Plans to honour Laois unbaptised babies burial site a step closer

Plans to honour the historic burial site of unbaptised babies in Abbeyleix are a step closer to fruition this week following the green light from Laois County Council. 

A committee has been working hard to recognise and mark the Cillíní burial plot  in the townland of Tonduff for babies who were not allowed in a Catholic graveyard because they died before being baptised.

A fundraiser was set up mid-January for a sculpture and a stone seat to be erected which has raised €4,000 online to date. 

Providing an update on the project this week Noel Burke, who is part of the committee who spearheaded the successful fundraiser, said their plans to recognise the burial plot have been agreed by area engineer Wesley Wilkinson and Laois Heritage Officer Thomas Carolan subject to some conditions. 

 “Because of health and safety concerns in this area it is now agreed that the reflection seat and QR code will now be relocated to a community reflection area at the north end of the town close to the Abbeyleix Heritage House Museum,” explained Mr Burke. 

“There is a group of bereaved mothers that live in our community who attend a prayer service every October to remember the sad loss of their own babies, it will now be their intention to also  use this community area when completed early this year to reflect on all the babies that were buried at the Abbeyleix Tonduff Cillín, as well as the loss of their own babies. 

“Our new agreed plan is now to erect a piece of natural stone marking the Cillín burial site with the text written in both the English and Irish language. Our Parish Priest Fr. Paddy Byrne has agreed to celebrate a Mass at the Tonduff Cillín site on April 23 at 7pm.”

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The committee has thanked Fr Byrne as well as the Abbeyleix Women's Development Group for their help with the project. 

The ladies of Abbeyleix Women’s Development Group are selling eco-friendly knitted Easter Creme Egg gifts in aid of the project.

Meanwhile the GoFundMe page will remain open until after the Easter ceremonies. 

“The money collected will maintain both sites for many years to come,” added Mr Burke.