Cash boost for Laois memorial for unbaptised babies excluded from graveyard

A heartbreaking commemoration of little Laois babies who were not allowed into Catholic graveyards in the last century because they died before baptism, has received a last minute cash boost.

The community of Tonduff, Abbeyleix in Laois is holding a Mass and unveiling of new installations on Tuesday, April 23 to honour the memory of the innocents who had to be buried in secret by their bereaved families.

The gravesite under a whitethorn tree in Ballytarsna is marked with a small cross, but the community has fundraised to add a plaque engraved with a touching poem penned by a bereaved local father and ceramic white flowers created by parents with a local artist Jen Donnery.

A reflection seat, including a QR code to read about the burial site, will be installed in Abbeyleix town for a shared community reflection area for deceased babies, beside Abbeyleix Heritage House Museum. 

The project's Gofundme online fundraiser now stands at €5,500, thanks in no small part to Abbeyleix Women's Development Group who raised €1,520 by selling knitted easter egg chicks.

Noel Burke, a driver of the project, has thanked everyone who helped including sponsors and donors, ahead of the event.

"The support and generosity of the people from the Abbeyleix community is something to behold. Our committees initial goal was set at €2000 reluctantly because we didn’t think we’d get there, and now the fund has reached the unbelievable figure of almost treble that amount," he said.

Abbeyleix women’s development group presenting a cheque for €1520.

"Another man to thank is our PP Fr. Paddy Byrne, for his willingness to help and support our project. €280 euros was collected and donated by the Abbeyleix Jelly Tots Creche. This was a huge act of kindness shown by these little children," he said.

"Final word of thanks to our own very hard working committee made up of, Tara Whelan, Jim Ring, James G Carroll, Aishling Rothwell, Edel O’ Keeffe, artist and Jen Donnery, professional artist. A special word of thanks to Mrs Anne Lawlor and her late husband Frank who kept the Tunduff Cillín site in a lovely clean and tidy condition for many years," he said.

The celebration Mass at the Tonduff site takes place on April 23 at 7pm.

A large attendance is expected. People not familiar with the area are directed to reach the Tonduff site by travelling from Abbeyleix town towards Mountrath on the R430 road, turning right at Millie’s Cross on the road to Portlaoise for approx 2km. Stewards will direct cars to a parking area.

"On April 23 2024, a day we believe that our communities achievement will go down in our towns history and will long be remembered for decades to come. Because of what the people of Abbeyleix have done, we will now have an area where we as a community can reflect and remember the suffering endured by the unfortunate parents of the unbaptized babies that were left with no other choice only to bury their babies at the Tonduff Cillín and other unconsecrated burial sites during our past dark history.

"We as a committee secretly hope that other communities around the country might be inspired to do something similar, identify and mark these baby burial sites, they deserve to be remembered, the babies that have been buried in unconsecrated ground have been forgotten about for long enough," Noel Burke said.