When Ron Smith-Murphy, National Chairperson of ISANDS (Irish Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Society) spoke with me, she gave an emotive account of the area of Glasnevin cemetery known as the ‘Old Angels’ Plot’ which was in use up to the 1970s when the New Angels’ plot was opened.

Glasnevin Cemetery is a consecrated burial ground, privately owned and not affiliated to any one religious group. Within its vast area is one section that for many years was the burial place of adults who were unable to pay for burial privileges.

When this ‘Paupers Ground’ was closed it lay unused for around 30 years before it became available in the 1930s as the resting place for stillborn and neonatal death babies. These innocents had one thing in common: they died without baptism which is held by the Church to be a sacrament only for the living. Furthermore, in those days the Church denied permission for any unbaptised to be buried in their consecrated cemeteries, thus creating a tragic problem for the parents of these babies.

Glasnevin is one of the few cemeteries that allowed these babies to be buried in consecrated ground. Throughout the country separate areas known as ‘cillini’ were believed to have been created for the internment of unbaptised infants.

These appear to have been in use in some places as recently as the 1960s, with the burial being carried out quickly after death so that the dead infant was not mourned in the traditional way.
The Old Angels’ Plot is a resting place for over fifty thousand infants. Up to 20 years ago, when dads were usually totally excluded from the experience of childbirth, mothers of stillborn babies in the Dublin maternity hospitals or nursing homes never saw their baby at birth. The hospital involved would arrange for the baby to be buried in the Old Angels’ Plot and for lots of parents the bill for this would be the only recognition that they had for their baby.

Many of these parents come back, years later, to trace where their baby is buried. As up to 50 babies were laid to rest in each grave it is difficult for parents to place a marker on their baby’s grave, it being possible for up to a hundred families to be associated with each grave.

With the general changing of attitudes, it became possible for grieving families to be enabled to express their needs. ISANDS was formed in 1983 and is a support group for all parents of infant mortality. It involved itself with the restoration of the Old Angels’ Plot.

Over 500 parents who attended a meeting held in August 2004 gave their support for the restoration plan and Dublin Cemeteries Committee consequently decided to go ahead with the restoration.

To landscape the Angels’ Memory Garden, the areas which have sunk or collapsed will be raised with topsoil. Seating will be placed around the garden, flowers and trees will be planted and the garden divided into named areas where parents will be able to find out which area their baby is buried in.

It is acknowledged that this may cause some upset for those who have already put a headstone or memorial in place and these families are being given the opportunity to place these markers in a designated communal area.

The overall plan strives to respect all the parents, including those who cannot mark their child’s grave and want to so badly, as it could never be possible with the numbers of parents who have an interest in each grave.

There will now be the opportunity to have each child’s name carved on a memorial stone. The Memory Garden also ensures that this plot can never be used for burials again.

The Dublin Cemeteries Committee in Glasnevin and the staff have offered support throughout the years in helping parents and families trace where their baby is buried.

They have also prepared the area each year for the annual Blessing that was first held 15 years ago and was attended by over 2000 parents and families in 2004. On the 19th June this year at 3pm the inauguration and blessing of the Angels’ Memory Garden will take place.

ISANDS is a national organisation. They hold support group meetings countrywide and once monthly in Dublin for the men, women and children of grieving families. Their website is www.isands.ie. The postal address is ISANDS, Carmichael House, 4 North Brunswick Street, Dublin 7. Contact telephone number is 01 8726996.