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I worked in Bessborough in 1996 as a student. So many questions came to me too late

My friend and I might not have known what exactly was going on there, but we knew enough to want to run away from the place, writes Audrey Hackett

Child toys and painted stones placed in memory of those affected by the former mother and baby home at Bessborough in Cork. File picture: Larry Cummins

Thu, 09 Jul, 2026 - 01:04

Audrey Hackett

Every time I read about Bessborough on the news, I think of a little boy I once met there.

In 1996, I spent five weeks working in the children’s creche in the Bessborough mother and baby home as part of the Government of Ireland’s student summer scheme. In those days, students couldn’t claim unemployment benefit over the summer, instead, you worked for 200 hours for IR£3 (punts) an hour at one of the various companies or organisations that signed up.

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