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A Mother’s Longing: The Search for a Son Lost to Time

Chrissie Tully's bittersweet story sheds light on a mother's pain and societal shame in mid-20th century Ireland.

By Ali WatkinsSource: nytimes.com1 min read
A Mother’s Longing: The Search for a Son Lost to Time
Image via nytimes.com

In brief

For 76 years, Chrissie Tully, now 93, has kept a hopeful vigil in her Loughrea home, holding on to the dream of reunion with the son she never got to hold. She's a living testament to the sorrow and stigma faced by unwed mothers in a time when Irish society was heavily influenced by Catholic doctrine.

Chrissie’s tale begins in 1949, when her life took a tragic turn after finding herself pregnant, leading to her family's disowning and her placement in St. Mary’s Mother and Baby Home in Tuam, a grim destination for many women at that time. Such institutions have left a deep scar on Ireland’s moral landscape, with numerous reports revealing the injustices suffered by mothers and their children. As Chrissie goes about her daily routine, she reflects on her past with unwavering hope, wishing to keep her home in case her lost son one day returns.

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