening and was both upset and disturbed by it’s content . You filmed it in a derelict building that has been in decline since it closed in 1992 . The background music sounds and gravite was what make it seem eerie not a reflection on the residents who were unfortunate to have mental illness . I believe your account of what happened inside the hospital is inaccurate Surgical procedures never took place Corpses were never disrespected and left in wards for long periods . There was no underground tunnel a Link corridor joined St Itas, St Patrick’s and St Kevin’s . When you said you met the last two remaining patients and then showed two Horses I must assume that you compared Mental Health Patients to Horses Let’s not destroy the great work done by all health care professionals in easing the pain for those who develop mental health illness. “ Planning for the Future “ in 1984 which was followed by “Vision for Change “ in 2006 were Mental Health documents which sought to consolidate and deepen moves towards community care please feel free to respond to my comments Mr Collins
Hello Elieen, Thanks for watching my video and sorry to hear that it upset you. The piece doesn’t set out to destroy the great work done by all health care professionals nor do I think it encroached on that space in any way. It is an exploration inside a prominent derelict building which already had a reputation for being an eerie place when in operation. There is indeed an underground tunnel connecting Our Lady’s Hospital and St. Kevins. I know this because I have been in it but it is also well documented online. If you go to the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage and look up St Kevin’s Asylum you can find additional details here. There is no intention to offend in the video but as someone who worked there, such as yourself, you may be more sensitive than others and this I accept. I understand from reading your remarks that you did not witness any Lobotomy’s during your thirty year tenure. This is to be expected as it was so late in the asylum’s history. Lobotomy’s stopped being widely practised in the 1950’s. Their use peaked in the 1930’s and by the standards of the day, it was a commonly used treatment for people experiencing a psychotic disorder. It’s only by todays standards we find the procedure wholly inappropriate. It would be difficult for you to account for the previous 100 years that asylum was in operation, when you were not working there. The piece is neither empathic nor unempathetic towards psychiatric patients nor is it intended to be an examination of the ongoing mental crisis in the country. It is as billed: an exploration inside the asylum.
I too worked in Our Lady's Hospital and I agree with everything a previous commenter said. I was very saddened to see this video and cannot imagine why you walked around inside an institution that was home to thousands of mentally ill residents. What did you expect to see in an old derelict building that had been closed for over 20 years. In over 30 years I never witnessed any surgical procedures and neither did I see any corpses left on wards, as the hospital had it's own mortuary. Lastly your comments re the last patients were unacceptable and demeaning, have some respect.
Hello, Thanks for watching my video. There is no intention to offend but as someone who worked there, such as yourself, you may be more sensitive than others and this I accept. I understand from reading your remarks that you did not witness any Lobotomy’s during your thirty year tenure. This is to be expected as it was so late in the asylum’s history. Lobotomy’s stopped being widely practised in the 1950’s. Their use peaked in the 1930’s and by the standards of the day, it was a commonly used treatment for people experiencing a psychotic disorder. It’s only by todays standards we find the procedure wholly inappropriate. It would be difficult for you to account for the previous 100 years that asylum was in operation, when you were not working there. The piece is neither empathic nor unempathetic towards psychiatric patients nor is it intended to be an examination of the ongoing mental crisis in the country. It is as billed: an exploration inside the asylum.
A lot of cars outside the building s and one of them appeared to have lights on hence occupied? All in all , a shameful chapter of Irish history when a state which was founded on freedom and equality treated those less fortunate and with mental health issues though not all was allowed to exist! Ireland's , Cork's own Auschwitz!
So they had a concert and the locals were invited....... That's it end of story? If there was less of the weird music and more of the history of the place it would have been better, nice effort though.
Kevin of course derelict now so it looks very eerie and awful. When you talking about frontal lobotomies etc you talking probably about before the 1930s I was a nurse there for several years. A HSE long stay hospital and an admission unit also. Well run wards and the patients well cared for. While long stay hospitals may not have been ideal, sadly now a lot of our vulnerable, socially marginalised and mentally ill people are on our streets with nobody to care care for them. Now that is the tragedy of our society today.
It is quite obvious that you have little or no expertise in the complex history of dealing with the problem of mental illness. You would swear that this costly and beautiful building was built just to torture people which just isn't true. Just show the building and cut out the crap.
I am appalled by your video on RU-vid entitled' Inside the Asylum.'The whole content of the presentation was totally negative re treatment and care of patients. Having worked in O.L.H for nearly forty years.starting in the seventies ,I never came across any patient who had a locotomy performed.Your final statement showed showed complete lack of empathy towards psychiatric patients when you compaired two horses to patients.
Hi Brid, Thanks for watching my video and sorry to hear it appalled you. I understand from reading your remarks that you did not witness any Lobotomy’s during your tenure at the asylum from the 70’s onwards. This is to be expected as it was so late in the asylum’s history. Lobotomy’s stopped being widely practised in the 1950’s. Their use peaked in the 1930’s and by the standards of the day, it was a common treatment option for people experiencing a psychotic disorder. It’s only by todays standards we find the procedure wholly inappropriate. It would be difficult for you to account for the previous 100 years that asylum was in operation, when you were not working there. The piece is neither empathic nor unempathetic towards psychiatric patients nor is it intended to be an examination of the ongoing mental crisis in the country. It is as billed: an exploration inside the asylum.
I thought the video was excellent we all have some idea of the horrors inflicted on patients in these places which continued in some form up to the 1980s all covered up by medical staff and governments sooner it and many more are demolished the better and refrain from naming places after saints.
@@TonightWithKev Thanks Kevin how times change brother, the place will have some happiness at last. ……..The truth is like a lion, you do not defend it set free and it will defend itself. St Augustine
