IT CAN be revealed that at least 136 Fermanagh women were incarcerated in Mother and Baby homes in the Republic of Ireland, with the information coming to light following last week’s publication of a long-awaited report by the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes.

The judicial commission of investigation, established in 2015, focused on 18 Mother and Baby homes that existed in the Republic from 1922 to 1998.

The Commission’s report found that 56,000 mothers passed through these institutions, with approximately 57,000 babies born in them. The report found that 5,616 of those presenting were children under the age of 18.

The numbers of known Fermanagh women in each institution varied, according to the report.

For example, 74 Fermanagh women passed through the Bessborough (1922-1998) home in Co. Cork, among the 9,784 women who were placed there.

Some 923 children died in the home, with the Commission confirming that the burial place of the majority of these children is unknown.

The largest of such homes was Pelletstown and St. Kevin’s (1919-1998), in Dublin, which had 15,382 women pass through its doors, with 88 per cent of those women providing addresses – from that data, at least two Fermanagh women were residents.

Some 18,829 babies were born into this home, with 3,615 children dying in this home alone.

Sean Ross Abbey (1931-1969) in Roscrea, Co. Tipperary, had three known Fermanagh women among its 6,414 residents. In the 1930s, the infant mortality rate in the home reached 50 per cent. The Commission found that of the 6,074 children born in the home, 1,090 died.

The Manor House (1935-1971), Castlepollard in Westmeath housed four known Fermanagh women over its operation period.

In total, 4,972 women were kept in this home, with 4,559 children born there, of whom 247 died.

The Commission detailed that this home was “grossly overcrowded”, and women and children slept in unheated lofts above stables.

The Ard Mhuire Home (1955-1991) at Dunboyne Castle, Co. Meath housed four Fermanagh women over its operation period. Some 3,156 women were housed in this home, with 37 children dying during that period.

Since the operation period ended, the home has been repurposed as a hotel. The only allusion to its former past on the website is a reference to the castle being home to the Good Shepard Sisters between 1955 and 1991, before it was purchased by a new owner.

Almost all of the homes were operated by the Catholic Church, with the exception of Bethany Home (1922-1971), Dublin which was operated by the amalgamation of two Church of Ireland charities, and Denny House (1922-1994), Dublin, which was run in connection with the Episcopal Church.

Some 28 Fermanagh women were kept in Bethany home. In total, 1,460 women resided there throughout its operation period, and 1,376 children, of whom 262 died.

The two charities the home was created from aimed to provide shelter for women working as prostitutes, and sought to rehabilitate former female prisoners, respectively.

The Commission found the decision to re-focus on unmarried mothers showed “that the concern about illegitimacy” in post-World War One Ireland was “not confined to the Catholic community”.

Denny House had 21 known Fermanagh residents, out of its recorded 1,365 residents; however, as the institution was in operation from 1765, but only began receiving state funding from 1922, the true number of women who were collectively housed there is unknown. Some 1,134 children were born there, of whom 55 died in the institution.

Later this month, a report from academics will be released on similar institutions in Northern Ireland.

If you were one of the women involved, or would like to share your experience of one of these or a similar Mother and Baby home, email victoria.johnston@impartialreporter.com.