'I'm another one of the Bessborough babies': Emotional appeals as councillors seek memorial

Fine Gael councillor Jack White described the trio's comments as among the 'most authentic and compelling contributions' ever made in the debating chamber in County Hall. Picture: Chani Anderson

Three prominent survivors of the Bessborough mother and baby home — including the mayor of Co Cork and two councillors — are calling for a memorial to honour the unknown number of children who died there and are buried in unmarked graves.

A joint motion from Independent councillor and mayor Mary Linehan-Foley and Fianna Fáil councillor Dominic Finn received unanimous cross-party backing to formally ask the city council to make it a condition of any planning granted for the site redevelopment to include a memorial to the children buried there. 

They both recounted their days spent in the institution during a council meeting at County Hall and it emerged during the debate a third member of the local authority, Fine Gael councillor Marie O’Sullivan, from Kinsale, had also spent time in the mother and baby home.

“I’m another one of the Bessborough babies and was very fortunate with the parents who adopted me,” she said.

Ms Linehan‑Foley had previously spoken publicly about her time in the institution, but this is the first time the two other survivors have made such a public statement about their own experiences there.

Fine Gael councillor Jack White described the trio's comments as among the “most authentic and compelling contributions” ever made in the debating chamber in County Hall.

Many other councillors listened in respectful silence as each of the three spoke and congratulated them for their "bravery" in discussing "something so personal and private".

“Bessborough's not just another development site," said Mr Finn, a secondary school teacher from Cobh. 

It's a place of historical significance and for many families a place of profound loss. For decades, the voices of those affected were unheard and the stories of those children remained largely hidden from public view.

"In recent years there's been a growing recognition across Ireland of the need to acknowledge and address this painful chapter in our history. Central to that process is remembrance — ensuring that those who died are not forgotten and that their lives, however short, are recognised with dignity."

Mr Finn and the other survivors said a memorial at Bessborough would have several important purposes:

• Providing a place for reflection for families and survivors;
• Standing as a public acknowledgement of what occurred there; 
• Ensuring future generations understand the significance of the site.

“I'd a friend lucky to escape Bessborough with her baby. The stories she told me are absolutely horrific,” said Fine Gael councillor Kay Lynch.

Ms Linehan-Foley said she and her two colleagues “were lucky to have survived and have a good life".

She added: “We don’t know how many babies there are in these unmarked graves. It’s the least we can do to ask for some type of memorial and recognition. As you can understand, it makes us emotional at times [to talk about it]."

The mayor said along with the formal request to the city council, she would also push the need for a monument on a personal level with the Lord Mayor of Cork, Fianna Fáil councillor Fergal Dennehy.