Rose Conway-Walsh: Defends GPO, Wants Hospital Named for Lynn
Rose Conway-Walsh addressed the Dáil, opposing the government's plans for the GPO and the Moor Street 1916 Cultural Quarter and demanding the National Children's Hospital be named after Dr. Kathleen Lynn. She thanked Deputy Angus Osnoddy for bringing the motion and said Sinn Féin has set out a vision in his bill to develop the 1916 Cultural Quarter in line with the Moor Street Preservation Trust.
Thanks to the bill proposer
She opened by thanking Deputy Angus Osnoddy for bringing the motion and for his work to protect rebel history and respect the patriot dead and their families. She said Sinn Féin's bill proposes development of the 1916 Cultural Quarter in line with the Moor Street Preservation Trust.
Opposition to proposed sale
She criticised what she described as the government's proposal to sell off the GPO and surrounding Moor Street houses "to private propertyers," calling that plan beyond comprehension for most Irish citizens. She emphasised the GPO, its lanes and Moor Street houses as hallowed ground for Irish people.
Demand to name the National Children's Hospital
She accused the government of choosing to ignore the Dáil vote and of refusing to name the new National Children's Hospital after Dr. Kathleen Lynn. She described Lynn as the most senior ranking woman in the 1916 Rising who set up Ireland's first children's hospital and led efforts to eradicate TB, arguing that naming the hospital after her would be a fitting tribute.
Historical significance cited
She invoked the GPO's central role in 1916, saying it was on the GPO steps that Porrick Pearce read the words of the proclamation and that the revolutionary government of 1916 operated from within the building. She argued the proclamation's aims remain not fully realised and used that history to criticise successive governments.
Warning to the government and public mobilisation
She warned the minister that "you are not going to get away with this" and said the people of Ireland will rise up to ensure the patriot dead are honoured. She referenced earlier comments about "delete, delete, delete," insisting the public will not be allowed to delete this history.
Closing remarks and interruptions
Her closing contained a series of garbled asides and administrative references to information sharing, websites and resources that interrupted the flow of the parliamentary speech.
We publish thousands of recordings to make Irish politics transparent and resistant to manipulation. Spotted an error? Report it — together we are building a reliable archive of Irish politics.
Firstly, I want to thank my colleague, Deputy Angus Osnoddy, not only for bringing this motion to the House this evening, but for the battle that he continuously fights to protect our rebel history, respect our patriot dead and their families. Sinn Féin has set out a clear vision in Angus's bill to develop the 1916 Cultural Quarter in line with the Moor Street Preservation Trust. The GPO and the surrounding lanes and the houses of Moor Street are hallowed ground for Irish people. The Government's proposal to sell off this incredible piece of history to private propertyers is beyond comprehension to most Irish citizens. It is on the steps of the GPO that Porrick Pearce read the words of the proclamation and from within the building that the revolutionary government of 1916 that led the 1916 Rising, a proclamation that after over a hundred years is yet to be fully realised and that tells us a lot about the governments we have had in the interim. Dublin became the city that fought the biggest empire in the world from the epicentre of the GPO. So the question that people are asking this evening and asking in the last week is why are Fianna Gael hell built on extinguishing the memory of those who died for Irish independence and this government's plans to ignore the vote of the Dáil and name the National Children's Hospital after Dr. Kathleen Lynn. It is absolutely outrageous. At every turn this government chooses to denigrate our history and why will they not name the new hospital after Kathleen Lynn? It would be a fitting tribute to the Mayo woman who served as the most senior ranking woman in 1916 Rising and who set up Ireland's first children's hospital and led efforts to eradicate TB. The government should choose a fitting name for the National Children's Hospital and it must protect and develop the GPO and the Moor Street Culture Quarter. Minister you are not going to get away with this. The people of Ireland are going to rise up to make sure that you do not, that you honour our patriot dead and that you do the right thing. People see. Inga Sosnadi talked earlier on about delete, delete, delete. Well you are not going to be allowed to delete this. For more information on the ANAM, we will be routier. OK. For more information on allét, let me know. I would just enter theurat from the town. For more information on the publicwait. Please share the information on the app. For more information on the internet, please. Please enter the analytics rate. And if you can click our information on our website, there is a tamp Insta's website. You want to be ready by the GPO vayaTE working. I am not going to go to PICKO Nike-OKS by reading.
Thank you for downloading 🙏
If you publish this material on social media, we would be very grateful if you tagged VideoParliament. It helps us reach more people and keep building a transparent archive of Irish politics.
