Memorial to mark orphanage fire’s 80th anniversary

An official ceremony will take place to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the fire at the Sisters of the Poor Clares' Orphanage in Cavan Town, which claimed the lives of 36 people. The memorial event will take place next month on Thursday, February 23.

The fire started in the basement laundry sometime between 9.30pm on February 23 and 2am on February 24, 1943. By the time the alarm was raised, the blaze had already spread beyond the point it could be tackled by local volunteers who put their lives at risk to save those trapped in the burning building.

While 35 children died, many more were saved.

The youngest of the girls to perish, Elizabeth Heaphy from Swords in Dublin, was only four years old at the time. Eighty-year-old Mary Smith, who worked as a cook at the orphanage, also lost her life.

Next month’s commemoration is being organised by ‘Remember the Cavan Orphanage Victims’ in conjunction with Cavan County Council. Ahead of the anniversary date “productive discussions” have been taking place between the group and the local authority to finalise arrangements.

A spokesperson for the council further noted that “initial discussions” have also taken place about the erection of a permanent memorial to the victims of the tragedy in the town.

In 2018 a petition to have a permanent memorial erected collected almost 5,500 signatures, which were then handed into Cavan County Council.

Seán Galligan first got involved in that campaign after learning about the history of the orphanage. During Pope Francis’s visit to Dublin in 2018, he was among those who tied baby shoes, white ribbons and locks to the gate of the orphanage site – one for every victim who died.

Mr Galligan is a member of the committee behind the ‘Remember the Cavan Orphanage Victims’ group that reformed last year with the proposal of recognising the 80th anniversary of the tragedy. He welcomed the council’s support.

He further commended the efforts of Cathaoirleach John Paul Feeley for his “behind the scenes” work in bringing both sides together.

“It is an important anniversary,” Mr Galligan told the Celt, adding that work is set to begin on contacting the known surviving family members of those who died.

For the 75th anniversary of the tragedy, a group gathered to pay their respects at the former orphanage site; while a Mass of the Angels was celebrated, as it has been every year, at St Clare’s Chapel.

“As a community, as a county, we must remember,” stated Mr Galligan who said the group had accepted that a permanent public memorial would not be in place in time for next month’s commemoration.

“It’s important the process happens, and in the right way,” said Mr Galligan, indicating that consultation on the matter was continuing.

The spokesperson for Cavan County Council confirmed same.

“It is of paramount importance that the process of erecting any such memorial is handled with appropriate sensitivity and with input from all stakeholders, most especially the families of the victims. As such, further discussion and consultation will be required before plans for a memorial are advanced further,” they said.