Good Shepherd Convent Dunboyne

queeniee33

I was known as Helen Brown not my real name what did they call you?

Enda63

I was there from Oct 1981 to Dec 1981 and kept my own name as did a lot of the others

shirley keegan

Girls, I just came across this thread as I was thinking about visiting Dunboyne Castle... It will be 32 years next February since I was deposited there as a 3 month pregnant 15 year old!!!!! I had the pleasure of keeping my little girl but I still struggle with going back to see what it's like... I saw an old comment about the dogs name and all I could here was the nun saying 'pant like jacko' when we were doing our antenatal classes! Very mixed emotions and so delighted to have found this thread where other people will know exactly how I feel. Bless you all xxx

Mazdoll

Im looking forward to spending a weekend away up in Dunboyne Castle soon....kinda have mixed feelings about the place....i went to visit there with my son when it was a refugee centre before it was sold for a hotel...It was the strangest feeling as it looked the same. Felt there was a lot of ghosts there.

Would anyone be interested in meeting up there, together but with confidentiality ????

Mazdoll

Mazdoll

shirley keegan wrote: »

Girls, I just came across this thread as I was thinking about visiting Dunboyne Castle... It will be 32 years next February since I was deposited there as a 3 month pregnant 15 year old!!!!! I had the pleasure of keeping my little girl but I still struggle with going back to see what it's like... I saw an old comment about the dogs name and all I could here was the nun saying 'pant like jacko' when we were doing our antenatal classes! Very mixed emotions and so delighted to have found this thread where other people will know exactly how I feel. Bless you all xxx

Mine was pant like Ivan Oh sweet god !!!

Enda63

Mazdoll,

that is the one place I couldn't meet anyone in. I was back there twice, first time when it was owned by Kepak, it was empty and locked up, I went back again when it had opened as a hotel and the same ghosts and feeling were still there. I felt I wanted to run inside and tell everyone what that place was and what happened there.

teddybug

Mazdoll wrote: »

Mine was pant like Ivan Oh sweet god !!!

I was asked first if i was keepin my baby while i was in labour, i feel this question was asked so that the staff would decide which way to treat me as in .... with respect or not respect .When i replied i didnt know what was happening. i was treated with complete indeference......I will never forget that

shirley keegan

I would love to go back there and have thought about it often but the emotions are so mixed, I think doing it with others who would be facing some of the same ghosts would really help. I don't know if I could stay over night on the first visit but I would like to be there at some level....

teddybug

Iam gonna go back some day and stay for a night and have a good look about the place bcause i want to remember everything of my time there.Because that is when i was closest to my daughter ...

teddybug

DEAR WIZE THANKS 4 UR CONCERN .IN ANSWER TO UR QUESTIONS YES MOST OF US WERE YOUNG AND VERY MUCH MOST WERE ENCOURAGED TO GO AWAY TO HAVE OUR BABIES AND THEN ..........

WIZE

Thanks . My post got deleted. I guess this thread is for ye and not others.

Sorry anyway for many of your losses and i hope everything works out for you all.

junemay

Mazdoll wrote: »

Im looking forward to spending a weekend away up in Dunboyne Castle soon....kinda have mixed feelings about the place....i went to visit there with my son when it was a refugee centre before it was sold for a hotel...It was the strangest feeling as it looked the same. Felt there was a lot of ghosts there.

Would anyone be interested in meeting up there, together but with confidentiality ????

Mazdoll

Hi Mazdoll
I've thought of going back but always find a reason why it's not a good time and postpone it. If there were a few others going it might be easier.

Xander89

Hi there I sent you a pm as not too sure how this works ... Are you really returning to dunboyne I don't know if I would be so brave after 24 years

Xander89

Mazdoll wrote: »

Im looking forward to spending a weekend away up in Dunboyne Castle soon....kinda have mixed feelings about the place....i went to visit there with my son when it was a refugee centre before it was sold for a hotel...It was the strangest feeling as it looked the same. Felt there was a lot of ghosts there.

Would anyone be interested in meeting up there, together but with confidentiality ????

Mazdoll

Hi maxdoll can you let me know about the plan to mabey return to dunboyne as a group. Regards xander89

Xander89

Hi Shirley u see you might be interested in return visit to dunboyne as Dose Mazdoll please keep me informed if there is a plan I was there in 89 I rembered a girl called hazel from Limerick and June from cork !!!!!! Xander89

shirley keegan

Hi, yeah would like to go back with others that understand exactly what the emotions are... no date decided yet but I'm hoping spring of 2014 maybe xxx

Xander89

Hi Shirley yes I would like to go back with others spring 2014 sounds good

survived

junemay wrote: »

Hi Mazdoll
I've thought of going back but always find a reason why it's not a good time and postpone it. If there were a few others going it might be easier.

Hi guys id also be interested in returning if a few were going together please keep me posted thanks

el1989

Hi all,
Ev and Liz here we were in Dunboyne and had our babies in Oct and Nov in 1989. We would love to reconnect with anyone who was there at this time as we have remained the best of friends Our time in Dunboyne was not a sad experience for us.

teddybug

Hi girls,i would be interested in going back to ardmhuire dunboyne in 2014 spring . It will be just 31 years then since i last left the place .. I would also love to meet some of ye girls whom were there and to hear how your life went after ..Take care for now keep in touch

The_Conductor

I'm not a Dunboyne baby myself (Bessboro 1974)- but I'd be happy to tag along and if I can help in any way I'd be more than happy to do so.

Kleo

Hi
Yea , I was there in nov78 to march79...::have never wanted to go back but my son is asking questions about the place....he has a family of his own, 2boys and and wee girl..but wants to know more about Dunboyne and Stamullen ....he knows that is where he spent a few months of his early childhood....

How can you explain any of this ???????

junemay

I would also like to go back if a few people were going. Since being there in 1976/77, I haven't even passed through the village of Dunboyne, let alone been able to think of visiting the convent. I'm not in the ireland though so will need some notice to book a flight etc. Any preferences for dates?

kittyok

I was in Dunboyne late 89 early 90
I just reunited with my son after 23 years
we are building a relationship I was so damaged from giving him up I never had anymore children
often think of the girls in Dunboyne with me Liz maryanne maura and many others ...........

sheba99

Hi All

As someone who was in SDunboyne in 1974 I am shocked that the place was still in operation in 1990. I went back to Dunboyne in 2002, when it was a hostel for immigrants. The place was unkempt in comparison to when it was a convent. I often wonder do hotel guests know what went on there and the pain so many people went through behind those walls, most of the time without family support or anyone to open up to.

I reconnected with my daughter 11 years ago when she was 28. We have kept in touch via email and met twice.

I am not sure I want to go back again.

eanor

Hello All,

Girls through your heartbreak and loss, you have brought so much joy and fullness to my home and many more. Thanks so much.
My son was born to a girl in Dunboyne ( Holles Street) 1989. I know he feels a loss deep inside but would fear rejection if he tried to make contact with his natural mother. When he arrived he had a little blue teddy.
He has grown into a fine young man.

Kleo

Hi eanor..
After reading your post I would like to say to the biggest "thank you "....Your words mean so much to so many BM who have for years wondererd if the choice they made (and most did not have one) and the heartbreaking loss they suffered was ever understood by their babies new AMums....you have shown me that it was and for that I am forever grateful.....as for your son, I wish him all the best in his search for his BM, but I know that what ever happens he is lucky to have a Mum like you ......xx

Breda Kelly

I was there from dec 1972 to feb 1973

survived

Happy new year to all. May 2014 be good to everyone and filled with health and happiness x

Mazdoll

eanor wrote: »

Hello All,

Girls through your heartbreak and loss, you have brought so much joy and fullness to my home and many more. Thanks so much.
My son was born to a girl in Dunboyne ( Holles Street) 1989. I know he feels a loss deep inside but would fear rejection if he tried to make contact with his natural mother. When he arrived he had a little blue teddy.
He has grown into a fine young man.

Little blue teddies could be bought in the shop in holles street, if we had money, most of us got them for our babies, i still have my sons...Thank you for such kind words....your sons a very lucky youngman to have a mam like you...i wish you and yours every best wish xx

Mazdoll

Hi Ladies...Happy 2014 to you all, every blessing for the new year..so my question is
Are we going to meet up in Dunboyne...anyone interested in organising a date ..maybe organising it with the hotel...????
Please pm me if your interested as Im conscious not to post a date online for confidentiality and privacy for us ladies

Mazdoll

amdublin

Hi,
I've posted in this forum before - I lived near St Patrick's as a child - but I do not have any direct experience with adoption and I hope you do not mind me posting.

I wish you all the best for 2014 and onwards. I see you are possibly planning a group visit to Dunboyne and wish you the very best with this. I am just posting here to let you know how much this has probably changed since you were there as young women. Even down to the landscape around it - it now has a big luxurious (for want of a better word) driveway and gardens all around it. The outside has been painted which I imagine is different from the exterior when you were there. Inside it is done up with very glamorous decor as you would expect of a hotel...

So what I am saying is just to prepare yourself (for whatever feelings you expect/want) that it may be different from how you remember it and you may experience different feelings from that which you expect.

Apologies again, I hope I am not intruding, and also you may all be aware and prepared for this already but I feel it would be remiss of me not to tell you about it now knowing what I know... (I live near there and have attended a wedding there).

Again, the very best going forward. I think you were all very brave - keeping your baby/giving your baby for adoption - for all that you have been through.

Amdub

Ps. All that I said above aside, if you do go maybe you would think about having an afternoon tea or something there, and just sit and talk about your experiences taking into account the changes the building has been through...just like your lives.

Okay shut up now amdublin and just let the ladies decide!
x

teddybug

Hello again just wishing everyone a great new year ,hope all ur wishes come true for 2014,wathever they may be
how does sometime in feb this year sound for a reunion back to dunboyne ,we could book rooms in the hotel that used to
be mother and baby home ,thats if everyones ok with that?>
please let me know and i will arrange it ,a date that is suitable for all .Thanks keep in touch

survived

Hi teddy bug I sent us pm I think:-) count me in.

junemay

count me in too. I have sent a PM.

junemay

eanor

Mazdoll wrote: »

Little blue teddies could be bought in the shop in holles street, if we had money, most of us got them for our babies, i still have my sons...Thank you for such kind words....your sons a very lucky youngman to have a mam like you...i wish you and yours every best wish xx

Thanks Mazdoll,
It is nice to have the little blue teddy, and a little sad to think more little babies came with the same teddy if you can understand that. My son was born in August 1989. I send you all warm wishes for your trip back to Dunboyne and hope it makes you feel very close and strong together. Remember ye are really Great Women so Heads High. Eanor

ENERGYSTAR

Hi, I'm very new this. Just watched the Late Late Show, hence me writing this post. I was born in as far as I'm aware in the "Good Shepherd Convent", Dunboyne Co Meath. I was born on 21.07.1971 (I'm Female). From the very few details I have, my birth mother lived with her uncle/ uncles & grandmother (who was a school mistress). She was sent to this place to have me & get me adopted. From what I've heard my birth mum was a nurse.

teddybug

hello to all the girls who replied to the message re getting together for reunion to dunboyne .Just to let you know,i got a message from the manager of the hotel dunboyne castle,she said she would be delighted to welcome us all to stay and to let her know when,so i am going to email her to see what availability there is around 17 or 18 sept.So i will get back to this forum and let you all know whats what and anyone whos ok with them dates can let me know ok

junemay

Thanks teddybug, those dates would be good for me

teddybug

Great junemay,now to gather a few more ladies to go,so if you r in contact with any of the girls you could sound them out
look forward to meetin you soon ,take care

sawdoubters

http://www.adoptionrightsalliance.com/searchandreunion.htm


http://www.irishcentral.com/news/irish-babies-used-as-guineas-pigs-in-drug-experiments-101149494-237711331.html

teddybug

ladies if any of you are still visiting this forum and are interested in meetin up in dunboyne soon you can pm me if you like bcause am organising it and need to get the numbers to book a night so would love to meet up with as many of you as possible and have a chat or just write on the fourm if you wish, look forward to hearing from you soon . Take care

survived

Thanks teddybug count me in keep me posted thanks. chat you soon

shassa

hi MaryMagdalene i was in dunboyne in late 1985 and gave birth to my daughter in february 1986 in holles street hospital dublin

shassa

i am interested in the trip to dunboynne count me in

Kleo

When were you thinking of going ?....

Colser

I think the plan is to meet in September ...

teddybug

ladies if your talking about the trip back to dunboyne its on 17 , 18 feb this year, hope yous can come .just post on this page or pm me if you like ......

RANIA

My birth mother was sent to dunboyne
I was born in march 1980
I would like to make contact with anyone who may have known her
Anyone in at that time (I can provide more details if there are any 1980 women here ) thanks so much xx

Elizvonne

Hi all Barndos are running a bithmothers course commencing 7th April. I partipated in course a couple of years and found it great. Addresses many of the issues that we should have dealt with when we lost our babies to adoption originally x