Although the matter remains practically taboo there are questionable deaths in industrial and reform schools, Magdalen laundries and mother and baby homes. “I remember lots of children dying,” said ‘Marion’. She told it to “Suffer the Little Children,” the book by Mary Raftery and Eoin O’Sullivan published in 1999.
Marion was placed in St. Joseph’s industrial school, Summerhill outside Athlone, County Westmeath in 1937. She was only a baby. She recalls “a girl who had her appendix out.” The nuns made the girl get up to work, despite the fact that when she came back from hospital she was ordered to rest. “A few days after they forced her to get up, she died. She was a lovely girl and she was only 15 years old.” There are similar reports from most of the industrial schools.
In a Dáil debate on the Ryan Report on June 12, Martin Mansergh of Fianna Fáil said: “There are a number of unexplained deaths in the Irish situation.” He was, perhaps unknown to himself, talking about something much more shocking than the dreadful physical violence or even sexual abuse. He was discussing dying as a child.
Mansergh was presumably referring to industrial and reform school deaths dealt with exclusively in the Ryan Report. In the early 1930s, two Christian Brothers were hanged in Canada for child-death so his thoughts were prescient. Mansergh was referring to deaths such as those of Bernard Kerrigan, Michael McQualter, Marian Howe, Patsy Flanagan, Bernard Young and others, who are known to have died contentiously.
However, in writing the life story of the only psychologist to have been to Letterfrack industrial school, something graver has arisen.
He was born in St. Peter’s, Castlepollard, County Westmeath, run by the Sisters of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary; transferred, aged four, to Tullamore county home, County Offaly; brought to Letterfrack, County Galway at age seven and transferred, at 10, to Salthill industrial school, County Galway. He was there until he was 16.
Naturally, he is quite sketchy on remembering Castlepollard. After all, he was only four when plucked from there. In order to see for ourselves and get the book underway, we called there in June 2007. The former mother and baby home is now a residential center for intellectually disabled adults and adolescents of both sexes. Run by the Midland Region of the Health Service Executive (HSE), it caters for people with moderate, severe and profound handicaps.
What we found was disturbing and repeated in other mother and baby homes run by the Sisters of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary. They ran these others in Bessborough in Cork city and Sean [pronounced shan, the Irish word for ‘old’] Ross Abbey, Roscrea, County Tipperary. Bessborough opened in 1922; Sean Ross Abbey in 1930 and St. Peter’s, Castlepollard in 1935. It struck us that the number of dead infants or mothers – at least for the casual observer – was impossible to measure.
The cemeteries have been renovated, mostly as ultra-twee “memorial gardens”. Angels and cartoon dogs, bears and cuddly toys now adorn them. There are however, very few names of the children or mothers who died in these places. Nuns however (or ‘sisters’, given that in correct usage, ‘nun’ refers to a female religious, who leads a contemplative life) are all given their own plots with their names inscribed. They, at least, have a proper Christian burial.
History
History professor at Warwick University, Maria Luddy, said that 60 out of 120 babies died in Sean Ross Abbey in its opening year. Had that rate been maintained – and, in fact, the unit expanded – it would have meant 2,400 deaths until 1970 when the mother and baby unit closed.
Considering that 60 babies died in the opening single year of Sean Ross Abbey, it is safe to assume that deaths, at least in their hundreds (being utterly conservative) if not greater, occurred. Remember, Sean Ross Abbey was just one of three mother and baby homes operated by the order in the state. The sisters sold babies and infants to the few wealthy in Irish society and American people.
Between the end of World War II and 1965, more than 2,200 Irish infants were adopted out of the country. It was mostly by parents in the United States. That’s 110 on average, every year, or more than two a week. Meanwhile, their birth-mothers had to work without wages – unless they could afford to pay – for two or three years. They wore uniforms, had their names changed and their letters were vigorously censored.
Writing of her nine months in Bessborough during 1951 and 52, June Goulding has said in her 1998 book “The Light in the Window” that women tarred roads: “. . . about eight to ten girls, all in varying degrees of pregnancy . . . and a roller that took three pregnant girls to pull”. They also plucked lawns – by hand – and polished, polished, polished.
They were routinely worked until well into labour; got no painkillers (even over-the-counter brands, such as Aspro and Anadin). They weren’t given sutures (stitching) or antibiotics (after 1928 when they were invented). She recounts they had to give birth in chromium commodes, in order not to ‘soil’ their beds. (Fundamentalist Catholics sometimes referred to such babies as “the spawn of Satan”, a designation that encouraged the more rabid literally “to beat the devil out of them”.)
They were routinely given babies other than their own to breastfeed and had the joy of ‘Sister’ whispering to the women – especially those in labour: “was the five minutes pleasure worth all this?” Goulding also describes the “cruel custom” of compelling mothers surrendering their babies to carry them along a corridor before handing them over. “I had witnessed the horrific ritual that would be repeated for each and every mother and baby in this hell-hole.”
In 1928, for instance, ‘illegitimate babies’ (henceforth people born ‘outside marriage’ because of the pejorative phrase) suffered ‘infant mortality rates’ five times higher than children born within marriage. In other words, 10 out of 33 babies born ‘outside marriage’ died before their first birthday. That’s greater than 30 per cent. The equivalent for those born within marriage was two out of 33.
In the 1930s, it was more than four times as high. The rate of infant mortality for children born within marriage was, at the time, between five and six per cent. So, roughly a quarter of all babies born outside marriage died before the age of one. These were death rates for childbirth in the 17th century.
In 1948, the rate of mortality among babies born inside marriage was 47 per 1,000 live births. The rate for babies born outside marriage was 149 per 1,000 births. These figures were quoted by John Cunningham the former Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at University College Dublin. He said at UCD in March, 1951 that “this area does not necessitate state intervention”. Still, it’s more than three times as high.
There was infanticide, of course. Mothers or other relatives ‘distraught’ by the birth outside marriage – sometimes birth-fathers and fathers of mothers grieving lost ‘respectability’ – undoubtedly killed babies and infants. Such people valued a rule, encouraged by the Catholic Church to relegate the Fifth Commandment – ‘Thou shalt not kill’ – in favour of Church hatred of babies born outside marriage.
It’s clear that the reason the Church was so totally against babies born outside marriage was it meant a loss of control. Between 1870 and 1970, the average Irish rate for birth outside marriage was less than three per cent. Today, 32 per cent of Irish and 44 per cent of British people are born outside marriage. Demonising those born outside marriage was the most effective means to ensure the vast majority of marriageable people had a Church wedding.
Hidden graves
The Sisters of Our Lady of Charity of Refuge owned the High Park Convent in Dublin’s Drumcondra. There they ran the largest Magdalen laundry in Ireland. In 1993, the nuns were forced because of losses from an aerospace company, Guinness Peat Aviation, to sell a portion of convent land to the State.
It emerged that 133 graves – a further 22 were later discovered – existed on this land. The graves held the remains of women interred anonymously between 1866 and 1984. These graves were for Magdalen women and girls who had worked in the convent laundry and as maids: cooking, cleaning and caring for nuns, many of whom were elderly. In 1997, the unmarked graves of 27 women were discovered on the grounds of a former Good Shepherd convent in Cork. Indeed, unmarked graves exist in almost all former Magdalen laundry sites.
It appears the nuns did likewise in mother and baby homes. There is, in Castlepollard graveyard, only five headstones. Two are for deceased nuns: Sr. Alphonsus Ryan, who died in October 1957 and Sr. Brigid O’Keeffe, who died in November 1964; one for a lay person, Margaret McGrath (a benefactor?); one five feet tall marble structure requests people to pray for the Sisters of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary.
The fifth headstone is more recent. Most of the graveyards received an updating in the 1990s. It is just 18 inches tall, about three feet wide and made of limestone. “In Memory of God’s Special Angels Interred in this Cemetary” (sic) it says. There are no names of children buried there nor is there any indication of their number. I had the eerie feeling I was standing and walking on a mass grave of babies and infants.
It’s the same in Sean Ross Abbey and Bessborough. Unlike St. Peter’s, which has only the graves of two nuns, the nuns’ cemetery at Sean Ross Abbey has 24 small headstones. These mark deaths from 1942 to 2004. All the graves are on one side of the small graveyard, which is scarcely wider and considerably shorter than the one in St. Peter’s. It does however have a five feet tall marble cross, identical to the one in Castlepollard.
The children’s cemetery is about one hundred metres away from that of the nuns. Tall, dense trees surround it. It measures about half an acre. Carved on an obviously recent but undated headstone is the following: “The Memorial Garden is dedicated to the Babies and Infants who died in Sean Ross Abbey and are buried here.” At the edges of the cemetery, there are reminders of four children and one adult buried there.
In the middle of this half acre of sorrow, there is a nameless, faceless and weathered cross. It was to do for all those buried anonymously in the children’s graveyard before the sanitising of the place as a ‘Memorial Garden’. Walking on the grass in the cemetery gave me the same, eerie feeling I had experienced in Castlepollard. How many tiny bodies were buried there? Dozens, scores, hundreds – perhaps even greater?
Bessborough House was sold with its 210 acres, in 1921, to the Sisters of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary. There’s a Lourdes-like grotto and acres of bluebells, some white. There are 25 nuns buried in the little cemetery. Babies Ellen, William, Patricia, Maura, Patrick, Mary, Teresa, Geraldine, Richard, Anne, Cathleen and Nellie died here – among many others – in 1931. Their Christian or first names are written in biro on plasticized paper plates pinned to the wall of a keep (built as a folly) on the grounds.
There is a sign in front of the keep: “In remembrance of all babies who died before or shortly after birth.” Behind the keep on which babies’ names are pinned, there’s a circle of roughly twenty metres. This circle, with grass at it centre, has rocks, lilies, trees, reeds and white bluebells around its perimeter. It also has an extraordinarily cheap-looking wooden cross – it looks like tea-chest wood and is uneven.
Penance
Until the Catholic Church makes records available, there has got to be suspicion. One inmate of Castlepollard told us she was reminded she “was there to do penance”. Yet doing ‘penance’ is one thing; withholding painkillers, stitching and antibiotics from expectant mothers is another. A number of them will die.
Fundamentalist Catholics might be against the giving of painkillers, stitching and antibiotics. The women must be reminded they are there to do ‘penance’. The best analogy is of a Jehovah’s Witness or a Christian Scientist refusing a blood transfusion to save their child. Despite their religious convictions, courts regularly override them and insist on the blood transfusion.
Irish courts conspired however with the religious. The State is as guilty as the Church on the matter. It’s not only the Sisters of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary. There are a number of other orders which ran industrial and reform schools, Magdalen laundries and mother and baby homes. They require investigation.
If High Park is repeated around the country – and it appears that it is – who knows the number of children buried in what seem like mass graves? Certainly there are hundreds, possibly many more. After the Ryan Report the matter has lost some of its taboo. “I remember lots of children dying,” said ‘Marion’.
Where are they? Are they to be lost forever, without even a name (a Christian or first name to save detection of those with unusual surnames)? Bereft in life, they were treated similarly in death. Meanwhile nuns lavish money on maintaining and improving their own graves. If even one killing of a baby or a mother is suspected, the Guards should cordon off the place and investigate it.
That, at least, is what the State should do. It has spectacularly failed these children in life. It’s about to compound it by failing them in death. Between them, State and Church hastened death. For instance, 58 ex-industrial school pupils and former Magdalen women committed suicide between 2000 and 2005.
That’s way in excess of what you might expect from a relatively small population of 130,000 or so. It seems like there’s 10 times as many suicides among those whose fate was to attend Catholic Church-run industrial and reform schools and Magdalen laundries.
Society demanded it though. It was Holy Ireland against Pagan England as the Church of England waned, certainly after World War II. I can remember my own mother talking about “pagan England . . . heathen England . . . godless England”. Morality was the only way then that Irish people could feel superior to English people. The English, for their part, felt commercially, militarily, financially superior to the Irish. They had reason to.
It’s difficult to believe but these people have individually raped or gang-raped an unwilling child-victim. People who do that will do anything. As to the Church and State: let them hang their heads in shame. There are some excellent people among the religious and clergy. It really should be in their interests to weed out rapists, liars and people who take a perverse pleasure inflicting pain and, at least, hastening death on children.
Instead, they moved them from parish to parish to protect the Roman Catholic Church.
Hello
I am trying to locate the birth records of children born in Bessborough Convent because my aunt had a child there in about 1945 that was taken from her. I am trying to find a record of the birth to try and contact her son on behalf of my cousin. My aunt died 10 years ago and only told her daughter about her brother weeks befor she died.
I hope you can help.
As a Catholic I am appalled how the Church treated unmarried mothers and tried to cover it up.
Regards. Tom Murphy
TRY – “Adopted Peoples Association”
TRY – “Adopted Peoples Association”
TRY – “Adopted Peoples Association”
Try this Web site of the “Adopted Peoples Association” in Ireland. They’re Volunteers, many of whom are adoptees themselves.
Within weeks of me contacting them, they found my Mother and I then learned she did in fact marry my Father 6 months after I was born (in Sean Ross) and did try to take me back but were told I was gone, when in fact I remained in the orphanage for 3 more years, and then flown to New York by myself and didn’t even know how to talk. Says alot about Sr. Xavier.
My parents(in Ireland) went on to have 9 more kids, and we had the most incredible reunion ever back in 2000.
But then again…”Any Reunion is INCREDIBLE”.
My advice to ANY Adoptee…
“DO NOT TRUST THOSE INHUMANE SICK NUNS” !
They put me on a 9 year roller coaster ride to NOWHERE as I tried to find my family.
The Nun’s were and still are “Very Sick Social Misfits”.
The Nun’s were and still are “Very Sick Social Misfits”.
The Nun’s were and still are “Very Sick Social Misfits”.
dear Finian
I am moved to say I am so very sorry for the many losses you and your mother endured
we have just found out that our mother was at Bessborough Cork in 1953 to 1956 with a little baby ..and all the horror and hardship that must have entailed . our mum died with this secret 2 years ago but we are hoping to find her other daughter Elizabeth Mary
Hello Tom
The HSE now have the Bessboro records and are listing them. If you contact them Regional Adoption Service,
Health Service Executive South , Pairc Na gCrann, St Stephens Hospital,
Sarsfield Court, Glanmire, Co Cork.
They are only just going through them so it could take months for them to find your case, but at least you will be on a wating list to be contacted. We are waiting for news too.
Regards
I’m so sorry for you and your family
Hi Tom very interesting . I was born end of 1944 stayed in Manor house for 3 years was adopted in 1948, Have traced my mother .
My name is Anne. I was born in Manor House in 1949 and adopted out in late 1950. Records I have say Manor house in county Westmeath. Is there more than one Manor house and do you know if this place was like the laundries where they made the mothers “work off their debt” by doing forced labor?
I’m replying to Anne Curran but see no reply button for her so I hope she sees this.
Yes. The one in Westmeath is called St. Peter’s and it’s in Castlepollard.
Yes they treated them horribly though you wouldn’t know it from Castlepollard’s current website. That’s cover-up gone overboard. You would hear it from locals who saw women nine months’ pregnant doing hard labor. They were imprisoned there and forced to give up their babies.
Very interesting article – I was born there in November 1953 but went to adoptive parents in 1958 in Ireland and then moved to England in 1960/61.
Hi Tom
Barnardos may be able to help you on that road or at least direct you a bit better than I could.
Barnardos’ Origins Information and Tracing Service helps people who grew up in Ireland’s industrial schools to trace their family of origin. Experienced professional staff offer advice, support and mediation in your search for your family of origin. This service is fully funded by the Department of Education and Science.
http://www.barnardos.ie/what_we_do/central_services/origins.html
The whole story of those convents may never be revealed – only recently I’ve read of a son trying to contact his mother AND the same mother trying to contact the son and the nuns just wouldn’t budge for either of them !
Synopsis: http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/s/martin-sixsmith/lost-child-of-philomena-lee.htm
– – – – — –
Also the person in this story might be a good contact:
http://www.fww.org/famnews/0406e.htm
Hey Susan
I was born there in September 1953 but adopted by Irish Parents. I have never traced by birth mother but she is always on my mind.
go in on the banished babies and someone there may be able to help you as they are all adopted ..good luck
Hi Ursula? Do you mind if i ask how old you was when you was adopted? I want to find a brother i never knew i had until recently he was born there in sept 1953 too
Born in 1949 SeanRoss abbey at age four was shipped to America along with 50 other children. Catholic Church should be ashamed with they did to these mothers and their children never to be seen again.
John McCabe
Washingtonville, NY
When I was a teenage, my aunt gave me a tape of an ex-Catholic nun. I cried as I listened. She spoke of the many babies that were intentionally killed in a convent somewhere in Mexico (can’t remember where) that had been born from the copulation of nuns and priests. Their bodies were buried in a basement with lime covering the ground. Religion is a terrible thing.
You and the person you’ve replied to have confused the failures of religion with the weakness of man. Religion is not something that does anything to anyone. It simply is an abstract concept. What those nuns and priests did is something of the devil, but it’s not religion that caused it. Just as many bad things are done in the name of religion as are good, but to throw it all away in an attempt to get rid of the bad is weakness and shameful.
My mother survived it and was adopted to America in the 50s and despite it all is one of the most religious and strongest people I know. Don’t lay fault where it doesn’t belong.
Hello,
My Father was born in Sean Ross Abbey in 1959 and sent to America when he was 18 months old. I have tried finding his birht mother but to no avail. They nuns did an amazing job of covering their trail. During the process of shipping him off to America he was listed as having at least three different names and paper work is completely messed up. I am wondering if anyone has useful suggestions on how to go about finding his birth mother.
Luelen, I know you left this message quite a while ago…but I think I may have some information for you. Please e-mail me at mari_tee@yahoo.com. AB: if you can get word to Luelen through a user e-mail, could you please forward on to her? Thanks!
Hi Luelen.
It’s a long road you’ve started on.
The nuns themselves have been doing this kind of sordid business even before the foundation of the state of Ireland.
Apart from the Barnodos info in the comments above – these people here may be of some help:
http://www.adoptionboard.ie/contacts/informationandtracing.php
Worth a try.
is there no redress for the children of mothers
who suffered so much [as my poor mother did when.when i was born there in 1950
Hi Christine
My nan had a baby at St.Peter’s in the early 1950’s, unfortunately I’m not entirely sure of the actual date. I was wondering, have you managed to track down any records at all as to who your mother is etc? If so, how did you go about doing so.
Kind regards
Rachel
Rachel,
I’m not sure if you’ve got any further but you can look up the birth records in the research room int he irish life mall in dublin. You don;t need the exact year of birth just a general idea. Have a look here for more info and best of luck
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=879
Besides the Redress Board for those who were in Institutions there is an Education Fund for the children of people who were in the Institutions.
Education Finance Board Floor 3 Frederick Court 24/27 North Frederick Street, Dublin 1. Within Ireland
http://www.educationfinanceboard.com/
Telephone: 1890 742 742
Fax: 01 8745709
Outside Ireland
Telephone: -353 1 8745708
Fax: -353 1 8745709
Hi,
I’m wondering if you were an unmarried, pregnant and sent to the unmarried mothers home and had your baby – was there a way of you then getting out of the home with your baby? I know of a relative who got pregnant at 14 has had her baby there, but she did leave and the baby was brought up the her parents – I’m wondering how she managed this?
Some mothers, with the help of their families, managed to buy themselves and their babies out of the Mother & Baby homes. This involved paying anything between £30 and £100 to the Mother Rectoress of the Order managing the Mother & Baby home.
Some parents of the pregnant girl would also claim their child’s baby. That baby then would be brought up in the family as a sister or brother of the mother! I believe this happened most of the time.
my mother,teresa o connor had me in sean ross abbey in 1942 i did come home to her family,but sadly my mother died when i was 6 years old she was only 28 years old i was told she died of TB. im sure if she did, her stay in that evil place contributed to it.after her death i was put in an orphanage some where in ireland again run by evil nuns.was adopted two years later by a relative in wexford.now that i know what my mother and others went through i cry all the time. my daughter wants to take me to visit my place of birth and wants to get my mothers details of her stay there and my birth details
Thanks for the reply, in this case, it was the latter, the grandparents brought up the child as their own. Would this mean that both the mother and child would just leave the mother and baby home or would they still have to buy themselves out?
I don’t think the mother would have to buy herself out. Much depended on the standing of the family in the local community – and that local community would generally be led by a priest/nun allied with Legion of Mary members.
In one particular case, which I’ve some goodish info on, the granny paid £100 for her daughter’s release and that of the child. In addition though the mother of the baby had to sign a document promising to marry a man NOT the father of the baby. Complications set in almost immediately because this man, who was much older than the mother, was a close blood relative of the mother and special permission had to be granted to allow the marriage to go ahead.
During the marriage, which was short, the mother had three more children. She eventually escaped to England and the 3 children of the marriage were consigned to the Industrial Schools system whilst the child that was born in the Mother & Baby home was let stay with the granny who had bought his and his mother’s release from the Mother & Baby home.
My poor mother was put in a home run by nuns when her mother died of T B, she came out at sixteen and was placed on a farm by them, slave labour she called it ,she new nothing about sex and was raped by one of the sons the resulting pregnancy meant a trip back to the nuns at a mother and baby home,she gave birth to a little girl who she called Margaret on 24th May 1943, the last time she saw her was when she was three years old then she dissapeared probably adopted or moved to another orphanage, shes 85 years old now and still cries for her lost girl, I think with all the abuse scandal regarding the catholic church the irish government should make the church give up what records are left and help set up a service for relatives looking to be reunited with their mothers/children.
Deirdre;
i could not agree with you more. I went in 1990 to Dublin to meet with the Sisters and I was treated like a 10 year old. She had my file sitting in front of her and refused to let me see it, saying my mother was better off without me and besides they called and she would not see me. I never felt so insulted in my whole life. There are nop words to explain what these women experienced. Just curious, was she able to talk to you (in detail) about it. I would love to hear more about your/her story.
Hello Philomena,
I too share the same name. I am in America but I looked for my bm around the same time. where are you from? Is that your born name? Write if you feel like it.
Hello Deirdre!
While doing some research on Sean Ross Abbey, Roscrea, Tipperary, Ireland, I happened to come across your message. I too was born at the above address on the 2nd May 1943, just a few weeks before you. So because we have shared the same childhood experiences in the same environment, & our mothers living & working in the same place at the same time, we sure have something in common, therefore if you are interested in keeping in touch, I am too Deirdre. No doubt your Mum would have known mine!
I look forward to your reply.
Mary
Hi Mary, i have just started to research information on Irish adoption in the 40s as I believe my mother may have had a baby then and had the child adopted most likely to america. I was drawn to your post as you said you were born in 1943 in Tipperary. My mam was from Tipperary but I’m not sure if this is where she had the baby as she later moved to Dublin. where do you live now? please reply if you want to. my mother may have been in Rosscrea at the same time as yours.
To Word Press,
I have just noticed a ” MESSAGE” for me on your website The Ragged Wagon from a lady named Nora ( which she wrote in Jan 12/ 2014 @ 2.46am. However I don’t know how to get in touch with Nora since she has not left an email address. You may be able to assist please???
Hi Mary I think I am the girl you were trying to reply to. Noral1764@gmail.com
Hi Deirdre – have you any name for the institution she was in up to the time she became 16? In some cases these places had other ‘functions’ other than ‘caring’ for children. Sometimes these places doubled also as centres for victims of rape/incest – and the babies were ‘adopted’ out or sold on to American catholics. It’s probable that the order of nuns you speak of were the sisters of mercy and if so they ran an industry based on children’s suffering. Have you or your Mum made contact with Magdalen laundry/Mother & baby home activists – Mari Tatlow Steed etc.?? Much of the information from those places comes from people who were in them as children …. or were adopted out of them as babies and they may have info on your Mum’s early life when she was in the institution.
The nuns themselves are of little help and still act with smugness and superiority.
Despite two damning judicial reports outlining in the clearest possible language that the Religious Orders and the Hierarchy in Ireland were involved in a criminal conspiracy to cover up physical & sexual abuse, gross human rights abuses, slavery, baby sales, and human trafficking the Government has NOT brought in for questioning any priest, bishop, archbishop, cardinal nor any head of a Religious Order ! Indeed no raid or trawl through any of their massive files has taken place.
Anybody out there who can help me please.
I was sent from sean ross abbey in 1964 to st patricks guild ,dublin from where I was adopted.I think as the nuns told so many lies!!!!!!!!!
I have 2 birth certs with different dates??
I also have a letter from an bord uchtala ,st stephens green , dublin which would hang / shame the present goverement we have .
Can anybody help me find my birth mum please.
Thankyou
Therese.
Hi Therese i too was born in sean ross abbey this is my e mail address marylawlor87@yahoo.com they have just released our files so we can now access them …………………………mary
Hi Mary,
I am delighted to hear from somebody out there on my boat,but I guess there is a lot of us out there.My email add.. is theresedillon2@eircom.net .Please mail me any info u have ,I will send u a mail now.Again thankyou for ur help Mary.
Therese.
To Therese and anyone else seeking assistance, who was born at any of the Sacred Heart mother-and-baby homes or St. Patrick’s Temple Hill or Navan Road, feel free to e-mail me at mari_tee@yahoo.com and I’d be happy to help you. Also, although AdoptionIreland no longer exists as an organisation, do check out http://www.adoptionrightsalliance.com for additional resources and help.
A note to Eddie: I had a call from a friend/colleague of yours, Malachi, but have sadly misplaced his contact details. Could you e-mail me privately and either pass along my details to Malachi or vice versa?
I was just recently in ireland and went down to Cork. I remember seeing the unmarked graves area when a local radio personality with Cork 96FM, PJ Coogan, and good friend to those of us in adoption activism, gave me a good guided tour back in 2005. But in October 2010 I seemed unable to locate them…many new buildings have cropped up and as Eddie states, they do now have a very ‘twee’ gravesite…but it’s not where the unmarked graves of babies or mothers were.
Incidently, we did some research on infant and mother deaths at Bessborough just before June Goulding arrived and just after: rates were definitely far higher than the national average prior to June’s arrival, then dropped steeply during her brief tenure there, rising slightly again higher than the national average, finally dropping steadily by the late 1950’s, early 1960’s (when I was born there).
The climate and reason mothers now in care at Bessborough relinquish their children is far different than it was in my time. But there’s still a lot of reckoning to be done there with regard to the callous treatment the women and children received. Thanks for calling attention to this, Eddie.
I have just found this page. I was in St Patricks Infant Hospital, Temple Hill, Blackrock in 1981-82. I wanted to train as a nurse but was too young to go to college so I ended up as training as a nursery nurse there. I was seventeen and I along with the others girls cared for the children. We lived in the nurses home. I can sharer my memories of my time there if you are interested
Hi Anne, I grew up in St. Patrick’s, Temple Hill from 9 days old in ’82 until just before it closed down. Would love to hear more. Thanks.
Thank you for all the informative comments. It is mentioned in one that the mothers names were changed. I was born at St Peter’s in Castlepollard and also adopted out of St. Patrick Guild. My Irish birth certificate gives my mothers name but how do I know if it is correct. I am not having any luck finding any trace of even the family name in Louth from which she is recorded to have come. Would like more of a complete picture of life at St. Peter’s, can any one fill in some details?
Thanks and yes, God bless us everyone!!!
Mary
Yes, I have a relative born in Castlepollard and his mother’s name was changed. They used her grandmother’s name instead, so there was great confusion when he tried to get his long birth cert and didn’t see his parents name on it. (he had always used his baptismal cert, it was only when we were asked to get his birth cert that he found all this out (at aged 50 as well!!), as previously he had always thought his grandparents were his parents (see previous comments from myself (Kate Dempsey)
It may have been common practice to do this.
Hi Mary, I am also tracing a woman by the name of Mary Philomena born in St. peter’s Castlepollard, to a woman from Co. Louth she was adopted at 9 months old, she was born in march 1956 or 1957, would the name of your mother on your birth cert be Helen, Regards Moira e-mail mohawkeye2@gmail.com
I was born Feb 1952 at manor house castlepollard I was adopted to the usa at 7 months old from st Patrick’s guild
I too was born castlepollard manor house. I guess it is called St. Peter’s February 7, 1952. I was also adopted from st Patrick’s guild in Dublin. I arrived at age 7 months to Long Island ny. I would love to hear from anyone my mother’s name is listed as mary Anne mc donald from castlebridge
My mom was born in “The Home” in Tuam in 1937. Her mom was discharged exactly one year after her birth. My mom resided there until 1941 when she was sent to a foster home.
I know the records for “The Home” in Tuam are located at the Western Health Board in Merlin Park, Galway. However, the information they released was minimal.
Does anyone have any info on that facility that they can share?
Thank you.
i was a victim of the abuse in castlepollard in 67/68. worked to near death before and after the birth of my daughter.who was born 22-jan-1968.i recieved no painkilling injections throughout labour . i seen the midwife called nurse smith coming towards me while i lay on the labour bed, then my sight went and i believe they called a doctor in from outside. i had pre nclampsia .i went into labour 12 /30 pm on the friday and the baby was delivered on the monday evening 6/30 pm. no stitches although i was ribbened to pieces . then could not see for a week or so and had to be spoon fed by other inmates.the dignity went out the door there and i was a 16 year old girl.nurse smith as they called her was a pervert who would get those girls that were ashamed or embarrased to get in line and be shaved down below every week although they had months to go to delivery. i took a pain in my head one morning and my heels were going up my back and my head was bending backwards towards my heels . the nun came along gave no explaination just an injection, of what i do not know,i ran away with an older woman called ellen .what her real name was god himself only knows , we headed off over fields and i ended up waist deep in a bog . the very next day we were brought back and shortly afterwards a neighbour in my own town took me out . ive lived in uk and am grandmother of 11 grandchildren ,
what a heartbreaking experience this must have been. I am a 46 year old female who lives in NY (Long Island). I lived at Castlepollard, Westmeath for 21 months. I was born February 9, 1965. I had the amazing miracle of finding my birth mother and corresponded briefly back in 1995. she wrote inconsistently, shared photos, some of her current life as well as one with she and I from 1966. She stopped answering my letters, I know nothing of the biological father. I am planning a visit with my husband in the next year. I have four children of my own (2 step children and 2 with my husband). I would love to learn what it was like when I was there.
Karen aka Rita. Hi, I was also born at Castlepollard, in Dec 1964. Our b/Mums may have know each other. Check out the adoption rights alliance Facebook page because a group of seven of us went for a visit on the 28th of Aug, 2011 and there are pics and stories on the page. We planted a tree and dafodils in the Graveyard in memory of the babies who didn’t make it and one of read a beautiful poem. We are hoping to turn our trip into an annual journey, maybe around the first wekend in Aug. when there’s an annual blessing fo the graves. If you’re looking for company on your visit, you’re more than welcome to join us… Regards, Paul Redmond..
Karen,
Please e-mail me at mari_tee@yahoo.com…I might have information that’s helpful to you. Thanks.
Hi Mary.
I was very saddened to read your story. I have only recently found out that my mother spent some time in Castlepollard as well. She would have been there around the same dates as yourself. Would you mind if i contacted you privately by email?
Regards Mary C
Hello Mary,
I would love to hear from you again.
So sorry your mother went through the same as mine.
We might be able to help each other.
Regards Mary B
Great post!!
This is all very interesting, so very sad. I am appalled that anyone would ask how to find someone else’s birthparent though. That should only be done by the adopted individual. I think they are the only ones who should have the right to search, no one else, not even the birthmother. Once the birthmother has made her very selfless and beautiful decision to relinquish her child, she must live with that unless the child seeks her.
Have you ever thought that some people might not want people to know who they really are so will just say they are searching for a relative, etc., As in my case, I can’t give my real name as none of the rest of the family know what happened, and I am saying it is a relative to hide that. When I contact the nuns to find out more about my mother, I will give my real name to them.
Denise,
My adopted brother (born at Bessboro’ two years after me) died in 2009 at age 46. I am carrying on a search for his mother on his behalf. Many are not up the rigors of tracing and need the assistance of someone else to help them; many are the sons/daughters of someone adopted and have the same right to know who their grandparents are. And btw, please do not use the term ‘birthparent’ — that implies that the women who gave birth to us were merely some sort of vessel or ‘holding pen’ for us. It’s an adoption industry-created term that most of us who relinquished children despise. They were and are our mothers…first mothers, if you prefer, or natural mothers. I am my eldest daughter’s mother, regardless of who raised her.
Denise,
Most birth mothers in Irleand did not make the choice, it was made for them, by parents, Sisters, and priests. I must ask have you been in this position???? Most deciisions were not selfless an beautiful. I was grateful to be adopted, but after meeting my mother and hearing her story and seeing the heartbreak in her face. She could not find me, and even though she didn’t look, I was always in her heart. Please don’t be so quick to judge.
Please remember most of these mothers had nothing to do with the choice made in their behalf.
You’re either mad or you can’t read.
Denise. You’re a very rude woman!!! No need to say something like that. That’s not true them woman where forced to hand over their babies. They have every right to search for their babies just as good as the other way around
Since all the evidence points to the horrible fact that the birth mothers were put through hell for getting pregnant, all by themselves); it is only just that they also have the right to know what happened to their babies. Considering how they were treated by the Church, it is fair to assume that they have no reason to believe a thing they were told about what happened to their children. The Church has a lot to answer for. While I applaud the story of Philomenia; it didn’t go nearly far enough in telling the truth about what happened in those mother/baby homes.
Does anyone know if the names on our adoption papers and birth certificates is real or were names of mothers changed to further humiliate and punish the mothers? I can’t find any record of the family name on my Irish birth certificate anywhere in the North or South of Ireland. Any help will be appreciated greatly.
Mary
Hi everybody, I am deeply impressed by your stories. I was born in Sean Ross Abbey Roscrea on 10th of May 1968. My mother was unmarried. I was not adopted, but kept by my mother, sadly she died suddenly in 1987. However, I often asked her as a teenager to describe for me the details of daily life in Sean Ross, each time I did she cried. She recalled it as a period of great unhappiness in her life. She recalled having to be addressed by the pseudoname Doris. She spoke of mail being opened by the superior nun, and generally of the harsh daily regime. She did however speak very kindly of what she called a “lay sister” who worked in the kitchen, called sister Pascalena who was very kind to her. I have never known my father. I did visit Sean Ross about six years ago and walked through the grounds, strangely I felt my mums spirit come alive within me; I was now walking fearlessly, for her, in that place where she had endured such unhappiness. I hope all of you will find what you are hoping and wishing for. Kind regards.
dear Martin what a beautiful response …we have just recentlyfound out our mother was at
Bessborough in Cork for nearly 3 years ..she sadly died with this awful horrific secret we are trying to find our sister born there in the summer of we think 1953 Elizabeth Mary
peace and love to you and your family
And in the last Irish general election none of this was even an issue. Romantic Ireland me hoop!
Abuse by Church and State wasn’t an issue in any way shape or form; neither was the issue raised during the 2007 General Election …. despite activists doing everything to put the issue forward for debate.
1967/68 castlepollard was run by a sister justina ,a nun who ruled the place 24/7 and the nurse obviously an ex nurse from outside that perhaps had been an unmarried mother herself and stayed on with the nuns as midwife because in 1989 justina and another nun elizabeth were in cardiff working in a hospital there . i was in castlepollard them yrs . it was hell on earth and as for two thousand babies going abroad for adoption well lrt me enlighton you ,i used be mase polish corradoor and shine it till i could see the reflection of a sister called visatation . if not i got a thick ear . one day i decided to open a cupboard under the stairs ,there i found 3 large kelloggs boxes and they were full of pictures of babies and toddlers .all passport sized . 3 boxes the large delivery type the factory produced to deliver cornflakes to supermarkets .brown coloured .i took some pictures to look at and was caught but not before i seen inside all three boxes so tell me how many babies passport pictures it takes to fill on box let alone 3 .i see those children in my sleep sometimes i have nightmares from that place .then in the middle of the garden there was a small building .i was assked to go with a nun one day to clean it out .. hot summers day then i was shocked to see inside a labour bed a room off it a bath and toilet .the labour bed had stirrups on . i was told by another inmate that was where the women who screamed were put when in labour . right in the centre of the front lawn no one could hear your screams . my name was changed to francesca 10 min after arriving and the first thing i was given to do was make cotton wool balls i refused and was told i would make them if i knew what was good for me , a woman called sylvia haemmoridged they only got a doctor in when they could not stop the bleeding and only because she almost died .i was 16 yrs old and that scene and many others remain from that house of horrors they call st josephs…the youngest girl i seen in ther was 12 years old with cerabal palsy they made her have the baby then took it off her . what happened to her or the baby god only knows and i myself almost died in that hell hole with preenclampsia . a dodgy nurse /midwife ..maybe i would have been better off had i died as i have tried suicide so many times all because of abuse by nuns and church and irish governments ..i was also a magdalena laundry victim …ireland my arse ..
I am so sorry for your treatment, and there are no words to explain how you must feel. Very well you should be angry; infuriated t the people who in God’s name allowed these event to happen. I spent 5 years in an orphanage and still at the age of 62 am reminded, with seizures (from being thrown down stairs for crying), terrible teeth, severe emotional problems. I am only thankful I don’t remember what was done to me. I met my mother and I know her experiences may well have been like yours, but she won’t talk about them. I am wriitng a book trying to give her a voice and to resolve the issues I have faced my whole life. I would love to communicate with you and I hope you find some peace in the life you have now.
Hello to all, I’ve just been reading through all the above comments, and am very amazed and shocked at the horror of what went on in Castlepollard. I was born at St Josephs, Castlepollard in July 1966. I cannot say much more about myself. I do know of some of the gruesome things that happened but had no idea of the scale of what went on there until reading the above comments. I was at Castlepollard for 2 weeks, before being given up for adoption. I went to the grounds of St Peters, Castlepollard about 6 years ago to visit, and didn’t quite know what to make of it – errie I suppose was what I felt but also just a very strange feeling came over me – hard to describe! I wondered if anyone posting on this site may have known any of the women who were there between end of 1965/beginning of 1966 to Summer 1966 at Castlepollard? If so I would be interested to know. It is my birthday on Sunday 17th July and I feel that really understanding the horror which went on at that place, in some way helps me cope better. I hope everyone who has been at any of the Magdelene Laudries finds some healing and comfort in the knowledge that many people, like myself, empathise greatly with your pain! Your pain is also mine and many other people’s.
Hi Amazed. You were adopted out of Castlepollard very quickly. Do you know if a Dominican Nun was involved as your story is very similar to mine (born CP 1964 and adopted at 16 days) and our stories are not the norm for CP. My e mail is bladerunner@topamil.ie Ta Paul
My husband was born at Sean Ross Abbey, 22 Jan 1957. He was adopted by an Irish family in 1960. He went on to suffer at their hands. Being adopted lead to him bulling at school. His birth mother was Patrick McCormack from Gartlandstown, Westmeath she was known as Jenny McCormack, she was accepted back by her family once the baby was adopted. She went to live in Limerick with her sister when she left the Abbey. My husband search for 9 years to find his birth mother. He was told many lies by the church and left in the dark. In the end and elderly nun at Sean Ross Abbey help him to find his mother. He wrote to his mother and his letters were passed on to her but sadly they didn’t meet as she died suddenly. It is very very sad as she would have been so very proud of her son. She never married. We hope she didn’t suffer while she stayed at the Abbey. It is heart breaking to read the sadness these poor girls had to suffer.
Hi Just read your story tonight sorry
I just found this site and am intrigued. I was born in Castlepollard in 1949. I was adopted 5 years later and brought to America. I didn’t walk, or talk. I had rickets, worms, severed malnutrition and epilepsy. Both my mother and I paid a high price at the hands of the Catholic CHurch. Tree years ago I found my mother after searching for her for more than 20 years. I believe after giving birth to me, she was sent to the Laundries, finally being able to escape to London a few years later. There are no words to say of my experience meeting her and spending time with her. In the 3 years since meeting her she has written once. She refuses to contact me, not because of me, but seeing me forces her to remember what she survived and it is too much for her. There is not a day that I don’t think of her. I am writing her story because I believe she needs to have a voice and the church needs to know that in spite of them; these women and children survived. If you are searching, please don’t stop. I am thankful to say I have no regrets on my search for my birth-mother…..
Philomena…thank you for sharing your story. I am truly sorry for what you both suffered at Castlepollard. I was born at Bessboro in 1960 and sent to the States in 1961. Also found my mum in 2001, and we are blessed to have a close relationship. She did spend 10 years in the Waterford laundry, but it was actually before she became pregnant with me. She was able to get out in 1957 with a work referral to Our Lady’s Hospital in Dublin, where she met my father and became pregnant with me. As close as we are (we talk weekly by phone), she still has great difficulty discussing her time in the Laundry and always refers to it as ‘when I was at school…’ I give her loads of space, love and time to deal with this in the best way she can. Blessings to you and your mum. I hope she can find some peace for herself. If she would like, there is a Magdalene support group run out of the London irish Centre. I can give you contact info if you think it might help her…e-mail me at mari_tee@yahoo.com.
Thank you, but my mother has not even admitted it to herself and be her refusal to see me re-enforces her deep seeded feelings about her past. I am glad you were born to your mother after, but why were you sent away if it was after. WHat was your search like? Did the Sisters help you? I would be interested to communicate with you, please respond back to my email. I believe all the women who survived must be honored and those that put them through the hell punished…. I look forward to hearing from you. I live in Ca.
Oh my gosh, thank you for that.. I was always made to feel I could not call my birth mother, “mother” because I didn’t live with her, but she is. We are the same blood. She was not my parent, but she will always be my mother. As for looking for other people. I also looked for a friend because I made the trip to Ireland and she could not. I was more than willing to help her. I delivered a letter and met with Sisters in hopes of getting word of her mother to her. I took the train to her town to find her family for her. I was more than willing for someone to help me, and many people did, in my name, and I am so grateful. Until you have been turned away time and again from what is actually yours, plese don’t be so quick to judge the actions of others in this matter. Everyone who helps someone search is doing a good thing. I am still searching everyday. I was grateful my daughter found this site for me and now I can respond and communicate with people who have my same experiences. Being born in an orphanage in Ireland is not the same as an orphanage in America, trust me, I have the scars to prove it…
Karen,
I live in Huntington(L.I.).Where on Long Island do you live?
It seems the majority of children were shipped to the U.S.?
I was born in Sean Ross Abbey(1963). I believe I may have a twin?
Please contact me at…LostBoysFate@yahoo.com.
Finian
Not to belittle any of the experiences although I would like to give a different view. My mother was born in Sean Ross Abbey in 1930 where my grandmother gave birth before marriage. I went to a catholic convent school that had boarders and day girls. I was a day girl and a very difficult pupil. I received great understanding and kindness from the nuns. My children also went to catholic schools and likewise were difficult and again received nothing but kindness and understanding. I have heard others having mixed experiences from their convents therefore I am aware that not all nuns just like people are kind. Brenda.
Brenda,
I am glad you and your chilren were treated with such kindness, but perhaps being a “day girl” might have been a difference. I would think from your description you had a home to go home to as did your children. Being in an orphanage it was our home day and night. We were their charges and there was no parent to come to our defense. I have no memory of my time in the orphanage, but my physical condition does not show understanding or kindness. It shows neglect and abuse. I am happy for you and your family. I hope you can have kindness and understanding that were not treated so graciously….
However, Brenda, nuns are in a position of trust and should follow the doctrine “suffer little children” to come unto me! An adult has some chance of redress but a child…………….you were lucky.
I was wondering if anyone would be able to provide me with a contact name/address/phone # to obtain a case file from 1941-1943 from the NSPCC/ISPCC?
In Canada, there is evidence, in terms of living witness testimony and documentary evidence, of the murder of many Native Kanata (Traditional name for Canadian Native peoples) Children whilst in the ‘care’ of Church and State run Indian Boarding Schools. The children were all taken by force from their homes and communities so that they could be ‘educated’ and thus assimilated into the Canadian culture. It was, of course, touted as a ‘good thing’ to do, for the children’s benefit.
The estimates of the number of children who died of various cause in these Institutions over a period of 150 years is close to 200,000.
The last of these schools closed in 1996!
The manner of the deaths includes brutality, tuberculosis, measles, whooping cough and malnutrition.
The documentary evidence comes from reports by health Inspectors in the 1907 : the 1907 report compiled by Dr. Bryce and submitted to DIA Superintendent Duncan Campbell Scott, in which Bryce documents that between 25% and 50% of the native children entering western residential schools were dead after one year.
His report was suppressed, and the Canadian Government took no action.
There is also documentary and photographic evidence that children were intentionally exposed to tuberculosis within these Institutions.
The living witness evidence has been gathered by inquiries made by Reverend Kevin Annett in the 1990s and after 2000, are some of these are documented in the documentary of his work UNREPENTANT which can been viewed online.
Kevin Annett, with support from the Mohawk Nation, is now conducting archaeological surveys of mass burial grounds where the bodies of children sent to Indian Boarding Schools on Mohawk lands, to further investigate this issue. The Canadian Government and the Church has opposed this survey, in spite of their PR event, The Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
There is also evidence that the same practices and outcomes occurred within Institutional settngs of a similar nature, targeted at the Indigenous populations,in the USA and Australia.
It is now essential that the Irish Government investigates the many burial sites in Ireland where children from Institutions have been buried.
ya thats the nuns for ya…most of them are nothing but a load of whores…and to look at them today you*d think butter wouldn*t melt in there mouths but deep down thats what they really think of unmarried women, but they should look at there own past and how evil they were and some still are today its them who should be ashamed of them selves…and for all those supposed to be good nuns out there if any of them felt so bad of what happened they wouldn*t be nuns today they would of retired,and for the priests aswell nothing but a load of perverts,ha there the last people id to to for confession all they want is free living and some where to hide there shame they should sleep in the confession box because no one will ever forgive them for what they put people and poor children through who didn*t ask to come in to this world it was got who but them there and it was them things who had thorn mother and child apart…scumbags
As a survivor of this Irish version of the holocaust, I have spent 40 years thinking about the insidiousness of evil. It comes in a cloak of concern, and strikes with the venom of the adder…I know every individual case has its own horrors, but it is essential to see past the anecdotes and consider the root of this human catastrophe…a powerful control system, developed over a thousand years to perpetrate power…no other reason..all the trappings of love and sacrifice..are just that…to all of us who survived and are able to stand up today and reject this aberration are the true heroes ..we dont want glory or indeed any recognition, other than the opportunity to live a complete life, free of the garbage that we have been exposed to.. Mary.
Mary, Very well expressed.
HI I was born on 1st Jan 1957 in sean ross abbey to a woman called
Brigid, I was adopted to a good family but always craved to meet my real
mother. In 1981 contact was made, but Brigid would not meet me as her husband did not know about me. So I tryed again in 2003 but this time she
could not be located.. In 2007 I got my real Birth Cert at last I could look myself
and after a few wrong Brigids , I got confirmation today that my darling mother
is dead. I so wanted to see her face even just once She breast fed me for over
three months and I bonded with her even though I never seen her again. I have
cryed bitter tears for her becaused I loved her. The sad thing is Brigid is dead
since 1991 and they couldent tell me. The system stinks we deserve so much
better, we are still being abused by thoes terrible nuns.
I have one sister and 2 brothers and possible another sister to be confirmed should I try and make contact with them ?I want to but dont feel the same since Beigid is dead
[…] The sisters sold babies and infants to the few wealthy in Irish society and American people. LINK In one particularly brutal institution a 4 year old boy died and the Christian Brothers just […]
Hi , I was born in 1959 and although my parents were born in the UK my mother grew up in Ireland and her parents, my grandparents, came from dublin.
My first memory of life was being dumped in a childrens home in ireland, I was repeatedly put into childrens homes in ireland along with my siblings, during my early years, eventually we all left ireland and settled permanently in the UK.
I was scarred by the whole experience, my father vanished when i was about 8 and my mother died when I was 16 and i didnt dare ask them to explain events anyway.
Its only the last few years at 52 yrs old that I have questioned elderly relatives if they had any information as to why I was placed in the childrens homes, all i can discover is that it was the sacred heart convent, one relative said on the road to blackrock, another relative said it was in drumcondra and that was after repeated questioning as they either dont know or theyre not telling.
My childhood memories consist of gaping black holes instead of memories . I remember stepping into the convent and then the curtain comes down, I dont know how long i was there, why i was there or when i left, and it is very very unsettling and I dont know why. God bless everyone looking for answers.
Carol
Hi Paul, I tried emailing you but your email address was unattainable.
Paul, couldn’t get through to your email address..
Hello everyone,
I was born in Ireland in 1952 and adopted at 3 1/2 months old by great people in Texas. I visited ireland in 2008. The nun who has access to the records of Sean Ross Abbey told me I was not born there and therefore did not have any records on me. She did have info on my sister(no blood relation to me) It was her mother’s first name and my sisters birth weight. I have questions. Does anyone know if babies were “dropped off” at the Abbey or were the mother’s required to stay too? Also,my sister is developmentally disabled. I told the nun about this and she stopped talking to me. All she would say is that all the children that were adopted were healthy. Her secretary kept saying that had more info on my sister,but the nun would not admit it. I do not understand. My sister was born in 1953. She was adopted at 3 years old. What did the nun think? We were going to return her? Anyway,the head nun at the time was Sister Hildegard. Despite many letters by our mother, Sister H never responded. I am interested in finding out about both of us. We have had great lives,but the curiosity is high. And,since our parents have both died, I feel I can look now. Help please
Dear Sheila,
Don’t put any trust in the religious, whether they’re nuns or priests. Be very schrewd in your dealings.
I was born in Sean Ross. I was told that after a few weeks, I was taken with my birthmother to an orphanage in BlackRock Dublin. My bm was sent back to her family and told to move on.
When I finally made it back to Sean Ross, 36 years later, I asked the nun in charge if there was a baby boy born on Feb. 23, 1963. The nun went to another room and came back with a different name than what I originally had from my Birth Cert.. I told her n “that wasn’t the name I was given and asked if there were any other boys born on that day,
Our meeting abruptly ended.
There is a book “Banished Babies” by Mike Millotte(spelling may be off). In it you will find an organization that was very helpful in my search and finding my bm and bf. I believe they’re called “Irish Adoptees Association”. Otherwise, if I continued to rely on the religious…I’d still be searching and getting twisted by those sadistic nuns.
In fact, I learned, through my bm, that she was in contact with the very same nun in St. Pats Guild(Dublin) as I was and at the very same time and Sr. Gabriel never let either of us know. Sr. Francis was no better.
Get as much info as you can from these nuns and contact “Irish Adoptees Association”. They’re adoptees themselves, and so, understand us better than any warped nun could ever.
– I wish you well.
“I think they are the only ones who should have the right to search, no one else, not even the birthmother. Once the birthmother has made her very selfless and beautiful decision to relinquish her child, she must live with that unless the child seeks her.”
@Denise, get bent, eat shit and then go commit yourself as soon as possible.
agree.Well said!
The truth is nuns are nothing but a buch of dykes who punished women for sleeping with men. I beleive the catholic church is a satanic cult, like the mormons full of fags, butches bi’s and pedophiles whose goal was to destroy famillies and get revenge on hetrosexuals. Another tradegy as horrid as what all of you have stated is gay adoption in the US and worldwide. All those kids are getting molested. And they are being threatened with death if they tell. This is a way for the gays not to get caught as easiy. When the door has finaly closed at the Launderies, another one opens for these skanks to continue their torture on the innocent. We will be at war with them until the end of time, whether they are in a robe, a habit or a pair of Levi’s.
http://one-evil.org/content/entities_organizations_roman_cult.html
“The Roman Cult has never been the legitimate leadership of the Catholic Church. However, through a relentless campaign to seize and consolidate its power, this relatively small band of individuals now controls the destiny of over one billion good, Christian and ethical Catholics, who remained tricked into believing the legitimacy of the Roman Cult.
A brutal and bloody cult — involving child sacrifice, burning people alive (since 11th Century CE), demonic worship and absolute celibacy of its lowest priests — its epicenter for such evil being the giant Phrygianum atop Vatican Hill since the 2nd Century BCE.”
I find your comment ever so distasteful. What exactly do homosexuality and paedophillia have in common, firstly. Secondly, fuck you. Seriously.
Your homophobia is as ugly as the nuns calling out-of-wedlock birth, “the work of the devil.” The Catholic Church twisted people’s minds to be cruel to others in the name of Jesus. Punish anyone weaker. Absolute power corrupts absolutely. Get educated about power dynamics — this was about a sick religious cult, an authoritarian society and a patriarchal culture which treated women like possessions with no rights. And, most pedophiles are married heterosexual men by the way. Do some reading – you’re embarrassing yourself. Yes, the priests especially were pedophiles – around theworld. But pedophiles exist everywhere — perhaps you could use your anger to help children and get better educated about homosexuality. No, I’m not gay but I have relatives who are — and they have been tormented by people like you all their lives. (Born, Sean Ross abbey, 1954)
*bunch of dykes
I also urge people not to forget about the repulsive Georgia Tann in the USA. She stole children, telling their mothers they were dead, molested them, and then sold them to rich child abusers like Joan Crawford. She was a butch to and as bad as the GD nuns and preists.
You clearly have issues with homosexuality. And it renders any good points you might have in your posts moot. Georgia Tann was a monster, plain and simple. It had nothing to do with her sexuality. And I don’t have a problem with gays or lesbians or purple people or whatever adopting, as long as it’s about finding a loving home for a child who desperately needs one and not about hunting womb-fresh infants because the adopter (whatever their sexual preference is) desperately wants one, or exploiting vulnerable mothers to get one. Back up your outrageous claims linking homosexuality with paedophilia or that gay couples adopt children just so they can sexually abuse them if you care to, although I highly doubt you can. Your assertions are beyond offensive.
My mum had a baby boy in Sean Ross in 1954 or 1955. Her sister and brother in law rescued her after a visit and just couldn’t bring themselves to leave her. They took her and the baby in but the baby was adopted after the family disowned my aunt for supporting my mum. My mum recently died and couldn’t speak of what happened. She told by dad that she was raped and never revealed to birth father. I would love to trace my brother known as Sean Kennedy, my mother was Carmel Kennedy. She was just 17.
i gave birth to a daughter in castlepollard on 22 jan 1968 .. i was 16 years old no pain killers no help what so ever and told by a supposed nurse smith to shut up …and a sr justina ..the labor started at 12 /30 on the friday i was given sleeping pills i was all drowsy and disorientated and in the height of pain i was told in no uncertain terms to shut my bloody mouth …i was also suffering high blood pressure and pre emclampsia i was on the labor table when nurse smith came towards me and said francisca shut up ..i cannot see i said im blind and then that was all i rember i woke up on the 23 still blind and blind for over a week as other girls had to spoon feed me .. they told me i had the baby the evening before and that she was in the nursery .. very cruel people those nuns evil .. i was just a kid .
born martin joseph roche ,cant believe the horror story behind my birth an where i came from , if any one can help with any info please contact me , born 21 11 1967, thanks
after readin more about the treatment dished out by these monsters , i will seek retribution , did u not think i would return , what i will do i do for all us lost souls, if there is a god hang your head an leave me to it
I fully understand.
Yes the whole idea was to fragment the souls of innocent children and mothers using trauma and then keep all under control and FEED OFF THE SOUL ENERGY Because the torturers have no light soul food of their own. They were and are predators.
[…] given their own plots with their names inscribed. They, at least, have a proper Christian burial. LINK In the official register of another Institution dead religious outnumber dead children by a factor […]
Does anyone have any information on St Patricks Hospital, Cashel it was a mother and baby home where my mother was born in 1929
kevin st patricks hospital is still in cashel but it is now an old folks home (county home) there is an assesment unit on the grounds of it also there was quiet a few young mums there from what i have heard my parents and granparents saying
More details.. Looking for Joseph Anthony Kennedy born 11/11/56 You are my brother. Please contact me
Fiona, e-mail me at mari_tee@yahoo.com — I may be able to help you.
Hi, lived in Sacred heart home from when I was 3 till 17, understand the comments about nuns and priests, most of them gave up their life to help children.
Nuns and priests made a delusional decision to swallow the lies spread by the Vatican. They didn’t give up their lives for children. When many of them realised they’d been conned they took their bitterness out on child prisoners who had no way of defending themselves. They didn’t help children they abused them.
Hi,
I am so sad to read all these horrific stories. My twin sister and I were born in May (1954) in Roscrea. Our mother died giving birth to us. We were adopted when we were 14 months old and have had a very happy life with our loving parents ever since. Sadly they are dead now but we were so lucky and we both know it.
I think about our mother now and again and had no idea about the conditions and ill treatment many suffered. I have to say our mother kept in contact with two of the nuns for many years and they seemed to have a warm interest in us. That does not take away from the fact that so many had a very different story. We love our birth mother and hope to visit her grave if that is possible in the near future.
Catherine and Mary
Could you please stop using the indoctrinated term birth mother.
It is so insulting.
You only have one mother- your natural mother who created you, nourished you for 9 months, kept you safe until you were ready to be born.
Hi Ladyportia27,
I have one mother, that is the woman that raised me from a child. I also have a biological mother, the woman that gave birth to me.
I don’t meant it to be insulting to anyone. I just say it as it is. I personally would find it an insult to my mother to call my biological mother anything but that. This is just my opinion. I believe everyone has their own definition of what a mother is.
Regards
Castlepollard took all babies off the bottle completly the day the babies turned 6 WEEKS old ..yes WEEKS….the babies were ground porrage and rice with a drink of milk ..then on to proper solids at 3 months old.. and rember when those babies puked they were refed by a differnt mother if she could not handle the distressing scene ..many could not handle it …i persavered and slowly my baby took to the beaker .fattened up for adoption .that was 67/68 before then the regime must have been harsher because in the 60, we wernt as quiet as those in the 50,s Castlepollard had a labour ward in the front lawn ..who went in there ive no idea but if they screamed no one would hear and i cleaned that horror room out . as ive already said ..i see all you babies every single day and night regardless of where i am the cornflake babies ive always called you all because i found all your little pictures and let them run through my hands like grains of sand ..A BABY FARM OR FACTORY THAT IS WHAT IT WAS NOT A MOTHER AND BABY HOME ..HELL ON EARTH ..I HAVE COMITTED MURDER OF THOSE NUNS AND SMITH MILLIONS OF TIMES IN MY MIND .
..
Mary were you in or around Castlepollard in 1944 or know of anyone who was. I am researching for my Uncle who was born there in Nov 44, he did get to meet his mother before she died but not his father, he has lost 3 years of his life from 3 to 6 before he was fostered out and would like to find out were or what happened to him.
Anyone who can help please email me on jan1910@hotmail.com
Many Thanks
Janette
I have been trying to trace a sibling mary, born in Castlepollard 1955. I did have a social worker allocated to me last year, but now has left. I seem to be getting nowhere. Anyone with any suggestions please.
Anne
E-mail me at mari_tee@yahoo.com, Anne. Or feel free to join our Facebook groups at Adoption Rights Alliance, Adoption Support Network of Ireland, Banished Babies and Adoption Rights Now! Plenty of advice, help and support on all of them…good luck.
My mother was in St Joseph’s in Dublin from the age of 3 with her sisters after their father died. The stories they told me were beyond shocking. It affected her mentally all her life and, unfortunately, the abuse was passed down onto me. I’m writing a book about it at the moment to show how industrialised abuse like this leaves a scar for generations to come. Can’t look at a nun now without feeling somehow disgusted.
That was the whole idea.
Lots of money and jobs in the system when there is abuse, violence etc.
The old patriarchal system depends on it to keep it going.
It also depends on abuse energy to feed the patriarchs- for their food is all negative e-motions.
A. Holocaust
“Irish courts conspired however with the religious. The State is as guilty as the Church on the matter.”
The Roman church runs the court system.
Look where the quangos are held.
Red Mass every year to begin the court year.?
Courts are corporations- all in it for the money.
My Mother was just 15 years old” when she was raped By a Soldier from Atlone Barrack” he was 19 years old” my Mum went to the Dance Hall in her home town in co Tipperary” My Mum was sitting watching everyone dancing” and suddenly this man came over and asked her for a dance” she Politely said no thanks” I just came to enjoy myself” The Man in whom is My Father did not take kindly to my Mum Saying No to A Dance, My Mum went off to the ladies Room My Father followed her and then raped her” she got Pregnant and was send to Mother and Baby Home in Dublin where she had me and a twin I didn’t know about till I was 15 years old” I was born in mother and baby home in November in 1971. when I was two I was send away again to another home, and my Mum was transferred to Magdalene’s Home in Good Sheppard Convent Co Cork, in a later stage I got a social Worker to trace my Mum through barnardo” but I was too late” my mum passed Away at the age of twenty Eight ” unknown death” I was Subjected to Physical Abuse Verbally, Mentally, and sexual abuse had taken place outside the resident care Home on Holiday periods like Easter , Summer time, Christmastimes, I was send out to do housework at the age of five from the residential care home to a well off Family, But I encountered repeat sexual abuse over and over again, on three occasions I had to be hospitalised and emergency operation, to fix my womb and bowel” I won’t go into the Whole Details, But I was Raped by The Family and Beaten and punish with no meals, if I refused, I was just five, I told Social Workers and the Nuns but nobody wanted to listen” the Nuns said I had a vivid imagination and that I was making it all up” Come on I was just Five” also I was continuously Subjected to vaccine Trials “over and over again three time a year diphtheria Polio vaccine Jabs in my arms and Sugar lumps I send all my details of files of Proof to A Woman who was dealing with the Child vaccine Abuse cases in 2002 I send her a copy of the information, Michelle Shannon, She wrote back to me that an investigation inquiry is on the way and I will be informed in due course, a week later I received a reply by letter” telling me that the Vaccine Trial case of Child Vaccine Abuse has been cancelled! How injustice has been done on my behalf and others like me” wrong. I have all my proof in B&W on paper and I never received any justice of Vaccine trials I was subjected to over and over again. The State was then responsible at that time for me and they did nothing” I blame the Government as they did not get anybody to check up on the children who were in residential Homes” no Social workers or and politician recognised us a little Children Suffering by the Hands of Evil Nuns and Priests.
The Government had covered up child Abuse and brushed it under the Carpet! Giving us a measly Bit of Money thinking we will forget “I shall never Forget” I am Scarred for life; my childhood was robbed by the state of Ireland” how I Despise them all”.
The only way I will be happy “would be to see justice is done “and that the Perpetrators’ goes to prison and pay for their crimes of Cruelty and abuse in every manner”.
Only Then will I ever forgive the State”
I want Justice done” not to be Bought off! I and others in the same boat as me have never seen any justice done!
Rita
It’s a long time since you posted this comment, but if you should read this please get in touch with me at will.r.jones@hotmail.com. I’m a writer and would like to talk to you about your experiences. Thanks.
Hello who can we contact to trace the records from Sean Ross abbey I too was born there in June 1962. Are we not due compensation from the state? It is so awful almost unbelievable .
From “my own experience”…
I wouldn’t suggest anyone, doing a search, contact Sean Ross Abbey.
The nuns at Sean Ross were colder than the stones in the mass burial grounds of those that never left Sean Ross.
There is a book written by a Mike Milotte called “Banished Babies”. I believe Mike may still live in Dublin(look him up).
– In his book, he mentioms an advocacy group, “Irish Adoptee’s Association”. If it weren’t for the Irish Adoptee’s Association, “I’d still be at the “UnMerciful” whims of those cold twisted nuns who tried to drown my search and hopes for nearly a decade.
Within weeks of my contacting the Irish Adoptee’s Association, I found my (birth)family.
It’s been over 10 years since I found my family and the nuns still refuse to give me my records.
– Finian
If you need more info, you can email me at FiniansFate@yahoo.com
Hi Geraldine,
Any records still in existence for Sean Ross (Sr Hildegarde destroyed a number of them) are now with the HSE South Cork in Glanmire. Pearl Doyle is the Adoption Services contact. Sadly, the State removed the mother-baby homes and Magdalene Laundries from the scope of the original Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse (which led to the 2002 Redress Act and Ryan, Murphy, et al reports). We’re just now finally getting a State apology and justice for the Magdalenes, and next in our sights will be the mother-baby homes. We won’t give up,
Oh Rita, you are very brave, I just can’t imagine what you went through..I was one of the lucky ones, I gave birth to my daughter in the 80s and was encouraged to give her up for adoption by a social worker.. I took her to St Patricks on the Navan rd. but a week later went back and took her out, they tried to keep her but I held on and got her out…It still haunts me till this day…
From “my own experience”…
I wouldn’t suggest anyone, doing a search, contact Sean Ross Abbey.
The nuns at Sean Ross were colder than the stones in the mass burial grounds of those that never left Sean Ross.
There is a book written by a Mike Milotte called “Banished Babies”. I believe Mike may still live in Dublin(look him up).
– In his book, he mentioms an advocacy group, “Irish Adoptee’s Association”. If it weren’t for the Irish Adoptee’s Association, “I’d still be at the “UnMerciful” whims of those cold twisted nuns who tried to drown my search and hopes for nearly a decade.
Within weeks of my contacting the Irish Adoptee’s Association, I found my (birth)family.
It’s been over 10 years since I found my family and the nuns still refuse to give me my records.
– Finian
If you need more info, you can email me at FiniansFate@yahoo.com
Veronica
This time last year I was so sad as I had just discovered my natural mother
was dead since 1991 even thought I had been looking for her for 35 years.
But I kept going and have made contact with a brother living in Australia he
is so sweet and is happy to know me. We are in contact quite often and he and his wife are coming over to Ireland this Easter to meet me I am so excited and so is he. I will have waited 56 years to meet my brother but it will be worth it.
It has been a long hard slog with lies and disrespect shown at every chance
the system forgets that we, the adopted children of Ireland, are real people
who simply want to know their real blood relations.. I have animals with more
details than I ever had… One of the worst experiences I had was last year when
to the bishops house in Ennis to ask to see my real baptism cert as I knew my mothers real name was on it. They demanded why i wanted it,they were so horrible and made me wait about 45 minutes but only gave me a scrap of paper with even less information than was on my adopted one. They said no ever asks to see their real certs and more or less how dare I. I was 55 yrs of age. In the waiting room there was a huge picture of President Devalera shaking hands with some fat bishop and I thought you were all in this together Church and State. I cried when I was handed the useless scrap of paper and I am normally a happy person who can deal with all sorts, but I was made feel
so low and worthless. I hope they all rot in their own private Hell. I will never forgive them. But thanks to a very special social worker and a lot of luck I got success after 55 years. I feel so sad for my poor mother at what she endured at the Sean Ross Abbey on 1st Jan 1957 and now I am so so Happy to be meeting my real family at last.. I am also thankful for the loving family who adopted me when I was three months old,, but sadly no matter how good they are you so yearn for your roots. To others out there still searching Keep Going and good luck as you need it.,
I have never read anything so sad as these stories, I would like to say I thought about each one of you as I read what you had to say, I’m so glad you can speak out and be believed and listened to but there is nothing anyone can say that can be a comfort to you, so dreadful can hardly believe anyone can be so cruel as these devils were because that’s all they are devils, xx
I was born in a mother and baby home in Birmingham in 1956 ,my mother was Irish but lived there, she was only 15, I have just last year found some information about her, this home was run by nuns , I often worry , and I hope she wasn’t ill treated by them as she was only a child herself, I was adopted when I was 3 months old, I had great adoptive parents, I was brought up a catholic but don,t follow it,to me it’s a brainwashing religion, made to terrorise, by people who are hypocrites, and child abusers,I’d like to find my birth mother her name is Catherine Marie O’Donoghue,
I am in bits here reading these comments.What a brave bunch ye are. I was born in 1974 in St pats navan rd.I was adopted by a great family but alwsys felt like I didnt belong. I started my search 20 yrs ago and was stonewalled at every turnAt xmas 2003 my social worker rang to say she would contact me in the new yr.I heard fron her again in April 2012!! She said she was
closing my case and would it b ok to show my file to a youbg girl on work experience I said sure.She found my mum in 3 days!!! We met for the first tine in Nivember
It was like we had never been apart.I love her as my mum not a birth mother not as a ‘friend’ but as a mother who I was denied.She feels the same. I have also a wonderful step dad in her husband and 5 new brothers and sisters.Keep trying to trace it is so worth it.She was treated badly.In labour in a glorified shed and hemorraged after me and almost died.It is my one regret that I didnt find her before the redress board closed in 2011. She deserved compensation for her time spent in that hole!!! She didn’t even know that St pats was part of the redress board. All in all a happy story but, What maddens me the most is her family still live in the same house in Kilkenny.So where the fuck were the social workers from the adoption agency looking for 20 yrs!!!
My husband was born in Castlepollard in 1961 and found his birth mother some years ago. Unfortunately she went into a psychiatric hospital soon after his birth. Her family never knew about him, except for one sister who is now dead. His mother remembers him but is now in a nursing home and has limited communication. She doesn’t connect me or her grandchildren to her. He is very lucky to have met and has a great relationship with his mothers sister. We know nothing of his father. It is very sad that her life had to end because of what happened to her. It is only lately we realised it was Magdala Laundry.
i see a lot of blame go to the nuns they took me in 1962 when i was 4 i was place in a refoume school and went to school like every one else i was never beet or treated badly i still go tell today at saint mary’s i hate to say but i see people like to sue the church i feel sad for you god bless you all
Hi henry.
There were no reformatories in Ireland for 4-year-old boys.
i know a man living in america who was born Bernard Reilly in Castlepollard
l953 and could never find his birth mother. All avenues were closed to him ovefr the years. Its very sad!!!!!!!!!!! Authorities have a lot to answer for!!!!
We may be able to help him, DerryLass — email me at mari_tee@yahoo.com.
Hi as I have read recent posts and the possibility of the man you know born Bernard Reilly may not be his real name,, I am trying to go about looking for a cousin born in Castlepollard possibly in early 50 fifties to my aunt who confided in me about 8 years ago, she told me she has son possibly about early 50 and he was adopted to America, as she married and had more children and neither her husband or children knew its hard for me to put any names on this reply,, but I often think about him my cousin who would now be in his sixties,, I feel so sad for him and his mun my aunt has passed away few years ago,, cannot give exact dates etc,, any replies much appreciated,, Jane
Jane, as we children age there will come a time when the Catholic Church will outlive the scandal. The good news is that at that time when we are all gone we will all have the answers we sought so desperately in life. Thanks for the comment.
Mary.
I am looking to contact Mary – possibly Fallon – who look care of me, Sheila Kearns, following my mother’s death. Mary worked for my family from September 1951 ’till April 1953 in Drumcondra and Inchicore.
The reason I am posting on this site is that I believe that Mary may have given birth in one of the Sacred Heart Homes prior to her employment with our family.
I would love to have the opportunity to thank Mary personally for the love and care she gave me, however I have been unable to trace her to date.
i was born in castlepollard on the 15th of march 1969 and keep hitting a brick wall. i dont know what to do next.
Anne Marie O’Shea,
There is a Book, “Banished Babies” by a Mike Millotte, a MUST READ. In the book, Mike speaks of an advocacy group by the name of “Irish Adoptees Association”, they’re the ones who helped me find my Birth parents with in weeks of me contacting them.
– no more “Brick Walls” !
Best to You !
Finian
thanks for the info. Another book that is a must read is Primal Wound. by Nancy Newton Verrier. It’s an emotionally challenging read but one that is essential for the adopted child to help them understand why they feel and think the way we do. It corrects the general notion that there is something wrong or damaged about us. We just got a wound as a birthday present instead of a rattle. Hope the info helps others.
Mary Stebbins
Perhaps there should be an apology to the children who have had to suffer through life, due to the treatment they received and compensation from the Catholic Church for them along with their mothers. Please reply to me if you agree.
Janette
There is a world wide action starting against the Roman Catholic Church and everyone that was involved with the genocide of Native Indians in Canada 1894. Time to sort this lot out…here is the latest info:
These Persons have been convicted by the International Common Law Court
of Justice of committing Crimes against Humanity and Children*
*Elizabeth Windsor:* GUILTY of abducting ten children on October 10, 1964
from the Kamloops Indian residential school, all of whom vanished
*Joseph Ratzinger:* GUILTY of ordering the coverup of child rape and
torture by Catholic priests, and of destroying evidence of Genocide by his
church
*Stephen Harper: *GUILTY of lowering the mandatory sentence for child rape
in Canada to ONE YEAR, and of covering up the Murder of Indian children
*An International Citizen Arrest Warrant has been issued against these
guilty persons – YOU ARE OBLIGATED to aid in the detention and public
banning of these criminals and their organizations
*
CONTACT The Court’s Sheriff’s Office C/O itccscentral@gmail.com
Posted by The International Tribunal into Crimes of Church and State –
Brussels – 4/3/2013 – http://www.itccs.org
* *
—
**
See the evidence of Genocide in Canada and other crimes against the
innocent at http://www.hiddennolonger.com and at the website of The International
Tribunal into Crimes of Church and State at http://www.itccs.org .
itccs.org| The International Tribunal into Crimes of Church and State
itccs.org
1. Fifteen countries are now part of our movement! Meanwhile, more Cardinals desert the sinking Papal ship, and The Court Order is served on the Guilty Cowards – Reports from the front line
Go to every church and give their parishioners the following notice:
Your Church is now under Public Reclamation and is declared an Open Community
Space
The recent Criminal Conviction of Pope Benedict and the heads of the Catholic,
Anglican and United Church has caused your church property to be forfeited and
reclaimed by and for victims of church violence
This is your opportunity to do what God and Christ require: Justice, Truth and
Compassion
Dear parishioners,
Greetings and welcome to this public space, reclaimed by the people and the victims of child rape, genocide
and other crimes committed in your name and with your money.
By order of The International Common Law Court of Justice, Pope Benedict and other Catholic and Protestant
church leaders were sentenced to arrest and imprisonment on February 25, 2013 because of their crimes
against children, and for conspiring to commit and conceal Genocide. The Court Order and evidence of their
crimes is found at http://www.itccs.org .
This Court also ordered the seizure of the property and assets of your church as partial compensation to the
millions of people harmed and killed by your church. This church property is now declared to be public
reclaimed space and is re-consecrated to be of service to the homeless and the poor, and to all who seek
justice.
Under international law, you must cease and desist from financially supporting this church lest you be indicted
as accessories to Crimes against Humanity. Your church openly protects child rapists among its clergy. You are
morally and legally forbidden from participating in this crime.
Your own Bible compels you to come out from evil doers and false churches, and live justly, truthfully, and with
compassion for victims of oppression.
We invite you to rejoin humanity and the commands of God and Christ, and help us disestablish this church
corporation and others twisted by centuries of blood, crime and corruption. This is not the House of God – for
God does not harm the innocent. The Kingdom of Heaven is within you, and all of us.
This church property is hereby reclaimed by the People, as of today. Welcome to your new congregation and
new life.
Issued by Members of your community and The Community Reclamation Movement Sponsored
by The International Tribunal into Crimes of Church and State – Brussels, London, Rome, New York
itccscentral@gmail.com -www.itccs.org
Hi all
To anybody reading through these posts and looking for help there are a number of groups which are run by adopted people and natural mothers who have lost children to adoption. If you are on Facebook, put the words “adoption” and “Ireland” into your search box and you will find a signpost page with full details of all the groups including the Adopted Rights Alliance, Banished Babies, Castlepollard M&B home, Sean Ross Abbey, Adoption Support Netowrk of Ireland and plenty more. There are also full tracing guides on the Adoption Rights Alliance website which walk you through the steps you need to take to trace for yourself (which is perfectly legal) and there are people in all the groups who will help and guide you in your trace. There are over 50,000 adopted people in Ireland and you are not alone brothers and sisters…
Paul.
Castlepollard 1964
Mary Philomena O’Connor,
Is their anyone out there that remembers a Josephine O’ Connor in St Peters Castlepollard, Co Westmeath mother and baby’s home, her name change was known( Rebecca ) in 1947 as all mothers were given a different first name.
I would love to hear from anyone, maby their mother was in St Peters at the same time, and remembers my mother, would love to hear from you.
Mary
Castlepolldrd 1947
My Dad Leo was sent to (Coole Hospital)? Castle Pollard in the early 40’s with a disability. He recalled sleeping in what seemed liked a large dormitory come shed with a number of other boys of different ages. It was an isolated building, in grounds . The shutters would go up each morning regardless of the weather. The nuns were merciless if the boys wet their beds or forgot passages from the bible. My Dad told me he made scarfels for the church (something to do with prayer scrolls and I think he was taught how to mend shoes. Life was hard there but my Dad was eventually brought home.
I can say that my Dad never forgot the experience, it stayed with him his entire life and it certainly had some positive as well as some negative effects.
Does anyone else know of this establishment, what was it’s true purpose and were the children that were kept there, well treated?
Julie
Yes you are talking about St Joseph’s hospital Coole . A hospital for children young adults with, thalidomide ,orthopaedic issues .polio , tb .Run by the nuns , Convent next door to Coole church , the young people were taken to mass at ten thirty every Sunday .. There was farm , cobblers the wards were like big dormitory s , lots of young people wore caliber s ,.the children were very creative very loving . There was class rooms , swimming pool .
It’s now closed down since the 80s the site has been sold they have Dr surgery . Other services . It’s only three miles out the road to St. Peter’s Castlepollard . But it was different type of patient compared to St. Peter’s .
The patients did come from over all over Ireland .some did have family visit .
I do hope this will help I was Born in Coole we went to mass there every Sunday so was well aware of the children but sorry I was also very naive as to what was going on .it didn’t not have same dont talk about it like St. Peter’s. did , .The people who worked there all lived locally , met daily ,there children went to local school it was source of work .some of the old families still live in the area. . Mostly the young generation left to work in Canada or came to uk. In 80s . The hospital was then run as irish centre before that failed and site was sold . Bought by group of local doctors .
Hope this will help take care.
Maria
My Mother was born at the Sean Ross Abbey May 1954. Her Mother’s name is Anne Carroll of Tipperary Ireland. My Mother has gone back to the name Anne gave her at the Abbey. My Mom’s name is Patricia Mary Carroll. We are searching for my grandma Anne Carroll. If anyone has any idea’s please let me know. Thanks, Kelley
Reblogged this on The Sex Work Brief and commented:
A reminder of the cold blooded psychopathic mentality behind “Turn Off the Red Light” that will administer a special, Irish version of the “Swedish Model” given half a chance. As a point of interest, on of the reasons for such a high death rate among illegitimate children as compared to children born in marriage, was illegal adoption outside the state, usually without knowledge of the mother when she withheld consent. She would be told, simply, that her baby had died. Deception is no longer needed, as with constitutional change adoption without parental consent will be legal under Irish law. I shudder to think how many women will be at risk of losing forever the children they sell sex to provide for and protect if “Turn Off the Red Light” get their way. These people have no conscience or compassion, just naked ambition and a burning need to impose control. Tearing a mother’s heart and world apart would be nothing to them.
“Deception is no longer needed, as with constitutional change adoption without parental consent will be legal under Irish law”
Such “forced adoption” made even easier in Ireland by the referendum a year ago that was deceptively and likely illegally worded and promoted by a government made up of cynical politicians and voted for by a surprisingly naive and gullible population. And though Irish family courts have just now become “public” even bona fide national radio journalists can excluded still, as reported only today – so much for transparency and justice being seen to be done.
Incidentally I have landed on this website today because of my concern over the coming referendum on “same sex marriage” with implications for adoption by “unnatural” parents*. Especially in forced – and even unforced – adoptions the natural parent/s usually console themselves that at least their child/ren will grow up in full and normal family settings. New,vulnerable, inadequate, overwhelmed, unwilling, unintentional, even just disinterested, mothers or fathers are not likely to choose, expect, or consider it preferable, to be replaced by either two men or two women. Outsiders like social workers and other such do-gooders (who do not always do or intend much good) with official and impersonal (or political and very personal) agendas have whole lists of unusual and bizarre settings they deem suitable and good-enough for other people’s children. They mostly seem to forget that children grow up into adults who want the same as everyone else – their own family roots and neutral background upon which to build their own identities and personalities.
Which is why, when living in the UK and SWs tried to take my bright and beautiful young child away from me for forced adoption (so I am not ignorant of the subject!) I fought tooth and nail till I won, then let him leave my side as soon as he was old enough and live on the other side of the world from me. I miss him, and my grandchildren, but we do all know who we are and why we each live where we are (which is very far apart), and best of all why we are the way we are – which adoption would have wrecked. As it did for my son’s father, though adopted with his twin sister (ironically their mother might have given birth to them in Ireland before their adoption by a family in England) which left him with some primal fears that haunted him and helped send him to an early grave. Personally I would have preferred a different family myself, and a more stable background from what I was born into – which has left its not so happy mark on each and every one of us – but at least without going through life wondering!
So I know what a narrow escape I have had from the sufferings you all have had, but so narrow an escape that actually I feel I have much in common with all of you. And much as I want to vote for anyone to marry whoever they want, the sort of adoption this referendum could lead to is worrying the heart of soul out of me. I just wish the resources put into adoption could be put into keeping parents and children together, to maybe harness “open adoption” as an added support, to mentor rather than rend any natural relationship, for those with more money to help every child to stay in their own family, in their own country, but spread and share the load and love. Why would anyone take a child away from what we Irish call “our ain folk”?
* See Reply to Mari Steed, on March 11, 2013 at 10:52 pm
I am trying to find the school my father went to in athonroy in co galway in 1917 or 1918 his mother and father died in 1923 I want to see did he go to school befoure or after they died or who put him in there my father was born in foster street in galway in 1911 his father was a soldier in renmore bks galway my father name was john Higgins from millingar
Hi Kathleen,I think you mean Athenry,Co.Galway.Try contacting the church as there would have been only one school at in Athenry at that time.Try athenryonline.ie lots of telephone numbers on it,or look up athenry itself on google.Best of luck Claire
Hi Kathleen, was your father put into an orphanage or industrial school? It seems he was as you mention you are wondering ‘who put him in there’. Records can be got from the industrial schools in Co. Galway if this is the case.
Sile
I am looking for information on Bartholomew Mc Mahon born in Sacret Heart Hospital . Cork on the 11/11/1950 .He lived in Bessborough Until he was 7 or 8 then he was sent to Artane. He died in 2005. His Mother name on his birth cert is Beryl McMahon.
looking for my half sister born 13th oct 1956 in a mother and child home, in west meath, she was born to Margaret Monaghan,age 17, its believed she was adopted at 6 months old, by a Dr, Glynn, in Galway,
Born April 1968 ,,,I’m searching for my half brother, my mother gave birth to him in st kevin’s hospital Dublin now known as st James hospital,,, both mother and baby wer moved to st Patrick’s home on the Navan road,,, after a couple of weeks my mother was told to leave as the baby was sick and the nun’s wer takin care of him and ter was no need for her to be ter,,,,,, a couple of weeks later my mother was told by one of the nuns the baby died,????,,,,, she was not told wer the baby was buried, cause of death just to forget about it,,, that they took care of everything,, my mother passed away a few year ago and for a long time wanted to look further into it,, she then gave me permission to do so as I want to kn if I have a half brother out ter,,, maybe he did die, but I dont think so,,, I think he was part of these scams, selling babies etc,,, this baby would have bn named Jonathon Cullen well that’s the name my mother gave him, anyone wit any info plz I’d like to kn,,,,
hello,
my dad was adopted from sean ross abbey, I’m not sure when tho, he was born october 1959, lived in roscrea not sure how long before moving to Hertfordshire, UK, any info would be great, he doesn’t talk about it so I don’t ask him questions but I am interested in finding out what I can. my email is leadyr@hotmail.com
any help or advice would be great xx
Dear all, I cannot believe what I have been reading. You all must have been through hell and back. I went to a convent school in Zeerust, South Africa and the nuns there, were god’s bitches. They were never more than when they were making peoples lives miserable. I think they are the misfits of life and have nowhere to go other than convents.
If there is a god they will one day have to face him. Numbs are the cruelest of people.
Hi Everyone,
Well another birthday and another year of standing by the shore of the Atlantic and looking longingly across the pond. Is there any group that works together to find the long gone mothers of those of us who apparently were lucky enough to live. I would like to get together with others here in the Northeast who are also looking to plug the hole in their soul. I can be contacted at marystebbins@comcast.net
Thanks and I wish everyone well and luck.
I am looking for people born in tipperary and adopted to america in the 1940s. I think my mother may have given birth to twins (possbly girls). My information is very new and very sketchy
Reblogged this on oogenhand and commented:
The Catholic variety of honor violence.
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Hi everyone,
Reading all of your stories is breaking my heart. My grandmother had a baby boy at Sean Ross in the or around 1948/49. She was taken out by her grandfather and apparently brought the baby home with her but then, for some reason, her son was returned to a home (I think it was Sean Ross but I am not sure as there is also a home in Thurles where she is from – the ‘County Home’). She has some sort of relationship with her son now and, although his siblings know he is their brother and I know him as my uncle, she thinks that, apart from her children, we all think he’s a distant cousin. To this day, she will not let introduce him as her son and she has never told anyone about his birth father. I have not asked her anything out of respect for her and also out of fear of what the circumstances of conception may have been. In a strange twist, her father seems to have visited her son (his grandson) in the home from time to time but I do not know why.
Not sure why I’m posting here but I guess I would like to try to trace some records to try to understand the terrible time that she has been through. I am still a Catholic but it gets harder each day to remain one…I’m a mother and learning about the terrible things that the Church allowed happen to children regularly reduces me to tears. Surely something must be done to help all of the mothers and babies who have suffered so terribly?
My thoughts are with you all x
Molly
My Mother was born taken out of Bessborough in 1938 by a priest and placed with a family when she was 6 weeks.A very good family. There is a baptismal cert with her birth mothers name. Margaret O’ Flynn. She was named the same. She was never officially adopted until she was much older and wanted to marry in her adoptive parents name. Where do I start?
My Mother was born and taken out of Bessborough in 1938 by a priest and placed with a family when she was 6 weeks.A very good family. There is a baptismal cert with her birth mothers name. Margaret O’ Flynn. She was named the same. She was never officially adopted until she was much older and wanted to marry in her adoptive parents name. Where do I start?
After watching “Philomena” and doing some research on the internet, I came across this article and read all of these posts. Please know that I am keeping each and every one of you my special intentions and hope that you all find what you’re looking for. Cannot imagine having to go through that – my heart goes out to you.
Debbie,Thank you for your comments and feeling about the adoptions of Ireland. Unfortunately, the movie “Plilomena” while being well done only scratches the surface of what was done in Ireland. Some things are changing as my brother was able to find out about his father, of all people, but the rest of us are left not knowing if the information we are able to secure is even accurate. It’s a long road but we’re not going to give up; it means too much to so many both in Ireland and out.
Thank you for caring.
Mary
My father spent five years at Coole Hospital from 1943. The Nuns were cruel and would beat him for not remembering verbatim passages from the bible. I have reason to believe he was physically as well as mentally abused. Are there any surviving patients who would be able to confirm his memories?
This article caught my eye as I have always stood in solidarity with the Magdalenes. I am a first hand witness to many, many of the same situations; although mine were in the late 60’s – early 70’s and in America. I still try not to cry when reading these atrocities, but my own past is so disturbing, thanks to the perpetrators, the Roman Catholics, that it takes much of my energy to survive. I will, however continue to speak out and assist victims whenever possible. I must wonder; who will be so brave as to stop these who are uncivilized – who?
Born Mary Kiely to mother also called Mary Kiely on 15/11/1956 in Castlepollard. Maybe someone reading this may have some info for me. Have hit brick walls in my trace for the last 40 years.
After reading all of
your life accounts my heart breaks for all of you. Who can believe that people of the church could be so cruel. Our mother and her siblings were placed in the care at the hands of the nuns and monks and suffered dispicable abuse for no other reason than for being an orphan. I hope you all find inner peace and find the answers to your questions.
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I think all women who where in these places and survivied it are the strongest women after what they went threw.,,,,those dispicaple people suppose to be religious wat a joke…..I hope he all find peace in her lives and know people are behind ye ….I’ve had 4 daughters out off wedlock and I shudder to thinkwat would have happened to me back then ……I have nothing but up most respect for each and everyone of ye…take care xx
The trauma that those raped or just unmarried teen moms were left with is beyond imagination.
The situation in Ireland just a few decades ago is similar to what a lot of young girls are dealing with now in 2014 in India, Iran, Indonesia and SO many other places in the world. I believe that the role of any government is to stay away from any religious institutions because it will inevitably lead to various abuses and lack of control. Nuns and priests were given too much power at that time. It’s highly time that we break this horrible brainwash that has been imposed on us during the past 20 centuries. No we are not born sinners, no, learning by heart entire biblical passages will not make us better people, and no the afterlife will not “save” us. We have to stop being gullible and believing those fables! Let’s make the best out of the life we have now and use our own little grey cells to make decisions. The main focus in the world should be on education not on spreading more religious nonsense and to teach our children to be less narrow-minded and close-hearted. Life is not black or white like religion teaches us, it has a lot of shades. Only an open-mind and an open-heart can perceive those colors.
Also, if religion had been able to teach love and compassion (like it’s supposed to) to those nuns and priests who ran those sordid places in Ireland, those unfortunate teenagers would have had a brighter future. Instead, they made them feel miserable, guilty and terrified because that’s probably how they felt themselves. Those stories happened because the wrong people were in charge of taking care of children.
After reading every single post on this page, I feel both devastated for the sufferings and pleased that the situation in Ireland and in Europe has evolved. Nowadays, when a raped teen mom delivers her baby, she will be treated in a respectful manner by the nurses and doctors. She will also be able to see a psychologist and the society won’t ostracize and reject her like it used to be the case just two generations ago!!!!!!!
I had a relation born in Castlepollard in January, 1968. Can anyone give me information on where the records for Castlepollard are today?
Thanks
Hey Mary,
Try Sister Sarto at Blackrock in Cork. She is wonderful and has a lot of records. I was born in Castlepollard and she had my information. She will need you birth date and where if possible. Check you birth certificate and adoption papers. You can get those through the freedom of information act here in the states. Contact the Department of Immigration for their records. Hope this helps.
Good Luck,
Mary Stebbins
Can’t hold back my tears as I read through your realities of stolen childhoods n identities. How do u do that to a mother and Child?how do you live with yourself with so many graves at your sight of innocent children you denied love, warmth n comfort?how do this nuns sleep at night?I hope you all find your loved ones you searching for.
I was born in Castlepollard on 22nd June 1966 and would love to make contact with my mother. Her name was Margaret. if anyone knows anything please contact me.
I was born at scared heart bessboro in 1949. Adopted to the United States in 1952. Mothers name I found out was Nora Kelly from Dingle. Sister Sarto gave me a bits of information about my mother. To my knowledge she passed 6-7 years ago. I think she went on to have 2-3 other children ?? I wonder every day of a brother or sister. Maybe we’ll meet in another life..
Patrick O’Connor
Wonder if anyone can point me in the right direction please. My mother was herself a victim of institutional abuse, brought up in the Good Shepherd convent in Waterford and then she had a baby outside of marriage in 1958 in what was then St. Kevin’s hospital in Dublin. I think this is now St.James’ hospital. The child lived for 6 weeks at the hospital and then died( I don’t know how) but my mother has no idea where the child is buried or what became of her remains. She had no funeral as such and was told by the Nuns that the child was buried in Glasnevin in the Angels plot. I doubt it myself, she is probably in an unmarked grave if buried at all and not used for scientific reasons ( which has been known to happen) but I wonder if there is a way or a resource I can avail of to help her to find some information?
Born April 1, 1955 Roscrae, birth name Martin O’Neill adopted by Americans about 18 months later. Any suggestions on finding birth mother and/or her family?
Paul Wanke (adoptive name)
Hi wondering if any one can help me my nan passed away last year she was unfortunately sent to a nunnery not sure of the name as a young girl when she was pregnant and got told the baby had died at birth not sure if that was the truth or not. She lived in tullamore county Offaly her maiden name was McMahon how do I get more info on this I would really like to know if this baby was adopted or not if anyone can direct me to someone who could help ?
Hi I am wondering if anybody out there can help me. My father in law was born in St Peters in Castle Pollard in 1938/39. He is a wonderful man but at the same time is a broken man. Frank has had a horrific childhood and has always needed to know something/anything at all to who he is. He has absolutely no idea why or who infact put him in the mother and baby home. Just to say Frank was never adopted. He was sent to Artaine industrial school when he was 5years of age.
Frank has been trying desparately for all of his life to try and find dome answers with so far nothing. We went to Castle pollard St a Peters this weekend. It was very very emotional for a Frank his don and myself. Iris the first time that Frank has returned to this institution which incidentally I’d going to be shut down finally. We were distraught. I don’t know
If we will ever find any answers but we will all keep
Looking and trying to find done answers until the
Day we die.
Here’s hoping
Thank you for the opportunity to write on here
Kind regards
Julie
I apologise for some of the spelling mistakes.
I omitted to say my father in law is called Francis James Mannion. Frank has got his birth certificate and was baptised the following day if his birth. AS far as we are aware his mother was called Mary or Mary Bridgett or even Bridgett. It is very confusing as these names vary on the birth certificate and on his baptismal certificate.
We gave lots more information if needed
Thank you once again
Julie x
Just wondering if anyone has any information about st joseph’s nursing home in drumcondra dublin in the 1950’s run by a nurse Gallagher. would the hse have the records or any suggestions about where to look – thanks
hi i have read as many as possible of these sad sad stories i myself have never know who my mother was ,was put with a family (not fostered or adopted)when i was 3 never been able to find out where my first 3 years were spent but have a birth cert.met my father when i was 18 but he just could not talk about the past ,when i asked what happened to my mother he just said “dont worry ,no one will ever find you” he died and never qualified this statement would love to find details of my mother, tried but its like she never existed i am 71 now
I was born on 18/05/1948 at the home in Castle Pollard to Monica Dillon I was sent to Sacred Hearth Home in Drumcondra Dublin. I was then fostered by Mary Ivers St Anthony’s Hearse Road Donabate Co Dublin. I know she visited me from time to time with James Foley whom she married shortly after given birth to me. She went on to have Peter – Marian and Brendan Foley . She was then known as Mona Foley East Wall Dublin. James Foley was a docker. I did meet her once as an adult her daughter Marion had married had a boy and then had the marriage annulled. Marian had emigrated to Wolverhampton Mona and Peter brought up the boy Peter married and was a taxi driver I really cannot remember what she told me of Brendan . She told me my father was Boyland from Donabate asked me to leave things alone till she dealt with telling Marian Peter years and years later I was told she had died and was buried in Swords. My friend tried to locate plot but was met with blanks. I am a 68 year old woman who have always felt I have no family please help if u can.
Thank you soo much in anticipation
Maeve Baker nee Dillon
So So sad Maeve I have never known who my mother was , no photos , no reference, nothing, foster family always refused to even discuss,at least you have a little information, I have absolutely nothing, its as if my mother did not exist, but of course she did,have tried for years to find out something,anything,met with complete silence?I wish you the very best in your quest.
All the stories are so sad.My mum was in a orphanage all her life.She had no rights and was treated badly.She even recalls cleaning the priests house and had to climb in and out of the window,as she was not worthy enough to use the priests door.My mum is now 80 she has never left the orphange in her mind,she still feels as unworthy as she did as a child.There is hardly any information on my mum or her family.The only thing that was found out,she was begging on a bridge at 4 years old.I have since found out this is a explanation they used for other people too.As the children did not have any rights.She also mentions the nuns having a lot of tea that they would send to there owne families.My mum has always felt unworthy and not good enough.This also has had a knock on effect on me and my feelings of unworthiness too.So this abuse effects generations long after.My kind regards too you allxxxx Nikki
I’m sorry to read about your mother’s horrible experiences. I fully understand her feeling of not being “good enough” it has scarred my life also. Tragically, I think that none of us will have our answers until we are on the other side. It is not fair but them the rules have been written by those with something or someone to hide. Sister Sarto at Blackrock in Cork appears to be the only one brave enough to take on “the Church” and I often wonder what she has been put through trying to help us. As for me, I have memories that I cherish that are more feelings and sensory reactions but they are all I have. Mixed emotions seems to be a shared experience for all of us. But that is OUR PROBLEM. You need to to separate yourself from her experiences and I hope she gave you a good life. Try the DNA testing programs that are out there and maybe it will help provide some concrete information that will ease the pain. I wish you and your mother well but mostly I wish you the peace we all seem to be desperately looking for. Happy New Year anyway.
Mary
I was in st Philips primary in blanchardstiwn Dublin 15 1980 t0 1987 I call it school horrors my experience in time in it was abuse beatings by a teacher who went on to be a principal I was only a child first time sitting at my desk playing with a pencil he comes over hard slap across the face knock me off the chair just cured total silence another time he took me to toilets pinch me stomach put his hand around my throat lifted me off the ground then turn me upside down putting my head in the toilet slapping me repeatedly across the head I was only 11 a child this do continued only a taste what I went three 2007 I went about it gave statement to guards they did nothing they told me he didn’t have to talk to them went h s e they kept brushing it off and in Roselawn health centre sure he hasn’t done anything in five years that the attitude also wrote to former you reach ends Kenny no joy I have record of it all this bothers me even today I’ve nothing to loose plenty ta gain justice I want and I wasn’t the only child that suffered in that school heart breaking today kids go to that school but people don’t know secrets of it what took place in it I remember it like yesterday so fresh in my mind
Where can my cousin find records of babies born in sean Ross Abbey 1961-64 ?
Hello everyone, I over head my parents mention that her sister in law, Chrissie Mc Manus ( later married to Hackett), was sent down to Tipperary, this would have been I guess, in the 40’s. how can I verify this? thanks Angela