45 thoughts on “Full Surrender

  1. Formerly known as @ireland.com

    Shocking stuff. What does “full surrender” mean? I am guessing that the child’s parent(s) have surrendered their rights to the child.

  2. Kara

    Why is this “horrific” exactly?
    It is a very sad vestige of the time but back then single mothers were not supported by our state or their families very often,they could not raise their children.These little ones were probably facing life in a home .They were probably better being adopted given what we know of care homes.
    Right now we have children being mistreated,denied social workers and a frightening proportion have died in the care of our state in the last ten years. Where are the people wringing their hands over this, something we could do something about?

        1. Ahjayzis

          You caught me! I was just about to flog my new lifestyle website, drat you Bluepubes!

          I’m sure the good sisters only sold them abroad, freebies for locals.

      1. Kara

        There’s no mention of sale, references are sought to ensure good parents are found.Would there have been a better outcome for children whose parents couldn’t care for them in 1940’s Ireland when there was no social welfare or state help?
        You’d prefer an orphanage perhaps?

    1. The Lady Vanishes

      Kara, there’s no incompatibility between feeling heartbreak at the past and wanting to make the present a better place.

      In fact , as anyone who genuinely wants to make things better will tell you, the two usually go together.

      Such a typical Irish trick, of apologists for the past, and people who for whatever reason are unable to feel/are repelled by compassion, going “but what are you doing NOW”.

      At best, you seriously lack empathy.

      1. Bluebeard

        Lady, what I can’t understand are people who trawl the past looking for things to prove whatever medieval image of it they have, regardless of norms or context. To judge people from another time against the values and possibilities of the present seriously lacks empathy and is actually quite cruel and exploitative.

      2. Kara

        Lady what absolute embarrassing nonsense. When it comes to child welfare anything that doesn’t feed into the anti-church narrative is being largely ignored by the likes of the broadsheet demographic and children are suffering because of it. There’s a big difference between empathy for children and seizing an opportunity to jump on board everyone’s favourite hobby horse to air crimes of the past. The measure of empathy is surely who you’ll fight for here and now ,not what honeyed words you’ll use to express your pain at past events and in the same paragraph cast off present victims as inconvenient to your grandstanding. “What are you doing now?” is exactly what an empathetic person would say.

    2. realPolithicks

      “Right now we have children being mistreated,denied social workers and a frightening proportion have died in the care of our state in the last ten years. Where are the people wringing their hands over this, something we could do something about?”

      What are you currently doing to address these problems?

      1. Kara

        I work in the area, I lobby for better care and support for children who are not getting the help the need. However it’s met with lots of wringing of hands and “oh if only we had the money” when sometimes the truth is “oh if only we have the motivation to help children that the middle classes don’t feel an emotional tie with”. Many cases of serious abuse and serious failings of the state that have resulted in death and injury to children have made the paper in recent times with little public interest, few “horrified” tweets from broadcasters and people of public note.

        Also how dare you… it’s none of your business what I do, I don’t have to earn the right to air an opinion here. If you think you’re any better than a church or 1950’s Ireland who abandoned needy kids to a life of abuse then think again. Your response is the exact same measly, lazy attitude to suffering people I’d expect from such a time.

        1. realPolithicks

          Lol, relax there Kara, if as you say “it’s none of your business what I do” then don’t bother answering.

  3. Bluebeard

    Horrific why? A sister trying to help poor children by finding them a good family? I think it shows compassion all round. I pity the poor mother who probably had no option, but am glad people were around to try their best for the children.

    1. Mikeyfex

      Remember, this guy is surrounded by Ray D’Arcy, his co-presenters, and their listeners. Emotive language…

    2. scottser

      it’s not clear at all that the sister had these children’s best interests at heart. how many prospective parents were turned down in favour of catholic parents? you have no idea what criteria were used in making a decision to rehome these children.

  4. Spaghetti Hoop

    A lot of assumptions made in that tweet. Some people are simply ‘anti-adoption’ – regulated or otherwise.

  5. Count Chuckula

    How is adoption “heartbreaking” or “horrific”? A newspaper advertisement might seem a strange method of placing children in families to us now, but it was nothing unusual at the time, or for a long time after. There’s no suggestion the children were for sale. Want to explain your bleeding-heart and revulsion to the thousands of adopted Irish people today, living happy lives with families that love them? Or is it just about RTs and Favourites?

    1. JohnM

      They were probably on what was called a ‘party line’ then. If the receiving phone rang 5 times it was for you. Or something.

      1. Big Mad Bond Fan

        The address is in Tralee. If you were directly connected to the Tralee exchange, you would dial 5 (I think). If you were not directly connected to the Tralee exchange, you would ring the operator and ask for ‘Tralee 5’.

  6. Bacchus

    Horrific? Is there a better outcome for a child in that situation to be adopted by a stable couple? I suppose there no melodrama in happy ever after is there?

  7. Outta me Bento Box

    What’s heartbreaking about unwanted children finding a (hopefully)loving home with parents who want children (full surrender – it’s a fairly understandable criterion surely?)

    1. Small Wonder

      The unwanted bit.

      Or worse still, they were wanted and the mother was forced to give them up.

      3 and 4 year olds. Old enough to know what was happening to them, too young to understand.

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