A woman, who was born in a mother and baby home in Cork where hundreds of babies died, has said that survivors are prepared to chain themselves to diggers in order to prevent the building of apartments at the site.
Over 250 people attended a vigil at the graveyard folly in Bessborough in Blackrock in Cork city this afternoon.
They gathered to mark the lives of 923 children who died while resident at Bessborough home between 1922 and 1998. Only 64 have known graves.
They also remembered the 31 women who died in the institution or in hospital having been a resident of Bessborough. The name of each woman was recited at the vigil.
Earlier this year, developer Estuary View Enterprises was granted planning permission by Cork City Council to build 140 apartments at the site.
Bessborough Mother and Baby Home Support Group and Cllr Peter Horgan of Labour lodged appeals with An Coimisiún Pleanála. A decision is due in relation to the appeals on 9 July.
Dublin Social Democrats councillor, Noelle Browne, who was born at Bessborough, told the gathering that hundreds of lives were lost at the home through “neglect and cruelty”.
“They [babies] were discarded in unmarked graves right here,” she said.
She asked attendees to contact their public representatives and An Coimisiún Pleanála in order to “make their voices heard”.
“If this decision [re the appeal] goes against us on July 9th, we are not done fighting. Outside the Dáil Senator Laura Harmon (of Labour), who is here today, mentioned chaining ourselves to the diggers. I am with her on that. The fight is not one to give up.
“Raise your voices. It is not about us. It is about the 923 infants and children who never got to live their lives simply because they were born outside of marriage. They are not being shown respect even in death.
“Judging by the numbers here today you are supportive. Take action. Help us achieve a CPO for investigation and excavation,” added Ms Browne.
Meanwhile, Carmel Cantwell of the Bessborough Mother and Baby Home Support Group, whose brother William died at the home, said that the land ought to be preserved as a “national site of conscience”.
She said: “859 of the children who were born (at Bessborough) have no burial record at all. There has never been an exhaustive investigation to determine where they are buried. We have spoken to witnesses who saw children being buried here.
“The land itself holds the truth. These buildings, these fields hold stories and secrets and the remains of our family members.
“This is also the place where nearly 19,000 women, girls and children passed through, many of whom were subjected to harsh treatment.
“Most women were separated from their babies even when mothers were fully capable of caring for them.
Seeking to protect the place where so many children disappeared, where the majority are likely buried, should not be political. It is a matter of basic humanity,” said Ms Cantwell.
A minute’s silence was observed at the vigil in memory of those who died at the site.
Teddy bears were placed on the ground near the folly which is treated like an “unofficial headstone”.
A number of Cork city councillors, who are opposed to the development, also attended the vigil.