After much consternation, planning permission has been granted in Bessborough, the site of a former Mother and Baby home associated with 921 infant deaths.
This decision from An Coimisiún Pleanála has been met with outrage and heartbreak. There has been an outcry from survivors groups for the government to carry out a compulsory purchase order over the land in question.
Carmel Cantwell, daughter of a Bessborough survivor described to me how she could not comprehend the news that this development will go ahead. This news was truly devastating for Carmel, whose brother William was born in Bessborough, and passed away shortly after he was born.
Carmel’s mother, Madeleine Bridget Marvier was sent to Bessborough in 1960 after getting pregnant. This is where she gave birth to her son, William. While in labour Madeleine Bridget was given an injection, which led to her becoming quite unwell. Many years later she described overhearing nuns arguing about using an unsterilised needle.
Madeleine Bridget and her son were very ill, and after much begging, William was taken away to St Finbarr’s Hospital, never to be seen again. She was later informed her son was dead and buried, no information about William’s burial was available to her.
Carmel grew up in London, completely unaware of her mother’s experience in Bessborough. It wasn’t until she moved to Cork with her husband and children that she became aware of the atrocities that took place in Bessborough, and the suffering her own mother had endured. This was life changing for Carmel. When she learned she had given birth to her own child in St Finbarr’s, the very same hospital that her brother had died in she had an ‘Oh my god’ moment.
Learning how poorly her mother had been treated pushed Carmel to become an activist for all those who had been victims of Bessborough. Carmel fights tirelessly to ensure that women who were previously silenced are heard and acknowledged.
In 2019, after much advocacy and activism, Carmel and her mother were given a letter that was previously withheld from them. This letter stated that William had been buried in Carrs Hill, information that had been denied to them for 58 years. This revelation was very painful. It’s particularly difficult because there is no evidence in Carrs Hill of William’s burial. Despite having a written statement, Carmel still has no concrete proof of William’s whereabouts. Nowhere to mourn.
“We just found it ridiculous, and hurtful.”
There is a plaque in Bessborough memorialising William, placed there by Carmel and her mother.
“Thats the last place she held her baby. That’s where she remembers him.”
This is unfortunately a reality for so many victims of Bessborough. There are currently 859 children and 19 women unaccounted for. Carmel wants these truths recognised, and all the victims to be memorialised.
Carmel, a member of Bessboro Mother & Baby Home Support Group, is campaigning for the government to purchase the remaining Bessborough sites and prevent development from going ahead. They believe this land should be protected. Her hope is that once the land is purchased it can be explored by historians and archaeologists. Carmel also expressed an interest in seeing the land transformed for community use. Once the older barns and structures are made safe there could be luscious green space and community centres for the general public. Carmel knows the city is in need of community spaces, and is open to seeing Bessborough used for this if the history of the land is property respected and acknowledged. She feels that building apartments over a place of such significance is the wrong way to go about it. The development is insensitive and inappropriate.
“This is a place where there was lots of trauma, lots of sadness.”
“We don’t think this history should ever be forgotten, it should be a site of conscience.”
“We just need to put this out of reach of the developers.”
What will happen if construction goes ahead?
At present, planning permission has been granted for the demolition of 10 barn structures/agricultural buildings and the construction of 140 apartments over existing buildings in Bessborough. This decision was upheld on appeal on the 9th of July 2026. There are 70 conditions attached.
This decision was upheld by An Coimisiún Pleanála for a multitude of reasons, set out in the Commission Order. This document describes all the factors the organisation had to take into consideration, chief among them being the history of the site. Based on field surveys and research into the available records, the commission does not believe there are any burials on the site. The Environmental Impact Assessment Report states that archaeological testing showed no evidence of burials on the land earmarked for development.
Conditions attached to the planning permission stipulate that at least one forensic archaeologist and one osteo-anthropologist will monitor the development. There will also be a dedicated liaison officer appointed, to keep survivor groups up to date on the forensic reports.
What will happen if burials are discovered?
Because of the potential for unrecorded burials on the site in question, the developers Estuary View Enterprises, had to submit a plan of action to An Coimisiún Pleanála, should they come across human remains. This plan includes having an archaeologist on staff, and having all ground work monitored by a forensic archaeologist
According to the action plan, if burials are uncovered construction will stop immediately. The Cork City Coroner will be called and the site will be assessed. It is worth noting that there is a clear policy preference for preservation-in-situ. While of course all avenues will be explored if remains are found, it is possible the planning permission could be revoked.
On Monday 13th of July Cork City Council passed a unanimous vote calling for the purchase of Bessborough, but they do not have the funds. Cork TD Holly Cairns has called on Taoiseach Micheál Martin to provide the money to facilitate the purchase. Politicians from across Cork have also signed a letter urging the Taoiseach to take action. This has been taken under advisement.
Protesters will gather outside the Cork City Library on Saturday 18th July at 2.30pm to express their anger and disappointment in the government’s actions.
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