The Phoenix Children’s Hospital

Minister for Health Simon Harris announced in October that the new €1 billion national paediatric hospital will be known as Phoenix Children’s Hospital Ireland

Sir, – It cannot be a surprise to anyone that the board of the National Children's Hospital is facing legal action over the proposed name for the new facility ("New children's hospital faces legal action over 'Phoenix' name", December 6th).

In selecting the name Phoenix, the board was apparently already aware of the existence of Phoenix Children’s Hospital in Arizona but chose to proceed anyway.

Perhaps they named the hospital after the wrong bird. The Ostrich Children’s Hospital, anyone? – Yours, etc,

MICHAEL McDERMOTT

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Rathgar,

Dublin 6.

Sir, – I was horrified to read that the new children’s hospital in Dublin was ever going to be called Phoenix Children’s Hospital. Would Dublin Children’s Hospital not make more sense? The internet would enable anyone to confuse the two.

Besides, phoenix must be one of the most difficult words to spell in the English language. – Yours, etc,

EITHNE LINNANE,

Dublin 2.

Sir, – I see a US hospital is trying to stop us using the name Phoenix for our children’s hospital as they already have a Phoenix children’s hospital.

Perhaps we should ask them to rename their cities of Dublin, Ohio; Paris, Texas; Athens Illinois; or any of their three Berlins.

And New York is fooling nobody. – Yours, etc,

DAVID DOYLE,

Goatstown,

Dublin 14.