Published: Wednesday, 3rd March, 2010 5:00pm

Memorial to burned orphans mooted for Cavan town

Eamon Carthy and Joanne Geraghty from New Beginnings with Sean Galligan, Kilnaleck, at the old convent on Main Street. They are among those campaigning for a momument to the fire victims. Photo: Adrian Donohoe

When scores of locals and visitors to Cavan town last week observed the list of 35 orphans' names and that of an elderly cook who perished in the St. Joseph's Industrial School fire, pinned to the gate of the old convent, they were amazed that 67 years later, still no permanent memorial had been put in place to remember those who perished.

The Anglo-Celt spoke to two men this week who are mooting the idea that a fitting memorial, preferably bearing the names of all those who lost their lives in that most horrific and terrifying manner, should be put in place.

They would like people to come forward with ideas as to where the commemorative plaque should be located.

Sean Galligan from Kilnaleck told The Anglo-Celt that the memorial pieces should ideally be in a place where people can access it easily. It could be placed on the convent site or in close proximity to the chapel or maybe set into the building facade, which fronts onto Main Street.

"We will have to consult with lots of people about the location, but he would like to preferably see it put in position as near as possible to the site of the fire," said Sean Galligan.

Mr. Galligan said he took a definite interest in the when he saw an article on the internet about the issue. He then purchased the book, 'Children of the Poor Clares', and he was horrified when he read that book, which recalled the fire but also the alleged treatment of orphans (all girls) at the school. The Sisters of the Poor Clares were the only enclosed order in the country to run an industrial school.

"I was surprised that there was no memorial place and I got the idea that a lot of people would be interested in addressing the issue. This year I established a Facebook page on the subject and, to date, over 400 people have joined that group," he said.

He pointed out that ten of the victims of the fire actually came from Dublin: "So we would like to see some Dublin involvement in this as well."

Thirty five young girls and one elderly lady lost their lives in that fire and they are buried in a communal plot in Cullies graveyard. "We intend to get more people involved and then hold a public meeting on the issue and take it from there," he said.

Reports from the time reveal that one of the reasons given why the children were not evacuated in time was that the nuns did not want the girls to be seen in their night clothes. The tribunal of inquiry that followed threw up other questions over fire drill practice, locked doors and also the condition of the local authority's fire fighting equipment. It concluded that the fire was, more probably caused, by an electrical fault in a defective flue in the laundry room.

However one thing is certain, for those who were involved in the fire, the nightmare still lives on.

"It's a miracle I was alive after that - when they put a ladder up it wouldn't reach. I kept looking around and I thought - I'm going to die here. The flames were coming nearer and nearer. I could hear glass cracking, cracking - I thought I'm going to die," said a survivor of the fire.

Sarah (not her real name) was one of the last girls to be rescued that night from the burning building; it's a trauma, which has haunted her life. The memories are as vivid 67 years on as she tells her story for the first time publicly but the stigma felt by inmates of such institutions then, for her, has not diminished either.

Eamon Carthy who runs the 'New Beginnings Shop' in the entry to the old St Clare's building, called Convent Court, said it would be very fitting that the people of Cavan and people directly involved should have a say in the type of memorial that should be put in place.

"A lady from London was walking down the street last week and spotted the flowers and the names on the gate and came into my shop. She revealed that she could well be related to two of the girls that died in the fire. It was her first time in Cavan and could not understand that there was no memorial in place," said Mr. Carthy.

It is his view that the memorial bearing the names should be put out at the front of the building, where people would see it when walking past.

He proposed that a meeting be held and a committee formed to put a plan into action and fundraising can then be initiated.

There is a suggestion book in the shop and anyone going in there can write down their ideas.

Anyone with ideas or wanting to join a committee to progress this initiative can telephone Sean Galligan at 087-4169102.