Religion
In reply to the discussion: Tuam mother and baby home: the trouble with the septic tank story [View all]struggle4progress
(126,796 posts)Sheila Langan
June 04,2014 04:00 AM
... A June 1, 1924 article from the Connacht Tribune speaks of the dire conditions at the Glenamaddy Home, a former workhouse that began housing orphans and unwed mothers in 1921, under the supervision of the Bon Secours nuns ...
The writer praises the wonderful, motherly nuns, who know every child by name for the marvels they have achieved given the homes poor conditions, which include gloomy rooms, walls reek with damp in winter and a total lack of any permanent bathing facilities. Blame for these conditions is placed upon local authorities for their failure to do anything beyond sending inspectors to take note of the issues ... Ultimately, the article commends a plan to transfer the Homes occupants to the site of another former workhouse in Tuam ...
The Homes future was in jeopardy as early as 1928, when the County Galway Homes and Home Assistance Committee considered terminating its contract with the Bon Secours nuns, believing the rate of 10s a week for the maintenance of each child to be too high ...
A report from a special council meeting about the Homes closing assures that The unsatisfactory conditions in the Home are due to unsuitable buildings, shortage of trained staff and other factors. There was no reflection intended on the work of any member of the staff ...
http://www.irishcentral.com/news/The-Home-babies-in-the-news-A-timeline-of-neglect-in-plain-sight.html