Grangegorman records

The NAI can only allow access to St Brendan's records, when certain administrators grant approval. Two years ago, I wrote to the person named by the NAI, I received a reply from a second person, whom I assumed to be a secretary, advising me to send documentary evidence of relationship to her colleague, in Connolly Norman House (formerly St Dymphna's). This I did, and waited, and waited. I later contacted the second person, who replied with exactly the same instructions, which I had complied with previously. Subsequently this person said they had not received my family tree, certs etc. This claim was untrue, as I had delivered the letter personally, and the person at the reception desk, confirmed it was the right office, and promised to hand it to the relevant officer named on the envelope.
I hope others have better luck, but personally I have better things to do with my time, life is short enough, and I have lots of genealogical searching yet, on many branches of my tree.

tabbey wrote: »

The NAI can only allow access to St Brendan's records, when certain administrators grant approval. Two years ago, I wrote to the person named by the NAI, I received a reply from a second person, whom I assumed to be a secretary, advising me to send documentary evidence of relationship to her colleague, in Connolly Norman House (formerly St Dymphna's). This I did, and waited, and waited. I later contacted the second person, who replied with exactly the same instructions, which I had complied with previously. Subsequently this person said they had not received my family tree, certs etc. This claim was untrue, as I had delivered the letter personally, and the person at the reception desk, confirmed it was the right office, and promised to hand it to the relevant officer named on the envelope.
I hope others have better luck, but personally I have better things to do with my time, life is short enough, and I have lots of genealogical searching yet, on many branches of my tree.

That is very disappointing. I really need to see my grandmother's information. I hope it will give me information that has been lost or hidden by my mothers family. My mother told me that when she was about 10 years old in 1921, she and my granny who was pregnant were travelling in a pony and trap along Richmond Road when her mother slumped over, my mother thought she had a brain seizure. She was taken to Grangegorman, where my aunt was born. However my granny died shortly after on Christmas Eve. She left 7 children, her husband was heartbroken and couldn't cope and the family was broken up. My mother was sent down the country with her younger brother and her new baby sister to live with her mother's mother. Mam never celebrated Christmas again till she met my father in her twenties. My mother was always sad about the circumstance of her mother's death. My granny's death cert is vague. She was the only girl and very close to her mother, after that her life was very hard. My aunt told me she had never seen a photograph of her mother. I guess everything was scattered when the family home was broken up. I'd like to find out as much as I can just as a mark of respect to my mother

pinkypinky wrote: »

I think it's worth trying to find out.

I've mailed off to the NAI for the contact details in the HSE and will send my direct connection to my great-grandmother. Will report back.

There's a case for arguing that medical records could have implications for future generations.

Thank you so much, that would be great. Cormick

This should help, this is the email reply I received in July from the National Archives re: Richmond Asylum (Grangegorman) records. Good luck!

"I refer to your email below and am writing to inform you that while the records of St Brendan’s Hospital, Grangegorman are in the custody of the National Archives, access is granted through Dublin North Mental Health Services. I am forwarding contact details for your information.

Please contact:

Antoinette Kelly
MHA Administrator
Dublin North City Mental Health Services
The Phoenix Care Centre
Grangegorman
North Circular Road
Dublin 7"

I was able to access records for my gtgt-grand mother a good while ago while they were still at St. Brendan's / Granegorman - about a paragraph of information... Envious about your 36 pages ... some of the more recent records have photos

Sorry to drag an old thread up but I am currently compiling the info required by the HSE to get my great great grandfathers Richmond Asylum records, just wondering do they actually need all the info they ask for, and if I provide most of it but not all, will they still allow me access to them?

The following is what I can't provide
An exact date of birth, just an approximate year of birth
How many siblings and their names
Exact date of admission
Parents names

I'm hoping when I get a copy of his marriage certificate that it will give me some more info or leads to work off, but don't know how I'd be expected to know an exact date of admission??

Is there anyone else worth contacting apart from Carmel Kitching? I still haven't received an answer from them 5 months later, after sending all the records I have. Very disappointed as we are having a family reunion soon and these records would be a great source of conversation for the day.

Has anyone had any luck getting records from Grangegorman where they can't prove a connection to the person who was there?

The couple who adopted my grandmother also adopted another girl. I have her death cert and memorial card but nothing to show how she's connected to my grandmother (although she lived with my grandmother for a time so address might help).

Thanks,

S.