False O’Reilly twins Josephine Anne- Anita Mary Happy 40th Birthday You came and stayed That Autumn Day We seen you for a while You could not stay another day You did not have the time Fly high our little ones Always remembered by Brothers Paul- Alan- Michael Sister Natalie Mam- Dad isands newsletter 12

False Until We All Meet Again In post war Dublin, in march 1946, my parents were looking after a family of six children ranging in age from 16 to 4 and consisting of four boys and two girls. The girls, myself aged 11 and my only sister aged 6 were praying for a sister to redress the gender balance. My mother had taken me with her to McGovern’s in Camden St. When she bought a “ layette” and had started wearing a new “ swagger coat”. The “ layette” consisted of long fl annelette night dresses, vests, binders, nappies, matinee coats, bonnets and shawls, all purchased in preparation for the coming of a new baby. On march 7th 1946 at lunch time we were eating in the kitchen while the midwife was attending my mother in the bedroom next door. The midwife asked my father to get the doctor immediately. Later i remember going with my dad to the nearby chemist to get sick room supplies, cotton wool, dettol etc, which we brought home in a large cardboard box. The month of march passed and we moved from spring to summer, nothing was said and i never found the “ layette” despite my searching. Many months later an older cousin let slip in conversation about “ the time your mother lost the baby” much to my shock and dismay. I left home aged 18. My mother never mentioned the still born baby sister although she did tell my younger sister that she had been left too long in labour. The events of that day in March 1946 were imprinted on my mind and stayed with me until 2007 when my friend Eileen Gaynor encouraged me to ask for a search in Mount Jerome Cemetery. To my joy the staff in Mount Jerome were able to send me details of where our baby sister Sarah Jane Keeley was buried. Last summer accompanied by Eileen, my daughter Olivia and grandson John, I was able to visit my sister’s grave, a common grave, even though uncle Michael was buried in the the family grave purchased in 1943. We had prayed for your coming but sadly you never got to laugh, love, sing, play or even fi ght with us. Dad always said the two girls were worse than the four boys put together when it came to sibling squabbles. Many thanks to Eileen, ISANDS and the staff at mount jerome cemetery for their help in fi nding the last resting place of a little girl who would have been 63 next month. We are living in a more enlightened age now when a baby girl like sarah jane is given their rightful place in the family story so that parents and siblings could mourn their loss together. ISANDS provide comfort, support and empathy needed when months of joyful expectation end in desolation and emptiness. We will cherish Sarah Jane in our hearts until we all meet again. Ar dheis de go raibh a ainm dilis. Marie. isands newsletter 13