Orphanage fire commemoration plans

A special commemoration event, to mark the 80th anniversary of the Cavan Orphanage fire, which claimed the lives of 35 children and one elderly resident in 1943, will begin at Cavan’s Market Square on the date of the tragic event, February 23.

An initial assembly, weather permitting, will take place from 6pm, followed by a procession of 36 lighted candles carried by children to the Convent Courtyard. There, the names of each of the victims will be called out, as their candle is placed.

A minute’s silenced will then be observed, followed by the laying of wreaths by Bernie Connelly and Mary Rooney, nieces of one of the girls who perishsed in the blaze.

A short Ecumenical Service will be followed by a reflection shared by local artist Sarah McKenna Dunne who wrote ‘Smouldering, Not Smothered’, a site specific immersive experience of when fire raged through St Joseph's orphanage run by the enclosed order of Sisters of the Poor Clares.

Ms McKenna Dunne is a member of the campaign committee, ‘Remember the Cavan Orphanage Victims’.

There will be an address too by a representative of Cavan County Council.

After 13 months listed on the agenda, but deferred month on month, a motion tabled by Fianna Fáil’s Aiden Fitzpatrick finally moved to discussion at last Monday’s February council meeting.

He asked the council for an update regarding plans to erect a memorial in the town centre, though accepted that it was a “sensitive” matter that needed to be approached with thought and consideration.

Cllr Fitzpatrick said his own mother was a patient at Lisdarn, ironically being treated for burns, when young girls from St Joseph’s Orphanage were being brought in for treatment.

It was the family of one of the deceased from the Kill area who approached him first about pushing for a memorial to be erected, and Cllr Fitzpatrick indicated that he was determined not to let the matter lie until this had been achieved.

He expressed disappointment that a memorial could not be erected before the 80th anniversary, a sentiment shared by others like party colleague Patricia Walsh who remembered the fire being an “unspoken truth” growing up in Cavan Town. Attending St Clare’s school as a child, she said, while an orphanage was still operating, was a harrowing daily reminder.

There was support too for the motion from Aontú’s Sarah O’Reilly and Fine Gael’s TP O’Reilly.

Cathaoirleach John Paul Feeley, who was praised for engaging with the ‘Remember the Cavan Orphanage Victims’ committee in the run up to the anniversary, said that a physical memorial had been agreed in “principle”. But he said a “lot of work” still needed to be done regarding what shape it might take, as well as its location.

Director of Services Brendan Jennings agreed.

He said the priority now is to acknowledge the anniversary in an “appropriate” manner with an “event of scale”.

He reminded too that there were more than just the families of those who lost their lives affected by what happened. The feelings of those who had valiantly put their own lives at risk in the rescue effort and their descendants also have to be considered.

“We have to do this right. We have one chance, for the children, for the people of the town, the county, and further afield as well.”