Podcast explores links between Mother and Baby Homes and Ballinasloe Industrial School

A NEW podcast explores the links between St Joseph’s Industrial School in Ballinasloe and the Tuam Mother and Baby Home.

‘Inniu agus Inne’ will bring attention to one of the country’s most overlooked institutions: the former St Gabriel’s Convent and St Joseph’s Industrial School. It closed in 1968 and is now the home of Ballinasloe Library.

Created and presented by amateur historian Abbie McGowan, the limited series examines the building’s evolution from a site of religious life and institutionalisation to a modern public library rooted in inclusivity and community.

Her extensive research into the school speculates that Ballinasloe was used to facilitate illegal adoptions from Mother and Baby homes, including Tuam. It will be one of many topics discussed throughout the series.

“Three people got in touch with me during the early stages of my research, one had been born in the Tuam Mother and Baby home but recalled being at St Joseph’s for an indefinite period of time,” Abbie told The Tuam Herald.

“The others came from the homes in Sean Ross Abbey in Tipperary and Bessborough in Cork, who also had memories of ending up at St Joseph’s.

“The new movie (The Lost Children of Tuam) has piqued interest in Mother and Baby Homes which are back in the public eye again. I’m happy to play a small role in uncovering a bit more research around this subject through my findings on the industrial school.”

The podcast forms part of Abbie’s larger research project into the school, which she is completing as part of her master’s degree in Library Studies and Information.

She chose this topic after working at Ballinasloe Library in the past. Many people who stayed at the institution would visit the library seeking information. But the library had little records from the school, inspiring Abbie to do her own research.

Abbie’s findings come from oral history interviews, archival sources, and contemporary records. Already she’s uncovered that at least 17 deaths occurred at the institution. Of the deaths, she could only find two corresponding burial records.

“It was great talking to so many different people about the school, be they former students, or the people who lived in Ballinasloe while the school was in operation,” added Abbie.

“I’m hoping this podcast leads to more people coming forward who went to the school or have memories of it. This is a topic that deserves more attention and I’m proud to have been the one left to find records and curate data on it.”

The first episode of ‘Inniu agus Inne’ was released last Saturday and is available to listen to on all major streaming platforms.