Place: Bessborough

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Place: Bessborough

A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

<p> The 10th annual commemoration for the babies who died in Bessborough will take place on Sunday, June 23, at 2pm. File photo: Laura Hutton/RollingNews.ie</p>

munster

Bessborough survivors want 'full scan' of the grounds in search for babies' remains

It is understood hundreds of Bessborough's babies may have been buried in Carr’s Hill, but no burial records have been located for the area

<p>A memorial at Bessborough in Cork. Picture: Michael Mac Sweeney/Provision</p>

munster

Graveyard containing remains of Bessborough babies could become a commemorative site

<p>Paul Lynch holding a photograph of himself as a child. On the left are photographs of him with his twin brother Gerard. Picture: Denis Minihane</p>

spotlight

'We were the lucky ones': Tribute to Bessborough nun who saved life of Corkman and his twin

The Labyrinth: Mother and baby home survivor creates 'red tape maze' of finding her identity

munster

The Labyrinth: Mother and baby home survivor creates 'red tape maze' of finding her identity

Call for 'precautionary approach' to burial site development amid Bessborough apartment plans

munster

Call for 'precautionary approach' to burial site development amid Bessborough apartment plans

Developers appeal against refusal of planning for Bessborough apartments

news

Developers appeal against refusal of planning for Bessborough apartments

Planning refused for Bessborough apartments

Planning refused for Bessborough apartments

MWB Two said it plans to appeal Cork City Council's decision to An Bórd Pleanála.

Sun, 22 Jan, 2023

FILE PHOTO The final report of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes will be brought before Cabinet by Mini

Letters to the Editor: Response to plans at Bessborough

We are responding to articles in The Irish Examiner this week at a site, zoned for residential use, at Bessborough in Blackrock, Co Cork, which will be decided by Cork City Council in the short term.

Fri, 20 Jan, 2023

Bessborough: Expert cannot rule out more human remains on site earmarked for apartments

Bessborough: Expert cannot rule out more human remains on site earmarked for apartments

The potential for unrecorded 20th-century human remains at a site in Bessborough earmarked for apartments cannot be discounted, an expert forensic archaeologist has said.

Wed, 18 Jan, 2023

Support groups urge council to refuse planning for Bessborough site

Support groups urge council to refuse planning for Bessborough site

The Bessboro Mother and Baby Home Support Group said the uncertainty around potential child burials on the site still exists today.

Wed, 18 Jan, 2023

Planning lodged for €40m apartment scheme on former Bessborough mother and baby home site

Planning lodged for €40m apartment scheme on former Bessborough mother and baby home site

Application relates to a different part of the former Bessborough estate than the planning application turned down in 2021

Wed, 16 Nov, 2022

Minister to be called before committee to explain mother and baby homes decision

Minister to be called before committee to explain mother and baby homes decision

Roderic O'Gorman to be quizzed on why a promised independent review was scrapped

Sun, 04 Sep, 2022

Book Review: Horrors of Bessborough highlighted in BBC journalist's remarkable book

Book Review: Horrors of Bessborough highlighted in BBC journalist's remarkable book

Deirdre Finnerty's book is both fascinating and deeply upsetting

Sat, 14 May, 2022

FILE PHOTO An Bord Pleanala has refused planning permission for a 179-unit apartment development on the site of the Bessborough

Developer lodges plans for 420 apartments on Bessborough site

Company said it consulted with former residents of the mother and baby home in advance of submitting the latest applications as it recognised the sensitivities associated with its legacy

Wed, 13 Apr, 2022

FILE PHOTO An Bord Pleanala has refused planning permission for a 179-unit apartment development on the site of the Bessborough

OSi says Bessborough maps could indicate children were buried away from apartment site

The Ordnance Survey Ireland says it can’t be more specific about the precise location of the burial site at the Bessborough estate and that a definitive view can only be determined by information beyond its available records.

Fri, 11 Mar, 2022

Ordnance Survey to search archive for evidence of children's burial ground at Bessborough

Ordnance Survey to search archive for evidence of children's burial ground at Bessborough

An Bord Pleanála said last year it would be 'premature' to permit apartments on the site of the former mother and baby home before establishing presence and extent of a burial ground

Sat, 19 Feb, 2022

DENIS SCANNELL

Works to begin on developing 400 housing units at Bessborough

The company that proposed to develop the site said it will endeavour to keep all stakeholders informed throughout the process, and "is committed to respecting the history and heritage of the wider site".

Sat, 08 Jan, 2022

DENIS SCANNELL

More than 460 apartments now planned for Bessborough mother and baby home site

Details of a second large residential project on the Bessborough estate in Cork have emerged

Wed, 29 Sep, 2021

DENIS SCANNELL

Developers target another section of Bessborough mother and baby home site

After previous plans were rejected, developers are now hoping to build 184 apartments and a creche on a different part of the controversial site.

Sun, 26 Sep, 2021

Mother and baby home redress won't be approved until September at the earliest

Mother and baby home redress won't be approved until September at the earliest

TD expresses disappointment at further delay to scheme which was initially supposed to be in place in May

Tue, 27 Jul, 2021

Mother and Dauhgter hugging

Mother and baby home residents subjected to 'involuntary detention'

An alternative expert review rejects many of the findings of the Mother and Baby Home Commission's report and says the State is responsible for abuses carried out in the institutions

Mon, 12 Jul, 2021

State is responsible for several mass abuses, alternative Mother and Baby homes report finds

State is responsible for several mass abuses, alternative Mother and Baby homes report finds

A group of experts has analysed the evidence and come to radically different conclusions to those in the commission's report

Mon, 12 Jul, 2021

FILE PHOTO An Bord Pleanala has refused planning permission for a 179-unit apartment development on the site of the Bessborough

Planning decision for apartments on Bessborough site delayed

A decision on the eight-storey, 67-unit block which forms part of the overall Gateway View project is now expected by early August

Mon, 05 Jul, 2021

Minister wants mother and baby homes and burial sites zoned appropriately

Minister wants mother and baby homes and burial sites zoned appropriately

Developers have been refused permission for 179 apartments on the former Bessborough estate in Cork amid concerns about the possible location of a children’s burial ground

Tue, 08 Jun, 2021

State urged to buy former Bessborough lands to prevent development

State urged to buy former Bessborough lands to prevent development

The call follows a decision by An Bord Pleanála to refuse planning permission for 179 apartments

Thu, 27 May, 2021

'The children were listened to': Survivors welcome Bessborough decision

'The children were listened to': Survivors welcome Bessborough decision

An Bord Pleanála refused planning for 179 apartments amid concerns about the possible location of a children’s burial ground on the site

Wed, 26 May, 2021

Planners urged to 'rectify' the wrongs of Bessborough by refusing permission

Planners urged to 'rectify' the wrongs of Bessborough by refusing permission

Final day of the oral hearing into proposed development on lands of the former mother and baby home in Cork

Fri, 23 Apr, 2021

Expert: Map shows location of Bessborough children's burial ground

Expert: Map shows location of Bessborough children's burial ground

Land is earmarked for apartments

Fri, 23 Apr, 2021

Expert outlines new search for human remains at Bessborough

Expert outlines new search for human remains at Bessborough

Forensic archaeologist says, if human remains are found, excavation work should cease, the coroner and gardaí notified, and the site secured

Thu, 22 Apr, 2021

DENIS SCANNELL

Bessborough mum: Apartment project is an 'abhorrent act of desecration'

Several people with deep personal connections to Bessborough in Cork made powerful and emotional contributions at the online hearing

Wed, 21 Apr, 2021

DENIS SCANNELL

Experts say maps do not show burial grounds on site of Bessborough housing project

Bord Pleanála oral hearing told childrens’ burial ground does not overlap land earmarked for 179 apartments on a former mother and baby home estate

Wed, 21 Apr, 2021

Oral hearing on proposed apartment plan for Bessborough mother and baby site begins

Oral hearing on proposed apartment plan for Bessborough mother and baby site begins

Online hearing into proposed development of 179 apartments on former Bessborough lands has focused on historic maps which campaigners claim show part of the development site overlaps a 'childrens’ burial ground'

Wed, 21 Apr, 2021

Bessborough developers 'happy' to conduct more investigations for human remains

Bessborough developers 'happy' to conduct more investigations for human remains

Bord Pleanala to begin oral hearing into contentious apartments plan

Tue, 20 Apr, 2021

Excavation of remains from mother and baby home 'would not be appropriate'

Excavation of remains from mother and baby home 'would not be appropriate'

Cork Survivors and Supporters Alliance seeks for the remains of children buried on the grounds to be preserved in place

Wed, 14 Apr, 2021

FILE PHOTO The final report of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes will be brought before Cabinet by Mini

Campaigners to raise significant concerns over exhumations at mother and baby home sites

Civil liberties group says draft law could impede investigations into the deaths of those buried in mass graves

Wed, 14 Apr, 2021

Expert: Treat Bessborough as a potential crime scene

Expert: Treat Bessborough as a potential crime scene

UCC bioarchaeologist Dr Barra Ó Donnabháin said if planning for apartment scheme is approved, bulldozing a place of burial 'would add to the wrongs of the past'

Mon, 22 Mar, 2021

FILE PHOTO Minister for Children Roderick O'Gorman is under pressure, after the Dail last night voted to pass a bill which has r

Vaccine trials survivor to launch legal proceedings against GSK

Examination of concerns relating to vaccine trials was a key focus in the Commission of Investigation into the Mother and Baby Homes' terms of reference

Sun, 21 Mar, 2021

Bessborough developers lodge appeal over planning refusal

Bessborough developers lodge appeal over planning refusal

Proposed development on former mother and baby home represents 'a realistic and deliverable opportunity' to help address the deficit in the city’s housing provision, say developers

Tue, 09 Mar, 2021

Plans for 67 apartments on Bessborough site rejected

Plans for 67 apartments on Bessborough site rejected

A decision is still pending on a separate planning application for 179 residential units on another part of the Bessborough lands.

Tue, 02 Feb, 2021

Stolen identity: The phone call that rewrote a Bessborough survivor's life

Stolen identity: The phone call that rewrote a Bessborough survivor's life

Jean Dunne writes about stolen identity, lost time and living with the relics born of fear, shame and ostracisation

Sat, 30 Jan, 2021

Adopted people have an unequivocal human right to their identity

Adopted people have an unequivocal human right to their identity

A legislative framework favouring disclosure of information and birth certificates for adopted people should happen as a matter of urgency, says Katherine Zappone

Tue, 19 Jan, 2021

Letters to the Editor: Fathers and families need to take share of blame

Letters to the Editor: Fathers and families need to take share of blame

One issue that needs to be highlighted in the context of mother and baby homes is the question of fatherhood.

Thu, 14 Jan, 2021

Mother backs calls for State legal action to stop Bessborough housing plan

Mother backs calls for State legal action to stop Bessborough housing plan

Taoiseach expresses 'deep concerns' babies may be buried on site

Thu, 14 Jan, 2021

Premature newborn baby girl

'My baby was the last one to die in Bessborough'

Zoei Bonny was the last baby to die in the care of the Bessborough Mother and Baby Home, in 1994

Thu, 14 Jan, 2021

Naming the Bessborough babies is the very least we can do

Naming the Bessborough babies is the very least we can do

Treated as disposable in both life and death, these children deserve an identity

Wed, 13 Jan, 2021

Elaine Loughlin: Fear of Church and State forced families to abandon their own

Elaine Loughlin: Fear of Church and State forced families to abandon their own

Mother and baby homes were supposed to provide refuge but the women, some of whom were victims of rape, were treated like dangerous wild animals

Tue, 12 Jan, 2021

FILE PHOTO The final report of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes will be brought before Cabinet by Mini

Mother and Baby Homes: State and society turned blind eye to thousands of deaths

The highest rate of infant mortality recorded in a mother and baby home was Bessborough in 1943 when 75% of children died before their first birthday

Tue, 12 Jan, 2021

Mother and Baby Homes: Women who gave birth expected to do 'the decent thing and disappear'

Mother and Baby Homes: Women who gave birth expected to do 'the decent thing and disappear'

Report finds 'little evidence' of mothers trying to reclaim their children as they were 'silent partners' in adoption process

Tue, 12 Jan, 2021

Frontline Workers: Community spirit is a gift to Mahon

Frontline Workers: Community spirit is a gift to Mahon

A community development project in Cork is distributing ‘gift packs’ for older people and children to bring fun into people's homes during isolation.

Tue, 05 May, 2020

Irish Examiner View: An opportunity to lead real change

Irish Examiner View: An opportunity to lead real change

Boris Johnson and his Brexit-enthusiastic colleagues may spend the rest of this year discovering how very hard it is to rebuild a working relationship with jilted allies.

Fri, 07 Feb, 2020