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

Paul Lynch's search began for his biological family around 16 years ago when he discovered his parents were married and had five other children

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

A twin who was adopted from the Cork-run Bessborough mother and baby home has said he owes his life to a nun who “cared for us when nobody else did”.

Paul Lynch, 55, and his brother Gerard were born in Sean Ross Abbey in Roscrea, Co. Tipperary, on October 18, 1968, where they remained for 13 months. During that time, the twins were kept together by a nun from the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary order.

Paul Lynch (right) and his twin brother Gerard Lynch when they were young. Picture copied by Denis Minihane

Sister Norbid ensured the boys were not separated and after they were transferred to the Bessborough home in Cork they were adopted seven months later by a married couple. However, their adoption “broke” the nun’s heart and she soon left her position as a child carer and moved to the UK.

Speaking to the Irish Examiner, Paul Lynch said he wanted to publicly thank Sr Norbid for “saving our lives”. “She was our mother; we had an angel minding us,” he said. 

“We were among the last of the babies to leave Sean Ross Abbey before it closed and Sr Norbid adored us.

“She was the only mother we knew at that time. I dread to think we could have been separated. She made sure we were not."

Sadly, the Lynch brothers never got to meet Sr Norbid, because by the time they had traced her, she had passed away.

“It was all too late," he said. 

Paul Lynch when he was a child. Picture copied by Denis Minihane

“All we have now is a photo and some of the things our adopted mother told us.

“The photo shows me on her lap and I’ve my hand on her face, and she’s putting Gerard down on the ground.

“We were told she spoiled us rotten and gave us sweets and ice cream and cake, she really doted on us.

“Our adoptive mother said Sr Norbid was devastated when were adopted. She had reared us for 13 months and then we were gone from her life. That would have left a big hole.

Paul Lynch (right) and his twin brother Gerard with Sr Norbid when they were children in the Mother and Baby Home. Picture copied by Denis Minihane

“I am so sorry that we never saw her after we left Bessborough, and I want to acknowledge her. God knows what would have happened to us had she not been there. Her story is important because it shows while awful things happened in those homes, there were also good nuns.” 

Mr Lynch grew up in Bandon in Co. Cork where he now works for the City Council and lives with his wife Eileen, 54, and their two children, Andrew 15, and Emily 9. His brother Gerard is living in Bantry.

The twins were adopted at 23 months by Kieran and Dorean Lynch who also had a daughter Ann who is six years older.

“My adoptive father was from Bandon and my mother was English, they saw us in Bessborough and fell in love,” said Mr Lynch.

His search began for his biological family around 16 years ago when he discovered his parents were married and had five other children.

Paul Lynch: “We were among the last of the babies to leave Sean Ross Abbey before it closed and Sr Norbid adored us." Picture: Denis Minihane

He said: “They stayed together but children of married parents weren’t adopted at that time, and I found out in my paperwork we were not adopted until we were 19 years old, which is unheard of, you can’t get adopted at 19, the cut-off is 18. So, I would like to know what transpired to make that happen.

“We were told our parents were not married, but they were.

“I wrote to Bessborough convent to the sister in charge when I began looking — and she invited me down and then I said I want my records and she gave me information and rang me three weeks after that with details of my family.

Paul Lynch (left) with his young son Andrew and his twin brother Gerard Lynch (right). Picture copied by Denis Minihane

“She told me my mother was after passing and my father was alive, and I had brothers and sisters.

“My mother was Mary Ely from Thurles and she passed away on January 27, 1999, when she was 64. My father was Eddie Ely, and I did eventually meet him a couple of times. He died on June 24, 2011, when he was 82 years old, and I went to his funeral.

“There were many similarities between me and my father. We both had a good work ethic.

“I am glad I got the information, there was always a longing to find out. I just didn’t have the tools or the time, but eventually got there."

The Sean Ross Abbey and Bessborough mother and baby homes were run by the same religious order of nuns.

Paul Lynch (left) with Michael Donovan at the entrance door to Sean Ross Abbey, Roscrea. Picture copied by Denis Minihane

In 2019, it emerged that 921 babies are registered as having died in the Cork run home, while 1,090 children passed away in Sean Ross Abbey. All of the children’s graves have not been located yet.

Mr Lynch said: “We were the lucky ones. I found out where Sr Norbid moved to the UK, and I made myself a promise to go to her grave one day and put flowers on it. The nuns told me she was a very good person.” 

When Mr Lynch and his brother were 13, the nuns brought them back to Bessborough to show them where they were adopted from.

Paul Lynch: “We were told our parents were not married, but they were." Picture: Denis Minihane

“They thought it would be a great idea,” he said. 

“But my gut when I was going up the stairs told me that was not the case. We saw the cots in the orphanage, it wasn’t a good feeling.

“We also learned we were part of the trial vaccinations and given all that happened in this era. We count ourselves lucky we were cared for.”