1938 – Sanatorium, Castlerea, Co. Roscommon

Castlerea was established as part of the system of district mental hospitals in 1939 as a Psychiatric Hospital annex to St Bridget’s Hospital in Ballinasloe. Operating intermittently as a tuberculosis sanitorium from 1948 to 1951, it continued to function as a hospital until 1994 when it was closed. Renamed St. Patrick’s Hospital during the 1960s. The aerial photograph taken during the 1950s clearly shows the segregated blocks and walkways popular in early 20th century hospital design. J.R. Boyd Barrett also designed new mental health facilities at St. Loman’s, Mullingar around this time – bearing similarities to the residential blocks here. Some of the original buildings have been repurposed for use as prison accommondation – the site is now Castlerea Prison.