Sir, – What a wonderful idea to name the new children’s hospital after Dr Kathleen Lynn. She is a heroine of the 1916 Rebellion and with any luck the hospital might be opened during the centenary of that occasion.
Tom Stokes and Marie Mulholland (HEALTHPlus, July 12th) point out that she founded the first paediatric hospital in Ireland, St Ultan’s. But she had far greater plans in the 1930s for a large children’s hospital on the Charlemont Street site behind St Ultan’s.
Her plans did not find favour with Archbishop John Charles McQuaid. He was very important in scuppering this initiative – non- Catholic and Catholic children were to be cared for together and of this he did not approve.
Since the new hospital will care for and cherish all the children of the nation equally and together, it would be fitting to see her initiative of over 70 years ago remembered. – Yours, etc,