When I began writing, relatively late in life, I started with the place I am from, a small farm just outside Tuam, Co Galway. The grim story of the mass grave on the site of the former mother and baby home was brought to light by local historian Catherine Corless around the same time. I avoided writing about it at first, even though it affected me deeply, believing that it was not my story to tell. But as themes began to emerge in my poems, I realised that the story was inextricably linked to where I am from, and to who I am. It became something I couldn’t ignore.
Friday evening’s Late Late Show kicked off in a poignant manner – with a stirring tribute to the thousands of women and children of Ireland’s Mother and Baby homes.
Oscar winner Brenda Fricker lead the tribute following an introduction by Ryan Tubridy, to recite a poem called Voice by Majella Kelly which was accompanied by a powerful animation.
‘To go into the home, was to be given your voice on the spoon and told, swallow it,’ Brenda recited. ‘When they shaved our heads, our voices recoiled on our tongues like dead nettles in empty cups. When they took our names away, the tiny venomous hairs of shame bore untold holes in our throats.’