"The Home" Tuam

heidiresk

I am looking for any information anyone has on "The Home" in Tuam.
It was a mother and baby home in the old Tuam Workhouse on Dublin Road.

the_syco

Google gave me this. Seems the records are kept in -
Western Area Apoption Committee
West City Certre
Seamus Quirke Rd,
Galway.
Tel: 091 548430 (that'd be +353 91 548430 as you're in the States).

heidiresk

Hi,
Thanks,,, yes, I have been there already. Records are a minimum. I think I'll get more from people first hand that have been there or know someone that has been there.
Thanks for your help.

the_syco

Only thing that I can think of is to see if there was a backup/copy of the records sent to any "main Dublin" place?

Ponster

Or perhaps ask in the County Galway forum ?

heidiresk

I will check into both of your suggestions. Thanks for responding.

InchicoreDude

Maybe contact the Tuam 400 years (1613-2013) group on facebook. They know a lot about the history of tuam.

heidiresk

thanks for the f/b tip,,, I did see one tuam group there

NANAANNA

heidiresk wrote: »

I am looking for any information anyone has on "The Home" in Tuam.
It was a mother and baby home in the old Tuam Workhouse on Dublin Road.

Hi

Just started researching 'The Home' Tuam. This institution was run by The Bon Secours Nuns and information can be traced (Or so I'm told) through The Bon Secours Hospital. Renmore. Galway. Phone 0035391381900. Also information is available throught the following:

<snip>


Good luck with your search!!!!!

heidiresk

I have just sent a letter to the contact you mentioned. Thank you for the information.

I had been referred to the Bon Secours on College Road in Cork and they were unable to provide me with any information.

I did receive very, very limited information from the Western Health Board.

Please let me know how you make out with your research. Thank you.

ilonawyld

Sorry to contacting you so later after your post, can you let me know if you got very far with your research, I'm looking into this for my mum and she was there in the 1958.

heidiresk wrote: »

I have just sent a letter to the contact you mentioned. Thank you for the information.

I had been referred to the Bon Secours on College Road in Cork and they were unable to provide me with any information.

I did receive very, very limited information from the Western Health Board.

Please let me know how you make out with your research. Thank you.

heidiresk

Hello,
I was in Ireland this past September and went to the site. However, I am not sure it would be the same place you are looking for. At some point the place on Dublin Road, (the old workhouse) was demolished and the children were in another facility at some point it became "the Grove" there is a FB site on it.
There is information in the Tuam Library regarding the facility, and I obtained a copy of the baptismal cert from the church. Bon Secours ran it when my mom was there and they did not keep the records, they were sent to the Western Health Board in Galway. The information they gave me was minimal. I am going to try this next address, recently posted.
Good Luck!!

btw - where was your mom then transferred to? They only kept the children for 4 or 5 years, it was considered an "infants orphanage"

NANAANNA

Hi. Try the following as they are officially sanctioned by the Government. They provide a tracing service and the institutions tend to be more giving in their information to them. I know of a former resident that ended up working in The Bon Secour Laundry (Paid or unpaid, not sure.) in Glasnevin Dublin.) Keep me posted.

A: Barnardos, Hyde Square, 654 Sth. Circular Rd. Dublin 8
T: 01 453 0355 (for residents abroad, please call +353 1 453 0355)
E: origins@barnardos.ie

ilonawyld

Hi,

I think I may have got the wrong end of the stick, my mum was a resident at Tuam mother and baby home from 1958 (when she was 14) until it closed (not sure of the date) she was them transfered to Sacred Heart mother and baby home in castlepollard Westmeath where she had a baby boy that was born 23rd December 1958 (this maynot be the exact date). She looked after him until he was 2 or just over, then he was taken (without permission) from Sacred Heart mother and baby home in castlepollard, Now 16 herself she was then put on a bus to dublin to work in a private hospital which was all again arranged by the nuns. Have tried to obtain a birth cert. without any luck so thought we'd try and use the other forms to achieve our goal. Talking to her today she did say that when she was in Tuam she took the children to and from school so maybe it is the wrong place because if it was an infant orphanage and only kept children to 4 or 5 year they wouldn't have started school then, thanks for your help anyway.

ilonawyld

Hi,

Thanks for the information I'll try them and see if they can help in my quest (trying to get information out of authorities that don't want to give it to you is hard). Many thanks again.

heidiresk

I am looking for an online article referencing Mother Hortense (home manager) and the children ... I will post it when I find it.

I believe the children DID attend a school/class at the age of 4 or 5, so your mother's recollection may be correct.

Here is a link for Sacred Heart Mother/Baby
http://www.adoptionrightsalliance.com/castlepollard.htm

I hope that helps:)

ilonawyld

Thanks for all your help and info, got a birth cert. mum had the wrong date it was 1960 not 1958 (memories buried deep in her head) now for the hard work to try and trace him.

Thanks again

heidiresk wrote: »

I am looking for an online article referencing Mother Hortense (home manager) and the children ... I will post it when I find it.

I believe the children DID attend a school/class at the age of 4 or 5, so your mother's recollection may be correct.

Here is a link for Sacred Heart Mother/Baby
http://www.adoptionrightsalliance.com/castlepollard.htm

I hope that helps:)

mpog

The Home in Tuam was on the Dublin Road and the children were taken to school everyday to Mercy and Presentation Convent schools and later the boys to the Christian Brothers, all the schools were also on the Dublin road. The children were there until more that 5 as I remember children from the Home being in my class until at least 2nd or 3rd class.

ilonawyld wrote: »

Hi,

I think I may have got the wrong end of the stick, my mum was a resident at Tuam mother and baby home from 1958 (when she was 14) until it closed (not sure of the date) she was them transfered to Sacred Heart mother and baby home in castlepollard Westmeath where she had a baby boy that was born 23rd December 1958 (this maynot be the exact date). She looked after him until he was 2 or just over, then he was taken (without permission) from Sacred Heart mother and baby home in castlepollard, Now 16 herself she was then put on a bus to dublin to work in a private hospital which was all again arranged by the nuns. Have tried to obtain a birth cert. without any luck so thought we'd try and use the other forms to achieve our goal. Talking to her today she did say that when she was in Tuam she took the children to and from school so maybe it is the wrong place because if it was an infant orphanage and only kept children to 4 or 5 year they wouldn't have started school then, thanks for your help anyway.

mpog

The Grove was a Hospital. When the home was closed the children were transfered to other homes
around the country as far as i know.

heidiresk wrote: »

Hello,
I was in Ireland this past September and went to the site. However, I am not sure it would be the same place you are looking for. At some point the place on Dublin Road, (the old workhouse) was demolished and the children were in another facility at some point it became "the Grove" there is a FB site on it.
There is information in the Tuam Library regarding the facility, and I obtained a copy of the baptismal cert from the church. Bon Secours ran it when my mom was there and they did not keep the records, they were sent to the Western Health Board in Galway. The information they gave me was minimal. I am going to try this next address, recently posted.
Good Luck!!

btw - where was your mom then transferred to? They only kept the children for 4 or 5 years, it was considered an "infants orphanage"

ilonawyld

Thanks for all the information

carol11

has anyone got any info on the home in tuam ,? I am searching for my brother who was "adopted out"? from there at the age of 4...i got his birth cert but wouldnt know if he was given a new name ? Anyone help please

NANAANNA

If you would like to contact me on my email <snip> I will update you on my search and how I am getting on. I don't go on Boards very often so I miss a lot

Anna:p

ado7300

hi,
i grew up next to the home , remember it well, my grandfather worked in it. if you would like to know more let me know, ado

NANAANNA

Would love to know about the background and how the Home operated and about the Hospital in Tuam where I think the girls worked. Any information would be appreciated

ado7300

hi nanaanna,
some of the girls still call to us, the only link now they have with their past. some got work in the grove( hospital )after the home closed. this wasn't a new thing, if they signed up to work in the home it got better treatment for their children. some of the children did really well in life and got good jobs ,
whereabouts are you based?

Eirebuddy

Re: ado 7300
I would love to contact you as regards the 'Home', I have done quite a lot of
research and have had some published, but my research is ongoing. I note
your grandfather worked there, so I am hoping you may be able to help me with
some queries that I cannot find the answers to.

To those trying to find relatives:
I have done extensive research on the Children's Home in Tuam which resulted in an essay which is published in the current edition of 'JOTS Annual (Journal of the Old Tuam Society). It gives a full history of the 'Home' and stories from former residents, most of whom were fostered out to families in the surrounding townlands. Quite a number of children died in the 'Home' between the years of it's existence 1925-1961, and nearly all of them are buried in the grounds at the back of where the 'Home' once stood. This area is now a housing estate. The graveyard has lain unmarked since the closure of the 'Home', but I am now in the process of having a plaque erected in their memory, and hopefully to list all the little ones who died there on the plaque (there are hundreds!) I would be happy to answer any queries anyone might have, or help in any way I can.
The best advice, as given already is to contact the HSE West (Galway) for personal information. They will have some records, and sometimes can indicate
where the mother went when the child was left with the nuns, this can be a very
good starting point in trying to trace the mother.

heidiresk

I would love to read your essay. Please advise how I may obtain a copy of it.
Thank you, Heidi

NANAANNA

To All out there. How is the search going regarding the Home. Tuam. I am just wondering if anybody had a relative adopted pre the 1952 Adoption Act and do they know where that child was adopted to. Did anybody get copies of the Ledgers under F.O.I. from the Health Board? Again apologies I am not on the site very often but you can email me at <snip>

NANAANNA

Can you contact me at <snip> I may be able to help.

carol11 wrote: »

has anyone got any info on the home in tuam ,? I am searching for my brother who was "adopted out"? from there at the age of 4...i got his birth cert but wouldnt know if he was given a new name ? Anyone help please

Gcc

Hi all,
Trying to track my mothers information. She was born 1956 and baptised in tuam and then sent to the "home". She never got a birth cert. Is there anyone who got a person to contact to get information? Or who was the best place to ask? Please let me know.
Thanks In advance

heidiresk

Hello, I received a brief summary (one page) of my mom's stay there from the Western Health Board in Galway. She was born there in 1937. She was there until 1941. The baptism Cert was issued from Cathedral of the Assumption. I also managed to get a copy of the birth cert from the Dept of Education and Sisters of Mercy.
You can contact me at <snip> if you think I can help you.

heidiresk

Did you try the Western Health Board in Galway. If your relative was fostered out (pre adoption) then there should be information regarding that on the paperwork.

MJANNA

Hi

My mother was born in tuam mother & child home in 1947. She did not have a birth cert until a few years ago. She only had a copy of her baptismal cert. in 1998 when i called the dioceses for a new copy, it revealed additional information that was not documented on the one my mother had, Her mothers address.
I can't remember exactly, I think I called Bernardo's in Roscommon who gave me the i.d number of the birth cert and told me it was with the registration of births marriages and deaths in Galway City.
Hope this might be of some help

barney4001

In todays Irish Mail on Sunday front page head line read
a mass grave of 800 babies in the home run by Bon Secours nuns in Tuam Co Galway

heidiresk

Thank you for the info!!!
I live in the USA, do you know if there is an online link for the article?

poochiem

Grabbed shots of the Mail story for you

heidiresk

Thank you very much for your efforts in sharing the article.

poochiem

We wrote about it today here.

heidiresk

Thank you for sharing the link.

Coolnabacky1873

The excellent @Limerick1914 Twitter feed has been posting about this institution over the last two days. They have "Storify-ed" the timeline:
https://storify.com/Limerick1914/children-s-home-in-tuam-1920s-1960s

Brennans Row

I just listened to the BBC Radio Foyle interview with Catherine Corless.

Very moving and it shows how powerful local history / genealogy research can be.

Gcc

MJANNA wrote: »

Hi

My mother was born in tuam mother & child home in 1947. She did not have a birth cert until a few years ago. She only had a copy of her baptismal cert. in 1998 when i called the dioceses for a new copy, it revealed additional information that was not documented on the one my mother had, Her mothers address.
I can't remember exactly, I think I called Bernardo's in Roscommon who gave me the i.d number of the birth cert and told me it was with the registration of births marriages and deaths in Galway City.
Hope this might be of some help

Hi MJANNA,

can you give me info on who got you the birth cert?
my mother is in the same boat, has a baptismal cert but no birth cert
thanks

The Daily Mail headline is a disgrace - but coming from them - not a surprise.

Every rural cemetery a mass grave - if the definition is repeated burials in the same place and no headstones. As a child I often saw family graves opened and heaps of bones placed to one side, to be placed back on top of the coffin before the grave was filled.


Infant mortality before antibiotics was enormous - my grandmother lost four children to childhood illnesses. My mother barely survived pneumonia, I was a regular customer of the Bons Secours sisters in the fifties and I would'nt have survived with them and penicillin.

I was a boarder in a diocesan seminary in the early 60's. You could'nt heat the place in the winter so cold was normal. Dinner was mostly cheap bacon, cabbage and potatoes. This sounds like mis-treatment - but there were thousands of families living on bread and potatoes, dressed in tatters and kids coming to school barefoot.



Homes for un-married mothers appeared in the late 1700's - the first were founded by Protestant ladies to "save poor girls from destitution and destruction" - read that as being prostitutes. In other words, they were an improvement on the alternatives.

Yes the clergy preached continuously against the temptations of the flesh - I was well into my teens before I really knew how this might happen. It was a social necessity and they did'nt have to preach about the other six deadly sins, because there was little opportunity to indulge in them.

In my view, the Catholic clergy played a huge role in lifting the population out of poverty, ill-health and lack of education. They literally worked for their keep and nothing else. The nuns, who lived entirely in convents gave the most.

This was they way things were and trying to scapegoat the surviving elderly nuns is shameful.


John

Hermy

So explain the 796 babies dumpedburied in a septic tank?

L1011

Deleted User wrote: »

Every rural cemetery a mass grave - if the definition is repeated burials in the same place and no headstones.

Being shoved in a septic tank wrapped in a sheet doesn't equate to any concept of "burial" in Irish society or indeed law.

Its too long ago for anyone who was actually responsible to be alive realistically but there's a chance that similar practices continued elsewhere for far longer - it only stopped there as it closed entirely.

Mortality rates in the "homes" were completely off the wall with the country in general - three to four times in some cases - so trying to explain it away with justifications to the higher overall infant mortality rate at the time still falls far short.

Ghekko

The nuns in question should hang their heads in shame. I cannot believe anyone in today's society can defend their actions and lack of Christian compassion towards the babies that lie in that septic tank.

aboysham

Deleted User wrote: »

The Daily Mail headline is a disgrace - but coming from them - not a surprise.

Every rural cemetery a mass grave - if the definition is repeated burials in the same place and no headstones. As a child I often saw family graves opened and heaps of bones placed to one side, to be placed back on top of the coffin before the grave was filled.


Infant mortality before antibiotics was enormous - my grandmother lost four children to childhood illnesses. My mother barely survived pneumonia, I was a regular customer of the Bons Secours sisters in the fifties and I would'nt have survived with them and penicillin.

I was a boarder in a diocesan seminary in the early 60's. You could'nt heat the place in the winter so cold was normal. Dinner was mostly cheap bacon, cabbage and potatoes. This sounds like mis-treatment - but there were thousands of families living on bread and potatoes, dressed in tatters and kids coming to school barefoot.



Homes for un-married mothers appeared in the late 1700's - the first were founded by Protestant ladies to "save poor girls from destitution and destruction" - read that as being prostitutes. In other words, they were an improvement on the alternatives.

Yes the clergy preached continuously against the temptations of the flesh - I was well into my teens before I really knew how this might happen. It was a social necessity and they did'nt have to preach about the other six deadly sins, because there was little opportunity to indulge in them.

In my view, the Catholic clergy played a huge role in lifting the population out of poverty, ill-health and lack of education. They literally worked for their keep and nothing else. The nuns, who lived entirely in convents gave the most.

This was they way things were and trying to scapegoat the surviving elderly nuns is shameful.


John

Are these the type of nuns you are trying to defend?

Published by The Irish Examiner, a respected national Irish newspaper.


Women who gave birth at the notorious Bessborough mother-and-baby home in Cork were not allowed pain relief during labour or stitches after birth, and when they developed abscesses from breast-feeding they were denied penicillin.

One nun who ran the labour ward in 1951 also forbid any “moaning or screaming” during childbirth. Girls in poverty, who could not afford to make donations to the Sacred Heart order, had to spend another three years after their babies were born cleaning and working on the lands around the Cork city home to ‘make amends’ for their pregnancy.

Such work often included cutting the home’s “immaculate lawns” on their hands and knees — with a pair of scissors.

Before they left the home, their three-year-olds, with whom they would have established a strong emotional bond, were removed from them and fostered, put up for adoption, or sent to an orphanage — often with only hours’ notice.

These revelations were all made by June Goulding, a midwife who worked at the mother and baby home for a year from 1951, in her book The Light in the Window.

“I could not imagine why the babies were not placed in care immediately after the birth to avoid trauma on both sides” Ms Goulding wrote.

In the memoir, published in 1998, she recounts how, at her first Bessborough birth, she asked someone at the hospital what painkillers were used in labour.

“Nobody gets any here, nurse, They just have to suffer,” she was told.

Just like in the Magdalene laundries, none of the women were allowed to talk to one another or to nurses at the home. They were also expected to wet-nurse other women’s babies.

When Ms Goulding asked why she could not access needles to stitch women who had been torn during childbirth, she was told she was not allowed to open the cabinet. “I’m afraid, nurse, the key to that cabinet has never been handed over. Girls must suffer their pain and put up with the pain of being torn — she [the nun] says they should atone for their sin.”

Goulding described the home in Blackrock, Cork City, as “a secret penitential jail”. She had grown up less than three miles from the home but had been blithely unaware of how approximate 320 pregnant women and new mothers were treated by the nuns.

Standard practice at the time, according to the newly trained midwife, would have been to administer aspirin and penicillin to ease the pain and infection. At Bessborough, the women were given nothing.

Ms Goulding’s book is heartbreaking, revealing how many of the girls cried themselves to sleep every night. Only those from moneyed families who could afford to pay £100 were allowed to leave after 10 days, but many had nowhere to got.

“Having a baby out of wedlock was such a taboo subject at the time that often these [rich] women did not even tell their husband that their daughter was pregnant,” wrote Ms Goulding, who was tormented at the injustice of making young mothers suffer when their babies’ fathers were never taken to task by society.

Then again, she said, most of the fathers did not know if a woman was pregnant, as it would have “been too shameful” for the women to tell them.

© Irish Examiner Ltd. All rights reserved

Shame on you.

nootroc

I think this thread should be kept for people trying to find out specific information if possible. Just a suggestion.

lofty999

nootroc wrote: »

I think this thread should be kept for people trying to find out specific information if possible. Just a suggestion.

very true.