Search ends in service at bullys acre

Mary Taylor from Eltham, South East London, breathed a sign of relief. Turning, she mouthed the words “that was emotional” before accepting one of several warming embraces from nearby loved ones and well-wishers. She had just laid a wreath in memory of her late grandmother Annie Blessing (nee Eaves) and, in doing so, completed a pilgrimage of discovery into her family heritage that began almost two years ago.
By tracing her grandmother’s burial site to Bully’s Acre, Cavan Town, Mary silenced unanswered questions that had haunted her own mum Rosaleen who, along with her siblings, were orphaned after Annie’s death during childbirth back in 1944.
Mary, along with her husband Ricky, were joined by life-long family friends and members of Cavan Women’s Network for a memorial service in the former public cemetery near St Felim’s Hospital last Thursday. Earlier in the day, she visited St Clare’s Chapel and Cullies Graveyard earlier in the day, where she laid wreaths in memory of the 35 children and one adult who perished in the Cavan orphanage fire of February 23, 1943.
Members of the women’s network aided Mary in her search; while Fr Ultan McGoohan officiated at the service.
Amid balmy Spring sunshine Fr McGoohan’s echoed in the silence of the secluded cemetery. “...over 150-years people were laid to rest here in various circumstances, from Famine times right up to the mid-1960s. We are standing in a great silent village if you like and we come to do homage and to ask God’s blessing on the repose of the soul of Annie and on the souls of all those who lie here in Bully’s Acre,” he said.
Annie Blessing, who it is thought lived at St Mary’s Terrace, Belturbet, during her life, died aged 37. She left behind a family of five. Mary’s mum Rosaleen and her sister Christine were sent to live at the Cavan Orphanage, a year after the tragic fire took place.
Mary told those gathered: “The five children were never given a chance to visit their mother and never knew where exactly she was buried. Annie Blessing was laid to rest with her unborn child and that was the part of the death she can remember. She can’t remember her mother’s face, but she can still see the baby that was lost in the foot of the coffin.”
She concluded by saying: “Mum didn’t say much about her mother because she didn’t get much time with her. But she had a few photos and she cherishes them to this day. I know in my heart that Annie Blessing would have been a wonderful mother, a wonderful grandmother. The reason I know that is that my mum Rosaleen is the kindest, most caring mother that anyone could ever wish for.”
Afterwards, Mary told The Anglo-Celt: “I can’t even begin to think what it would be like not knowing my mum.
“I’d like to think I’ve made her proud today. I hope I have. What we’ve been able to find out in only just a year has been amazing for our family, to be able to patch up that part of the family tree.”
Martina Keogan of Cavan Women’s Network, who facilitated much of Mary’s search for information locally while Mary remained in London, told the Celt: “It’s wonderful for Mary and her mother to be able to bring all this to a conclusion and for Mary to come back and do this little pilgrimage involving the upbringing of her mother, her granny, and to be able to take this story back home and pass it on to her children too.”
Martina and the network, who have since been contacted by others attempting to trace similar information, says: “It’s full circle really, and the Women’s Network are delighted to have been able to facilitate Mary in whatever way we could. What the real story here is, is about family. Mary has that, and she’s brought closure for her mum on what is a difficult time in all their lives.”