'We need to do the right thing': Taoiseach calls for engagement on future of Bessborough site

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has called for Cork City Council to engage with the landowners of the former Bessborough mother and baby home to explore “all options” for the future of the site. The move follows a decision by An Coimisiún Pleanála to grant planning permission for the development of 106 apartments on the site, which was approved after an appeal. The developer behind the project, Estuary View Enterprises, had previously received planning permission from Cork City Council earlier this year. The proposed development has drawn intense opposition from campaigners and survivors, some of whom have vowed to take direct action to stop the construction. Reports indicate that activists are prepared to chain themselves to construction equipment in an effort to prevent the building of residential units on the ground believed to contain the remains of hundreds of children. The site, located in Cork city, holds deep historical and emotional significance for many families both locally and internationally. The former Bessborough mother and baby home was operated by the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary between 1922 and 1998. According to the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes, nearly 20,000 women and children were admitted to the facility during its operation. Of these, approximately 923 children are estimated to have died while residing at the site. Only 64 of these children have known graves, leaving the burial locations of 859 others unrecorded. Additionally, around 31 women died at the home, though only 29 of their deaths were officially documented. Campaigners argue that the site should remain untouched as a solemn memorial to those who suffered there. They emphasize that the area is not just a piece of land but a symbol of a painful chapter in Ireland’s past. The lack of closure for many families has fueled ongoing protests and calls for greater transparency regarding the fate of those who lived and died at Bessborough. Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns has expressed cautious support for the Taoiseach’s initiative, acknowledging it as an “important first step.” She noted that her party had previously urged the government to intervene to prevent the development, citing concerns over the potential presence of a mass grave. Cairns emphasized that the current engagement process must not be the final stage, calling for further action to ensure the site is preserved as a place of remembrance. Cairns also highlighted the need for the government to release all records related to burials from the Mother and Baby Homes Commission and requested that the Attorney General initiate an inquest into the deaths of the individuals associated with the site. “These women and children were failed by the State in life. We must not fail them in death,” she stated. Labour senator Laura Harmon echoed similar sentiments, welcoming the Taoiseach’s remarks as a timely intervention. She stressed that the key demand from survivors and families is that the site be returned to state ownership and protected from development. “We cannot cement over this dark history when many survivors still have questions about their loved ones,” Harmon said. “The site should be a public memorial.” A planned protest is set to take place outside Cork City Council, with participants hoping to draw attention to the ongoing struggle to preserve the site’s legacy. As discussions continue between the government, local authorities, and advocacy groups, the outcome of these efforts will determine whether Bessborough becomes a lasting tribute to those who endured its history or a space transformed for modern housing.