Descendants of those buried in a children’s burial ground near Tuam are expected to arrive there in large numbers on Sunday . . . as Mass will be celebrated near the site.
Locals say that there are hundreds of babies buried there since the 1840s – and particularly during the Famine years – as a plaque will be unveiled this coming Saturday afternoon in their memory.
It will be an emotional occasion for many families who will be in attendance to remember some of their relatives who were buried in Gardenfield children’s burial ground.
On Saturday afternoon the plaque that will be unveiled will contain the names of more than a dozen babies who were buried there. These are the names that locals know of.
A plaque has been erected close to the graveyard on property owned by local resident Tom McHugh who said that he was privileged to accommodate such a memorial.
According to another local resident, Michael Morris, the property in the area was part of the Kirwan Estate who happened to be catholic land owners who provided a children’s burial ground on an elevated site.
It is understood that the children’s burial ground was provided in the late 1840s on lands which are located close to the old local primary school.
The burial ground was used for children who died before being baptised or were stillborn. Indeed, it is known that some baptised children were buried there and this was done because their families could not afford the cost of a grave at the time.
It is known that the last babies buried there were in the late 1940s and there are still plenty of their relations still living in the Tuam area who will be in attendance at the plaque unveiling.
Michael Morris recalls that there was a reunion at the old Gardenfield National School back in 1998 which was attended by relatives of former pupils “from all over the world”.
He said that one of the big issues that was discussed at the time was the children’s burial ground and that Noel Mullins from Ballytrasna, Gardenfield – now resident in the States – wanted it marked with a plaque. He then gave a commitment to sponsor its erection.
Noel is currently on holidays in Tuam and will be at the unveiling of the plaque. Mass will be celebrated by Fr. Sean Flynn of Tuam Cathedral. It is expected that hundreds will attend the event.
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