Carmell Cantwell is a leading member of the Bessboro Mother and Baby Support Group with strong family ties to the site.
The group represents 750 people, including mothers and former adoptees, and Carmel says they were appalled to hear that plans for over a hundred new apartments were approved
Developer Estuary View Enterprises 2020 Limited has applied for planning permission at the Bessborough site near Blackrock on several occasions since 2021.
A previous application was refused by An Coimisiún Pleanála for failing to meet the planning requirements set out by the local authority.
However, the latest application was approved by Cork City Council last week, with the planning department granting permission for a little over 100 apartments, down from the 140 units proposed in the original application.
Survivor groups have consistently opposed development at the site, calling for it to be fully investigated and preserved in memory of those who lost their lives there.
“The remains of 859 children are still missing, and it’s likely that the majority of them are buried on the grounds of Bessborough - but nobody can say for sure, as there’s never been a proper investigation.
“The land holds the memories of what went on there. It’s a place of mixed emotions for many survivors, as while a lot of what happened was quite traumatic, it’s also the last place they may have seen or held their baby. For my own mother, who lost a baby at Bessborough, it was the last place where she ever saw her own child.
“Our main objective is to have these lands put out of the reach of developers, and after that, we will continue pushing for a full investigation. Once that’s been carried out and we are satisfied that nothing else can be done, the site should then be turned into a memorial and community park”
Carmel suggested that a park at the site could include buildings for community events and that trees could be planted in memory of those who lost their lives at Bessborough. The survivor group has also raised concerns that this approval may open the door to further large-scale residential development at the site.
Carmel continued: “Lest we forget, 19,000 people passed through the walls of Bessborough. Families were split up through forced adoption, and many lost their lives - we need to honour that with the dignity it deserves. This should be a site of national conscience without apartments towering over the grounds.
“It’s very sad that Cork City Council’s planning department can't see what this means to people nationally. Thousands of people have strong ties to Bessborough, and the land should be preserved.”
The group has received strong support from local councillors such as Peter Horgan, Honore Kamegni, and Kieran McCarthy, with TDs and senior Government figures also supporting the preservation of the site. Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns and Taoiseach Micheál Martin have previously expressed support for the group, and during a recent interview, Táiniste Simon Harris said he was 'deeply uneasy' about plans for apartments at the site.
A vigil will be held at the site at 1 pm on Sunday, March 8, with survivors travelling from as far as the UK to attend. All who wish to attend are welcome, and the group has asked people to bring a teddy bear, flowers, or a candle.