As part of National Heritage Week, the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland will open its historic building at 6 Kildare Street to the public on Tuesday 21 August 2012. This year's open day theme is Doctors on the Ball: Sports and Medicine in Ireland.
Free of charge and open to all, Doctors on the Ball is a nostalgic exhibition celebrating Irish Medicine's rich sporting heritage. Photographs, trophies and other rare memorabilia will provide a unique insight into the historical links between sports and medicine in Ireland.
Visitors can learn about some of Ireland's forgotten sporting medics, such as former tennis world no.1, Dr Joshua Pim, who won the Wimbledon men's singles title two years in a row, in 1893 and 1894. Dr Pim also won the men's doubles in 1890 and 1893, and was described in his time as 'the finest player the world has ever seen.'
Other featured doctors include Dr Pat O'Callaghan, who was a GP in Co. Tipperary and regarded as the world's best hammer thrower. Dr O'Callaghan won the hammer throw in the 1928 Olympics in Amsterdam and the 1932 Olympics in Los Angeles, winning the first Olympic gold medal for Ireland as an independent country, and becoming the first Irish person to win two Olympic gold medals.
Memorabilia on display will include the Irish Open Tennis Cup, won four times by Dr Pim in the 1890s, and Ireland's longest-running rugby cup competition, the Dublin Hospitals Rugby Cup. Visitors will also be able to improve their knowledge of the importance of health and fitness (those brave enough can avail of a complimentary fitness test!) and learn about the contribution made by medical professionals to many sports, including rugby (over 200 doctors have played international rugby for Ireland), the GAA and horse racing. Some of the great work done by the St John's Ambulance, who provide medical care at sports events throughout Ireland, will also be demonstrated.
Doctors on the Ball: Sports and Medicine in Ireland will take place at the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, 6 Kildare Street, Dublin 2 on Tuesday 21 August, from 12.00pm - 8.00pm.
There will be guided tours of the building at 6 Kildare Street at 12.30pm, 2.00pm, 3.30pm, 5.00pm and 6.30pm. Places on these tours are limited, so to guarantee your place please contact us to book in on 01 6698817 or
heritagecentre@rcpi.ie
There is no need to pre-book to view the exhibition, however large groups of 15 or more people are asked to contact the Heritage Centre in RCPI in advance on 01 6698817 or
heritagecentre@rcpi.ie