False 1989 Pastoral Care We are often asked to speak to Seminarians, Theological Society, Irish Nurses Organisation and Student Doctors etc. and we felt the need for visual aid to really make our point. With this in mind we put together a number of slides, made form our own collection of photos and memorabilia of our Babies. Mr. Peter Keelihan, Pathologist, Holles Street, gave us tremendous held and we wish to than him very sincerely. We showed them for the fi rst time to the Church of Ireland Theological Society on the 2nd October 89. A lot of them were married men with children of their own. None of them had ever seen a dead baby and all of them were going out to spend a couple of weeks in hospitals around the country. Perhaps if they come across bereaved parents they will know the importance of seeing and holding your baby, of photos, a lock of hair and most of all someone who will listen and try to understand that loosing your baby is a bereavement and not something that you go home and forget. Your baby is a person in life and in death. We have been asked to speak in Maynooth in Feb.’ 90. Post Amendment Ireland- The Only Country in the E. C. which has no Register of Stillborn Babies. Speakers from all the major political parties supported this demand- Eileen Le Mass- Fianna Fail, Pronsias de Rossa- The Workers Party, Mary Harney- Progressive Democrats, Monica Barnes- Fine Gale and Niamh Breathnach- Labour. Mary Byrne Chairperson of I. S. A. N. D. S talked about the utter hypocrisy of the situation existing in Ireland- a country which recognises the right of the life of the unborn child ( the 8th amendment to the constitution) but acknowledged no recognistion of stillborn babies. Many of these babies are full term, fully developed who due to a quirk of nature do not survive birth. I. S. A. N/ D. S. believes that all babies who weigh 500 grams or more at birth, whether alive or dead, should by registered by the state. The World Health Organisation recommends that 500 grams be the lower weight limit as a foetus of that weight or more is viable outside the womb. All other E. C. countries use this W. H. O. recommendation as a guideline for registration of stillborn babies. Ms Byrne. talked about the stress experienced by parents who have waited nine months for a baby which is eventually born dead. Added to this grief is the anger and pain they feel that the state does not recognise the existence of their dead baby. She talked about her own sadness and anger and that of her husband, when their stillborn daughter, Louise, could not be registered. She wanted to see her name documented in some way by the authorities in her own country. Ms. Byrne expressed the strong belief that all parties in the Dail and Seanad must support this campaign. How much longer must we hang our heads in shame with our European neighbours- the only country in the E. C. with no Register of Stillborn Babies. isands newsletter 108

False For what is it to die? And what is it to cease breathing? but to fr ee the breath fr om it’s restless tides... Only when you drink fr om the river of silence shall you indeed sing. And when you have reached the mountain top then you shall begin to climb. And when the earth shall claim you limbs, then shall you truly dance. Memorial Stone for St. Finbars Cemetery- Cork We have been working to have a memorial erected to all babies who are buried in non- perpetuity plots. The memorial has been designed and sculpted by Mr. Ken Thompson who created the Air India Disaster Commemoration in West Cork. It will be made in limestone and oval shaped with a small carving of a Mother and Chid on top. The wording will include a quotation from Jeremiah. “ Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you. Before you came to birth, I consecrated you” It will be mounted on a stone wall in St. Finbars Cemetery. We plan to hold a Memorial Service on November 12th ‘ 89. but to stand naked in the wind and to melt into the sun? “ Grace we held you in our arms and wished that we could linger, there was not time to share our love, we had to say goodbye” One year has passed now Grace, Since you left us No birth or Baptismal Certifi cates No Death Cert for you No record of you ever Being alive... But we will not forget you Darling Grace, Inside my womb for forty one weeks and four days You kicked and moved And showed yourself to us You made yourself known We saw and felt the life in you We knew you as no one else did We were privileged ibut You are always in our hearts No one can take that away We will always remember you That you are happy and are some where beautiful And know we love you that is our wish Maria, Peter and Laura Holy Angels Plot - Glasnevin Ann Scully & Gereldine Cannon visited Glasnevin and met the new Manager, Mr. John Kinahan. The plan for the improvement of the Plot has started. Personal plaques and monuments are no longer permitted. isands newsletter 109