Donegal women born in Mother and Baby Homes to feature on RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta

West Donegal women will share their stories on an episode of Cé Mé Féin? on RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta next week.

In Cé Mé Féin, Barrscéalta presenter Michelle Nic Grianna will speak to Ann Uí Chnáimhsí from Gaoth Dobhair and Patricia Herald from Loch an Iúir, who were born in Mother and Baby Homes and who set out to find out who they are, where they came from, and about their identities as they grew older.

Ann’s daughter, Edel also features in this programme, and describes the support she gave her mother in finding information about her family.

Patricia Herald began searching for information about her family when she was eighteen years old. She says in the programme: “When I was eighteen, I used to say to myself, who am I… who am I… my father had been dead for three months when I found out who my father was…”

Ann Uí Chnáimhsí speaks about the difficulties she had in getting information from the authorities about her family.“If anyone came in, it would be said that I was from the home; I didn’t question anything at the time… I started writing to Dublin in the seventies trying to get some kind of explanation… it was extremely difficult to get information…”

Cé Mé Féin? will air on Tuesday, April 7 at 11am on RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta.

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Craolfar leagán speisialta den chlár Barrscéalta dár teideal  “Cé Mé Féin?” ar an Mháirt, 7ú Aibreán 2026.

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Sa chlár seo labharann Michelle Nic Grianna le beirt bhan, Ann Uí Chnáimhsí as Gaoth Dobhair agus Patricia Herald as Loch an Iúir a tháinig as Tithe Máithreacha agus Leanaí agus a bhí ag iarraidh fáil amach cé iad féin agus cá dtáinig siad as agus aid ag gabháil i méadaíocht.

Páirteach sa chlár fosta tá iníon Ann, Edel, a dhéanann cur síos ar an tacaíocht a thug sí dá máthair eolas a fháil faoina muintir.

Thosaigh Patricia Herald ag lorg eolais faoina muintir agus í ocht mbliana déag d’aois.  “Nuair a bhí mé ocht mbliana déag d’aois, ba ghnáth liom a rá liom féin, cé mé féin…cé mé féin…bhí m’athair marbh trí mhí nuair a fuair mé amach cé m’athair…..”

Labharann Anne Uí Chnáimhsí faoina deacrachtaí a bhí aici eolas a fháil óna húdaráis faoina muintir.

“Dá dtiocfadh duine ar bith isteach, déarfaí gur as an home mé, níor cheistigh mé rud ar bith ag an am..... Thosaigh mé ag scríobh go Baile Átha Cliath sna seachtóidí ag iarraidh míniú éigin a fháil…bhí sé iontach deacair eolas a fháil….”

Craolfar Cé Mé Féin? Dé Máirt 7ú Aibreán, 11.00r.n ar RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta.