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I often think of my great great grandmother Catherine Hurley nee Gallivan (1842-1918) and her babies. I cannot find baptism records for all her babies. However, I do know that babies who died before baptism were buried in unconsecrated ground, often outside graveyard walls or among the ruins of old deconsecrated churches. They, along with some mothers who died in childbirth, unknown souls, criminals and people who died by suicide, could not be buried according to the rites of the Catholic Church.
Babies were buried at night, often by the father or grandfather of the baby. Mothers were not allowed to hold their babies or to be present at the burial. Often mothers lived and died not even knowing where their babies were buried. A new organisation called HUG Hidden in Unconsecrated Ground has been set up in Ireland to keep a record of these unofficial burial grounds. Toni Maguire from Queens University, Belfast has documented 100 Cillini in County Armagh alone. This practice of the burial of unbaptised babies in Cillini continued in Ireland until the 1970's. This is the story of My invisible brother Michael If you are aware of any unofficial burial grounds/Cillini, in Ireland please comment below and I will pass on the information to Toni.
22 Comments
Toni Maguire
10/9/2016 01:23:29 pm
Can I just correct something, I have identified over 100 Cillini in County Antrim and am now working on the institutional burial grounds in Mother and Baby Homes which fall into the same criteria. I'm glad to see that my research is being spread around 10/22/2016 03:14:03 am
Dear Toni, thank you for the correction. The blog was written in 2012 so as soon as I can find it in the backlist I will update it. If you have an up to date link to your research online I would be delighted to include that also. Sincerely, Martine 2/21/2012 05:03:36 pm
Many thanks Ger. Yes I have seen the five certificates but she describes herself as having had more babies who died in the 1911 Census. I haven't got my notes to hand right now to give you the exact number. Either the baptismal certificates are lost or her other babies died before baptism. Sadly, there is a family history of babies born still in our family.
Gabriele Helbig
11/23/2012 11:48:40 pm
I joined a group of local historians in Attymass, Co. Mayo this summer. During a guided walk we visited an ancient grave. Within this stone circle and around it burials of unbaptised babies have been conducted until the 1960s. Also bodies of criminals have been disposed there, someone mentioned bound hands. Very disturbing! 11/24/2012 07:45:04 pm
Dear Gabriele, many thanks for letting us know about this burial ground. You can leave details here or email me at mhappybrennan@gmail.com and I will pass the information onto Toni Maguire. I think it is so important that we honour the babies whose mothers were forbidden. 8/11/2013 04:24:19 pm
Thanks for sharing. This is so very sad! Glad to hear this issue is being addressed. 8/18/2013 06:54:34 pm
We all hope that these childrens' burial grounds scattered over the length and breadth of Ireland will be officially recognised and protected.
Sarah Duffy
5/9/2014 05:30:10 pm
Thankyou for this.with love to all the babies and their mothers who went before.
Ruth Cleary
6/9/2014 08:46:39 am
My husbands family comes from Creevy, Ballyshannon Co.Donegal. There is a childrens burial ground marked on the 1900 iOS map adjoining the ruined church of Kilbarron on the Rossnowlagh Road. It can still be seen as an overgrown corner of the field. There is also a Cillini narked on the 1900map just outside the village of Ballintra, Co Donegal but I don't know if this is still visible. 6/26/2015 10:23:21 pm
I am the new editor of Guaire magazine in Gort. We received a submission about the children's graveyard in Gort, Co. Galway from a woman who had a brother buried there. Do you have any information on such a burial ground just outside Gort? We are considering developing her first person account into an article for our 2016 edition and would appreciate any information available. 10/3/2015 12:13:16 am
Dear Toni, sorry for the delay in replying. I do not have any more information about Gort but Toni Maguire of Queens University, Belfast may be able to help you.
Ed Ryan
7/24/2015 05:58:29 pm
Hi, My little sister Eileen was born full term on Christmas Day 1948 and died shortly after birth. I have no recall but she was buried in what we call Tobar Naoinin, in our home village of Houndswood, Cross, Co Mayo. For years we lived in hope that something would be done and on the 22nd July 2015 thanks to the generosity, committment and sheer determination of Jimmy and Judy Harte, the land owners, ably assisted by the Langan family the Tobar was consecrated by Rev Fr Paddy Gilligan with in excess of 120 people present coming from as far as Sydney and New York. My ardent hope is that we can now go one step more and commemorate the memory of our loved ones for future generations. I have in mind a memento booklet - Tobar Naoinin - The forgotten where we can recall as many names as possible and have a family member relate the story. 10/3/2015 12:28:20 am
Dear Ed, I have been away from my desk for sometime, my apologies. I remember your sister Eileen with you today and I am glad that you have been able to find where she is buried. I think your idea of a booklet is a lovely way to honour her. It might be worthwhile approaching Mayo County Council. Many county councils have been willing to help with commemorative plaques for example. Some Heritage Officers are open to suggestions. Is there a Mayo Historical Society where you might find other like minded people? One of our Kerry Cilins was 'adopted' by an ICA group. I hope you find some of these suggestions useful. You can also ask the Council to record the burial site if they have not already done so. Local newspapers can be very supportive also and can help put you in touch with others whose family members are buried in Tobar Naonin. My email is mbrennankerry@gmail.com if you would like to contact me directly/ 10/26/2015 12:11:10 pm
My uncle has told me of an older sibling who died in childbirth. He was asked to take the baby to the garden and bury him?her.1950s I think.No one in my large family knows of this except us two. I am visiting my cousin at the moment in a place called killinane, liscarroll. 11/6/2015 11:16:53 am
Dear Noel, it must have been so hard for your uncle to do this. I have been told of the babies being buried under a fairy bush and also under the flagstone at the front door of the house. Have you considered how you might record the baby's life and death for future generations? Warm wishes, Martine
Jen
4/19/2016 03:55:57 pm
The City Cemetery in Derry, Northern Ireland had a section cordoned off for the burial of unbaptised babies. 5/24/2016 11:51:04 pm
Dear Jen, thinking of your little brother and how brave your parents were to stand up to the authorities. In Rath cemetary in Tralee over the last few years families have begun to add babies names and dates to family gravestones. I know that this is bringing great consolation to the families.Warm wishes, Martine
Marian Chamberlain
8/1/2017 01:35:03 am
Jen, your comments are tear jerking however what strongly came across was what a warm, caring, brave man your father was to have gone against the system to bury his child with respect. My parents lost many... 13, majority not being baptised were buried in a ditch to the side of the church graveyard. My father was a lonely man digging a little grave in a ditch to bury his child ..these things were not shared, sadly, only in recent times has this come to light. May all our sibliblings and loved ones Rest In Peace.
nona sanders
10/26/2016 09:25:20 am
Could anybody please inform me of the legalities of burials in kyles now, it is my belief that the vatican in the 1950s closed all kyles, and therefore no further burials should take place, and if it is under the recorded and protected monuments act is it then not legal, thanks
Marian Chamberlain
8/1/2017 01:14:52 am
Just come across your site. I am from The North of Ireland / Co. Down. I and my 3 living siblings have recently buried our 84 year old mother. Behind her grave...in a ditch ....was a plaque she had in recent years had erected in memory of my parents still born children....of which there were many....a total of 13 either died at birth / stillborn or miscarried. The support she got in those days was very lacking. As a family we never talked of these terrible times . Over recent years it was obviously playing on her mind especially after my fathers death, she shared some parts with each of us and together we have been able to piece some semblance of life for her and my Father through these difficult years. I have lived far from home for many years and was not involved in any memory plaque for my siblings, this is much regretted by me. When I saw this reminder in a "ditch" I only really became aware of the torment my parents had gone through and now I too was feeling some of that. I have no answers nor expect any , that is how it was done I only ask that we all learn and never allow these experiences to happen to anyone without giving full support and comfort. I grieve more for the life after death that my siblings were denied than I do for my parents who lived. Along and natural life ...albeit riddled with sadness. M 8/4/2017 04:04:11 am
Dear Marian, my sympathy to you and your family on your great loss. I know for many of us the deaths of our siblings affected us even though we did not know about them for many years. The silence and the pain took our parents away from us in ways...and we live with that legacy. I am glad your mother felt able to talk to you all even if she couldn't tell the whole story. I too feel that finding out about my brother Michael and my two unnamed siblings has helped me to understand more and this has made a difference for me. But there will always be a sadness though tempered now by this understanding. With warm wishes, Martine Leave a Reply. |
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