The former Mother & Baby Institution at Bessboro in Cork, Ireland is where 923 children were born that died including my brother William.  There are no burial records for 859 children, the majority believed to be buried on the grounds. The institution run from 1922 to 1998 and in that time 18,706 women and their children spent time there often in harsh and cruel conditions and separated due to forced adoption. 

Bessboro is a place mothers and their babies experienced extreme trauma often being the place they last saw each other. Mothers not being permitted to be present when their child was being buried.

Recently planning permission was granted for apartments on the grounds of Bessboro. We are appealing the decision.

The original site was 210 acres but only 60 acres are left. We believe the remaining lands should be preserved as parkland for the community in memory of those that died and went through Bessboro. Once put out of the reach of the developers we can investigate certain areas for burials after which the grounds will become a place where we can remember lost ones, a green space and a site of conscience.

Please sign this petition if you feel like we do that in the absence of graves no building should take place on the last remaining 60 acres of Bessboro.