Poignant candlelight tribute remembers women and babies of Sean Ross

The Angels Plot burial ground at the former Sean Ross Mother and Baby Home in Roscrea was transformed into a sea of light for those who were "silenced and forgotten" at a moving ceremony last week.

A light representing each life lost at the former mother and baby home facility near Roscrea were arranged in rows at the burial ground, where campaigners are demanding the government facilitate further investigation to determine the true numbers and location of people interred on the grounds of Sean Ross.

Despite bitterly cold conditions a large group attended the moving event, which saw 1,090 candles representing the children and larger candles marking the memory of the 23 women who are recorded as having died at the former mother and baby home, were laid out in rows at the Angels Plot burial site.

The event was organised by Ann Connolly from Limerick, who was born at the Roscrea facility and Michael Donovan from Roscrea, who is a founder of the Sean Ross survivors group 'We Are Still Here' and who has campaigned for justice and awareness about Sean Ross for years.

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The event was attended by former Sinn Fein Tipperary TD, Martin Browne, as well as Chair of the North Tipperary Sinn Fein organisation, Dan Harty and members of the Treacy Cré Roscrea Sinn Fein Cumann.

Roscrea songwriter Jack Keeshan also performed his song 'Mary' in front of the lights, which was inspired by the story of a survivor of the Sean Ross facility, which operated from 1931 to 1969.

During those years 6,414 women were admitted and 6,079 children were born there according to records, with many of the children sent for adoption overseas.

In a show of national solidarity, people across Ireland and abroad were also invited to join the tribute by lighting a candle in their own homes at the same time last Thursday, on World Children's Day, November 20th.

Participants were also encouraged to share photos of their candles online using the hashtags #JusticeForThe1090 and #SeanRossAbbeyBabies. A candle and wreath were also laid at the gates of the Dáil that evening.

Organiser, Ann Connolly, said she hopes the tribute sent a clear message to the Government: "We're trying to get the government to excavate the site to find those babies because their mothers, some of them are still alive, and they're late 80s, and we just want to let them know where their babies are before it's too late before they pass away."

"We want the government to excavate it. It's being excavated in Tuam at the moment, and Sean Ross Abbey is actually worse than Tuam."

Born at Sean Ross Abbey in 1968, Ann Connolly has spoken openly about how Sean Ross continues to have a profound effect on her.

"I was born in Sean Ross Abbey, and I was adopted by two amazing people in Limerick. I couldn't have searched the world for better parents, but I didn't know all this happened up there until it all came out..."

"When I went up there about two years ago, and I got to see downstairs where the mothers were, oh my god, it was terrible, like I have at home the death certs of all these babies and what they died of, most of them died of malnutrition. Some of them were left out in the sunshine and forgotten about."

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Ann said she and other survivors believe what is still needed is a full excavation of the burial grounds, particularly the portion of ground beside the Angels Plot, where geophysical surveys have suggested unexplained anomalies.

"The loss, the not knowing, the heartbreak lasting a lifetime, the search for flesh and blood abroad and the ongoing stories we will never hear about. So many women and families are still silent, taking it to the grave."