My Mothers Story Genealogy Road Show

This is the story of my Mothers search to find out about her birth parents.

My Mothers story begins when she was born on 31st May 1932 at the Rotunda Hospital Dublin. According to records she was the daughter of John O’Reilly, a labourer residing at 54 Blessington Street in Dublin and Margaret Brady.

Soon after her birth she was fostered from the Mother & Baby Club in Temple Street Hospital in Dublin to a Mrs. Sheridan who lived in Cabra in Dublin.

Her birth Mother, Margaret Brady, was born roughly around 1910, possibly in Co. Cavan it was suggested that John O’Reilly may have also come from Co. Cavan.

The birth certificate for my mother suggests that her parents were married. However, it is quite possible that Margaret Brady gave false information when she was admitted to the Rotunda and presented herself as a married woman. The fact that John O’Reilly was not recorded on Mary’s baptismal certificate supports this possibility. Given the time period in 1930’s Ireland, an unmarried mother would have been shunned and whilst she may have been prepared to lie and pretend to be married to the medical staff in the Rotunda it is unlikely she would have done the same and lied to the catholic priest baptising her child.

The baptismal certificate recorded Margaret as Margaret O’Reilly and not Brady and no father was recorded on the baptismal certificate.

This is a very sad story one which has been frustrated by the non-cooperation of the Rotunda Hospital and their refusal to release any information on the birth mother Margaret Brady (a woman now probably long dead) under nonsensical Freedom of Information Legislation.

If any of my mother’s story rings a bell with anyone out there or if you can help, please let us know. It’s been five years since this show was broadcast in 2012 and we’re no further along in our search – we may be clutching at straws but we will continue the search for my mother an incredible lady.

Sean McDonagh November 2017