The short List for naming the new luas bridge has been announced.

It's been something of a hot topic amongst the nerdier of you and us here, but we finally have a short list of the possible names for the "Luas Bridge" currently under construction in Dublin city centre.

John Neary is disappointed that after 8 years of service his name is not on the list.

Some of the names are familiar and need no introductions and some are new to us but clearly not to the thousands of people who put names forward for consideration.

The Short list is as follows:

Abbey Theatre Bridge

Willie Bermingham

Firefighter and founder of ALONE

James Connolly

Irish Republican, socialist leader, he has a train station and hospital named after him already.

Frank Duff

Servant of God and founder of the Legion of Mary.

Lady Gregory

Co-founder of the Abbey, dramatist and cultural nationalist.

Tony Gregory

Late, great Dublin TD. (not related to the above)

Rosie Hackett

Trade unionist and 1916 veteran, changed the face of working conditions for men and women in Ireland. 

Kay Mills

Greatest GAA sportsperson of all time, she won a record 15 All Ireland Senior Medals that no other player in Camogie, hurling or football has equalled.

James Plunkett
He wrote Strumpet City.

George Sigerson
Irish physician, scientist, writer, politician and poet.

Bram Stoker
He wrote Dracula.

Jonathan Swift

Author of Gulliver's Travels, Satirist and Dean of St Patricks, 

The Patriots Bridge

The Returned Home

Ernest Walton

The only Irish person to win a Nobel prize for science and the first person to split an atom, thus kicking off the nuclear age.

Oscar Wilde

W.B Yeats

What we think.

OK so what are the odds on these names actually becoming the bridge names. In our humble and often misguided opinion we think that Abbey Theatre Bridge is a non runner seeing it already has the honour of being the national theatre a bridge would seem unnecessary. 

Willie Birmingham is an outside bet even with his immense charity work, we think it is unlikely that he will be chosen. 

James Connolly probably has his hands full already with a train station and hospital named in his honour.

Given the recent history a prominent catholic like Frank Duff would seem to be also somewhat unlikely to be the final choice.

Lady Gregory is an interesting choice, given that Dublin is a UNESCO city of literature and Lady Gregory has been involved with some of it's most influential writers and indeed the creation of the National Theatre, there is a chance that the bridge could be named after her. Also seeing as Dublin City seems to be allergic to naming any bridge on the Liffey after a woman we hope her name's in the running.

Tony Gregory, former inner city TD and one of the most popular politicians in recent memory. We imagine many would see it as a fitting tribute to the man, he is definitely a front runner.

Rosie Hackett was an incredible woman who was instrumental in the setting up of Irish trade Unions. She was on the streets during the 1913 lockout and was also involved in the 1916 Rising. Given that it is the 100 year anniversary of the 1913 lockout and we are a matter of years away from the 100 year anniversary of the 1916 uprising, she would seem to be a perfect fit.

Kay Mills might be Ireland's greatest GAA player, she is however, virtually unknown. It's unlikely that she will win, however deserving.

James Plunkett, another writer and a book based around the 1913 lockout, he ticks the UNESCO box and the lockout anniversary box. He's an outside bet.

George Sigerson, sadly I have to lower my head and admit I hadn't heard of George before now, even though I've been to plenty of Sigerson Cup Games. A doctor, scientist, politician, poet and influential GAA man he is however we think out of the running.

Bram Stoker, OK so he wrote Dracula, and yes it's a good book, but bridge good? Plus Stoke Bridge sounds a little dirty. 

Jonathan Swift, there;s a good shout here for the Anglo Irish writer but I'm not entirely convinced he will get his name over the arches. Another writer would seem like overkill. 

The Patriots Bridge, hhmmm the Patriots have lots of things named after them already.

The Returned Home* We originally thought to be something very different, but it turns out to be a rather poignant homage to World War 1 service men and women.  The Returned Home is a project which aims to compile a full list of all Irish men and women who enlisted and/or volunteered in world war 1 and who returned home to Ireland following the end of World War 1. If this name were chosen it would be a fitting tribute to the sacrifice made by so many.

Ernest Walton, this is a really good shout, he has changed the world, good and bad. He was the first to split the atom, thus creating atomic energy and went and won himself a Nobel Prize for physics the only Irish person to do so.

Oscar Wilde, world famous wordsmith, and yet another writer on the list. It's possible he will get the nod, but an unlikely possibility.

W.B Yeats, you might, by now be asking yourself, "another writer?" and yes it is, and yes it is also possible, Joyce got one.

If it was left to us we'd rock paper scissors for these three:

John is getting behind Ernest Walton. Walton Bridge

Hugh has Lady Gregory's corner. Gregory Bridge or Lady's Bridge

Producer John has his red flag out and is behind Rosie Hackett. Hacket Bridge

We'll find out who gets the honour in the Autumn..

*This entry is different to the original entry and was edited on the 20/5/2013