TRANSPORT Infrastructure Ireland is being urged to name the Broombridge Stop on the new Luas CrossCity line in Cabra after William Rowan Hamilton.
The famous 19th century physicist, astronomer and mathematician is credited with discovering complex quaternions while walking by the Royal Canal and is recognised as one of the greatest mathematicians of all time.
The Luas depot at Broombridge is already being named Broombridge-Hamilton in his honour but Dublin Central TD Joe Costello (Lab) believes Hamilton deserves even more recognition.
“He famously discovered quaternions while walking along the Royal Canal in 1843,” he said.
“He immediately took out his penknife and carved the fundamental equation of quaternions on the cut stone underneath the bridge of Broombridge.
“Quaternions now have a wide range of uses in the modern world, such as in computer graphics and in guiding spacecraft.
“It would be fitting to also name the Luas station Broombridge-Hamilton as a tribute to Hamilton and his most significant achievement in mathematics.”