Community Healthcare Cavan, Donegal, Leitrim, Monaghan, Sligo
Dr Simon Sheil book collection returned to new Ballyshannon Community Hospital
A collection of approximately 100 books, many of which belonged to the late Dr Simon Sheil, will today be presented to the new Ballyshannon Community Hospital at a special ceremony.
This ceremony takes place, today July 28th, in the new hospital and among the attendees were descendants of Dr McMullin and HSE representatives.
Dr Simon Sheil, who endowed the former Sheil hospital, was a doctor who practised in the town. Dr Sheil had a library of several hundred books which he valued very highly and were referenced in his will following his passing in 1889.
“I direct that the books and bookcases in my house in Ballyshannon shall be devoted to form a library for the use of the hospital, to be rounded as herein before directed, but my sisters, living in my said house are to retain and have custody of them until a proper place is provided for them in the hospital.”
In 1916 the books were being kept in the hospital and regrettably due to wartime pressures many were thrown out.
Dr JC McMullin, a young surgeon recently appointed to the hospital was anxious to preserve the books and felt that it would be a pity to throw them out. With the help of the hospital porter he took two barrow loads of the books to fill a bookcase in his new house, Innisfail on College Street.
By far the oldest book in the collection is an anatomy book published in London in 1684 .The rest of the books were published between 1730 and 1850 and feature not only medical books, but travel books, philosophy books and chemistry books. They also include Observations upon the Prophecies of Daniel and the Apocalypse of St John in Two Parts by Sir Isaac Newton Signed from 1733.
Today, descendants of Dr McMullin will present the books to the new Ballyshannon Community Hospital, with many of them having travelled from as far afield as Australia.
The books will be on view in a special bookcase in the new 80 bedded Ballyshannon Community Hospital.
It is planned that the new €36.7 million hospital will open this autumn.
The new Ballyshannon Community hospital replaces the Old Sheil Hospital and the Rock Nursing Home and features 52 long stay beds, 20 short stay beds providing, convalescence, rehabilitation, respite and palliative care beds, 8 Dementia specific assessment beds and a Day Hospital Service.
All units will have access to an external garden, including secure rooftop gardens with seating, plants, garden figures and panoramic views of the surrounding areas. A fully functional coffee dock will be available for residents and visitors.
The new community hospital will provide a full range of supporting professional services for the older person in the South Donegal, North Leitrim and North Sligo areas. The following professional services will be available to residents and patients to support their physical and social wellbeing; GP, Pharmacy, Speech and Language Therapist, Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, Dietician, Podiatry, Tissue Viability Nurse Specialist, Dentistry, Audiology, Clinical Nurse Specialist Dementia, Psychiatry of old age and Social worker, Advocacy and Spiritual services. In addition a Hairdressing facility, Newspapers/ Magazines/ Shopping requirements, Dry cleaning and Taxis/transport will be made available to residents and patients.
Dermot Monahan, Chief Officer, Community Healthcare Cavan, Donegal, Leitrim, Monaghan, Sligo said; “We are very grateful to the McMullin family for returning these treasured books to the new Ballyshannon Community Hospital. They will be a wonderful reference for not only the medical professions but for historians alike.”
Nick Smith, grandson of Dr McMullin said; “The many descendants of JC McMullin are delighted that the books are back in the town where they first came together. As Daragh Smith, who looked after the books for so many years, once wrote. “The value, the importance of these books was not their individual value or interest, but the fact that they were a unit... They had been together for a very long time. They must remain thus and I must see to it that when the time comes, the person into whose hands they are to pass fully understands his duty to keep the collection intact.”
We are delighted that Ballyshannon Community Hospital, understanding this relationship, have taken the books into their care and protection”
Frank Morrison, CH CDLMS, Head of Service, Older Persons, said; “We are delighted to have such an asset in the new Ballyshannon Community Hospital and to welcome Dr McMullin’s family to the event today. The hospital will be a tremendous addition to the area and it is wonderful to have an important piece of the past included in this state of the art building.”
View the development and hear from some of the residents on how they feel about the move
Last updated on: 28 / 07 / 2023
