Dungarvan
Leader 4 February 1950
Laying
foundation stone of new TB sanatorium, Ardkeen.
Tom Tobin in his ‘Spotlight’ column reported on the
laying of the foundation stone of the new TB unit by Minister for Health Dr.
Noel Browne.
Public representatives for all over the county were
present as well as the County Manager, Mr. S. J. Moynihan. County Secretary Mr. J. G. Dowling, council
officials, engineers and all those associated with the building of this great
sanatorium in which will take place the never ending fight against Ireland’s
bitter enemy – T.B.
One of the early arrivals on the scene was His
Lordship, Most Rev. Dr Cohalan, Bishop of Waterford and Lismore. The Bishop assisted by the Rev Father R.
Coady blessed the site…and the minister turned the first sod and immediately
afterwards he was presented with a silver trowel by Mr. Murphy, contactor. Later on the steps of the tall and massive
mansion [Ardkeen House built by John Malcomson c.1869]
and facing a large and representative gathering the Minister spoke of his great
plans to end Ireland’s greatest scourge…Afterwards an informal reception was
held in Ardkeen House.