I visited the gardens at the Royal Hospital Kilmainham this morning. Later, I learned about the history of the hospital.

All of the hedges and trees in the garden are very well trimmed. There is a small labyrinth with a statue in the middle. The labyrinth was impressive only because it blended in so well. Next to the labyrinth is the carriage house. The garden has a lot of modern art in it. There is a tree with cardboard tongue cut-outs hanging from it. The tree of tongues was very striking against the lush greenery. The modern art, in general, added a colorful splash to the gardens. The gatehouse is very well preserved for such an old building. Overall, I was impressed by the gardens.

Royal Hospital Kilmainham was a Norman monastery of the Knights Hospitallers, built on the site of a seventh century Christian settlement. Building of the hospital began in 1680. The architects made the hospital a starting point for Dublin to become a city of European standing.

The hospital was inspired by Les Invalides, in Paris, a retirement home for soldiers. For the next two hundred forty-seven years, the hospital was home to thousands of army pensioners living out their final days within its walls.

In 1991, the hospital became home to the Irish Museum of Modern Art.