The naming of an accommodation block which once housed Ireland soccer legend Paul McGrath as The Orphanage has been blasted.
The property, which was a home for orphaned boys and girls until its closure in 1977, is being marketed as a "luxury co-living residence".
Four one bed units in the section of the redeveloped property on York Road, Dun Laoghaire, Dublin, are being advertised for between €1,200 and €1,500 a month.
Senator Victor Boyhan, who lived at the institution until the age of 16, called for the name to change.
He said: "I was initially surprised and questioned why would it be called The Orphanage.
"In all the time I grew up in it, it was known as The Bird’s Nest, the name The Bird’s Nest is written across the building.
"I lived my entire childhood in that building, we never referred to it as The Orphanage. We referred to it as The Bird’s Nest.
"A bird’s nest should be cosy, warm, a nurturing place to live, and in the majority of cases that was my experience."
The Independent politician added that the name is "provocative and hurtful".
Mr Boyhan also told how there is "a lot of sadness" in the building, but hopes whoever moves in "will be happy".
He told Sean O'Rourke on RTE Radio One: "I was somewhat surprised by the name The Orphanage, I would suggest that it is a sort of provocative term or name and I don’t know what that’s about.
"I certainly wouldn’t want to live there. I think there’s a lot of sadness in the stones there, there’s a lot of bad omen there. Maybe the new people that go in there, they’ll have new opportunities as a home.
"That’s why I’m loath to knock the idea of co-living and [a] new use for the building. I hope the people who go there and live there will be happy."
The property was put on the market by letting agent Brady & McCarthy.
The Irish Times reports that a spokeswoman defended the name.
She added: "When you are there, it will become your adopted home."
