St. Josephs Industrial School, Letterfrack Connemara, (County Galway): 1885 -1974: In the beautiful area of Letterfrack, Connemara, Co.Galway, there is a heartbreakingly haunting childrens graveyard. One hundred and forty seven children all under the age of sixteen are buried there. All the children had been sent to St. Josephs Industrial School, for minor misdemeanors from different counties all over the south of Ireland. All the children were in the so called care of the Christian Brothers One walks up through a small forest on the hill on the opposite side of what was once, St. Josephs Industrial School, the wind gently blows through the leaves, then one reaches the gateway into the silent little graveyard, cherubs and little heart headstones mark the little childrens graves. A feeling of sorrow and sadness for these children comes over anyone who goes to this graveyard. Established in 1885 and closed 1974 it came to be known as one of the most cruel homes for, toddlers, little children and young teenagers in Ireland: The brutal regime of work at this bleak institution meant that its defenceless inmates didnt even get the schooling the Brothers were paid to provide. Small boys were forced to run around a bare stone yard for hours in the wet and cold, holding their sheets above their heads. It was one of the punishments meted out to those who wet their beds. Even in the rain and mist of Connemara, the children were told to run until the sheets were dry. Boys were beaten senseless and i turned into gibberish, for trying to escape. The Christian Brothers abused the children at Letterfrack in every way one dreads to even think about and also used the children to make them rich by forced labour, The school was run like it was a major business, St Josephs Industrial School letterhead proudly listed its services: Orders Received in Tailoring, Bootmaking, Carpentry, Bakery, Cartmaking, Smithwork. Also Wire Mattress, Hosiery, Hearth Rugs, Motors Repaired, Petrols and Oils Supplied. In addition to a significant amount of agricultural produce from the schools large farm. Most of the labour was provided by the children. Up to 40 of them were described as full-time on the farm or other businesses. The only schooling these 40 received was a 45-minute class in Christian Doctrine after their days work. The remaining 60 or so, usually the very young ones, had lessons in the mornings and then went out to work for the day. It is believed that all the children who died at Letterfrack died from abuse and neglect. Will those who think of them today a little prayer to Jesus say Source: independent.ie/opinion/analysis/st-joseph-of-letterfrack-the-cruel-saint-26248240.html#sthash.ags6ScFH.dpuf Images: panoramio politicalworld.org flickr irishcentral Beautiful Connemara: Letterfrack Industrial School Plaque put on the gate of the childrens graveyard, by the people of Connemara; Image of the little childrens graveyard
Posted on: Sun, 29 Jun 2014 21:31:18 +0000
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