Full list of names considered for National Children’s Hospital
Names considered for the new National Children’s Hospital included 'The Acorn', 'The Pearl' and the 'All Ireland Children’s Hospital'. The full list of all 18 names considered for the new National Children’s Hospital before settling on 'National Children’s Hospital Ireland' has finally been released. Health Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill confirmed last week that the name of the beleaguered hospital, built on the grounds of St James’ Hospital, had been chosen for its simplicity. The cost involved with the naming process was €4,500 and was decided "with the support of a specialist branding agency". Following several queries to the Department of Health , it has now released the full list of considered names. Despite initially stating that 17 names were on the shortlist, it has now transpired that there were 18, including versions of the final name. All of the names considered include the words "Children’s Hospital Ireland". The Department of Health stated that the list was "produced" and "reflected the purpose, place, physical structure/design, and connectivity to the social environment". The Kernal Children’s Hospital Ireland The Acorn Children’s Hospital Ireland Silverbridge Children’s Hospital Ireland The Dolphin Children’s Hospital Ireland The Wellspring Children’s Hospital Ireland Farelight Children’s Hospital Ireland The Pearl Children’s Hospital Ireland The Grove / Bower Children’s Hospital Ireland Rainbow Children’s Hospital Ireland Rialto Children’s Hospital Ireland Lumina Children’s Hospital Ireland Solas Children’s Hospital Ireland Summit Children’s Hospital Ireland National Children’s Hospital / Ireland National Children’s Hospital All Ireland Children’s Hospital The Central Children’s Hospital Children’s Hospital Ireland Leanaí Linn Ireland’s National Children’s Hospital Senior Government sources said that they wanted to ensure that the word "Ireland" was in the name so that it would be clear where doctors were working when they were representing the hospital abroad. They further wanted to "capture" that it was a "Children’s hospital in the name" as "international patients and doctors need to differentiate". There had been calls for the hospital to be named after Irish patriot and medic Dr Kathleen Lynn. "Leanaí Linn" was the name considered to honour the 1916 Rising stalwart. She co-founded a children’s hospital in Dublin in 1919. Saint Ultan’s Children’s Hospital closed in the 1980s when it merged with the National Children’s Hospital on Harcourt Street. This was later relocated to Tallaght. The government did not oppose a Seanad motion, brought forward by Fianna Fáil’s Mary Fitzpatrick in May 2023, to name the hospital after her. Sinn Féin TD Aengus Ó Snodaigh then submitted a Bill to the Dáil in April 2025 to name the hospital after Dr Lynn. The Bill was not opposed by the Government, but it has not yet progressed through the legislative process. Senator Fitzpatrick took aim at Minister Carroll MacNeill for "wasting public funds" and "ignoring political consensus" over the name. However, the process took place in 2024 when Ms Fitzpatrick’s Fianna Fáil colleague Stephen Donnelly was still in office. The Department of Health confirmed that the methodology for coming up with names focused on "engagement and inclusivity, being mindful of the history and lessons learnt and “time and cost-effectiveness". They added: "The naming process centred on stakeholder interviews, lessons-learned analysis, and rigorous assessments of the extensive information captured through the previous naming project to reflect CHI’s values, vision, mission, the hospital’s international and national context, and what the new children’s hospital means to its many stakeholders." Join our Dublin Live breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive your daily dose of Dublin Live content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice . For all the latest news from Dublin and surrounding areas visit our homepage.
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