Bid to name new children’s hospital after Mayo 1916 figure overlooked by the Government
A Bill that proposed naming Ireland's new children's hospital after Dr. Kathleen Lynn from Killala, County Mayo, was unanimously passed by the Dáil in April.
However, Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill announced last week that the hospital will formally be named the National Children's Hospital Ireland (NCHI).
Mayo TD Rose Conway-Walsh has said this decision is "Outrageous and deeply disappointing to not only the people of Mayo but to, I believe, most people living on this island."
The 'Children's Health (Ospidéal Náisiúnta Kathleen Lynn do Leanaí) (Amendment) Bill' was proposed by Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh and co-sponsored by Deputy Conway-Walsh, along with her colleagues Deputy Máire Devine and Deputy David Cullinane.
Speaking to the Irish Independent, the Sinn Féin TD said, "Dr Kathleen Lynn was the most senior ranking woman in the 1916 Rising and set up Ireland's very first children's hospital,
"There is no better way to acknowledge the pioneering work she did and the children's lives she saved than naming the National Children's Hospital after her."
Dr Kathleen Lynn was from Mullafarry outside of Killala in County Mayo. She established Ireland's first children's hospital, named Saint Ultan's, on Charlemont Street in 1919. Dr Lynn helped lead efforts to eradicate TB through the rollout of the BCG vaccine. She was also the most senior-ranked woman in the 1916 Easter Rising, offering first aid to wounded soldiers at City Hall.
Deputy Conway-Walsh continued, "The Dáil had unanimously passed the first stage of Sinn Féin's Bill to name the hospital in Dr Lynn's honour. The Seanad also voted unanimously on two occasions for the naming of the hospital Dr Lynn, including one motion put forward by Fianna Fáil themselves."
In addition to the three separate votes on this matter, a petition had gathered nearly 6,000 signatures in support of naming the hospital in honour of Dr Lynn. The naming was also backed by trade unions and historians.
"To think that all this was ignored by this government demonstrates an arrogance, and I believe is disrespectful of not only a remarkable woman but democracy itself," said Deputy Conway-Walsh.
The NCHI is currently under construction, with its completion date having been delayed fifteen times over the last four years. It is set to be a state-of-the-art facility bringing together the children's hospitals in Temple Street, Crumlin and Tallaght.
In a statement from the Department of Health, Minister Carroll MacNeil announced the formal name for the hospital, stating, "This name was chosen, in consultation with parents, families, staff and the Youth Advisory Council."
The Minister for Health said the name was chosen so there would be "no doubt" in people's minds as to where they are going when they have an appointment at NCHI, "When a parent or guardian is getting off a train at Heuston or Connolly and getting a taxi for their child's appointment, they'll be able to say: 'take me to the National Children's Hospital Ireland'."
In relation to Dr Kathleen Lynn, the Minister said, "I look forward to discussing the ways we can honour her work within the NCHI".
Dr Lynn was born in Mullafarry outside Killala, County Mayo, in 1874. Her father was a Church of Ireland minister, and her mother hailed from Sligo. She graduated in 1899 with a degree in medicine and went on to become a fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons after completing her postgraduate work in the US.
Dr Lynn was the first female resident at the Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital, where she worked as a clinical assistant while also running her own GP practice in Rathmines.
During her time in Dublin, Dr Lynn became active in the Suffragette and Nationalist movements. She was a member of the Irish Citizen Army and was the chief medical officer during the 1916 Easter Rising, stationed at City Hall. Dr Lynn provided first aid to wounded soldiers and, according to her own diary entries, was a witness to the shooting of James Connolly. Dr Lynn was arrested by British forces on Easter Monday and imprisoned.
After her arrest, Dr Lynn continued her work with Sinn Féin and was elected vice-president of the executive in 1917. She would later be elected as an anti-Treaty Sinn Féin TD in the 1923 general election, but did not take her seat.
In 1919, she opened Saint Ultan's Hospital on Charlemont Street. This was Ireland's first children's hospital, it provided care for less fortunate children as well as employment opportunities for female doctors. St Ultan's initiated one of the first TB vaccine campaigns in Ireland.
This article has been funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.