In a quaint council home at the end of a road in Loughrea, County Galway, 93-year-old Chrissie Tully sits in her overstuffed chair, flanked by lace curtains and memories. Nestled behind a playground, her home is a sanctuary filled with small comforts — from her prayers to her beloved dog Rex. But at the heart of this gentle routine lies an enduring heartache: a son she never held, missing for 76 years.
Chrissie’s journey began in 1949, when she fell in love and found herself pregnant as a teenager. The reaction from her family and the community was swift and unforgiving. Disowned and shunned, she was taken to St. Mary’s Mother and Baby Home, a refuge shrouded in the stigma of secrecy and shame that defined that era in Ireland, particularly under the heavy influence of the Catholic Church.
These institutions left a deep scar across the nation, condemned by independent reviews as places where unwed mothers were unjustly punished. Apologies have echoed from religious bodies, and the Irish government has faced challenges in providing reparations to the thousands affected. Yet, for Chrissie Tully, these historical acknowledgments do little to alleviate her persistent longing for her son.
As the years turn into decades, Chrissie remains hopeful. She tends to her home with the quiet resolve of a woman who believes in the return of her son, patiently preparing for a reunion that may never come. With each passing day, she keeps the light of memory alive in her heart, a testimony to the resilience of love amid profound loss.
