Opening up closed adoption in Ireland
April 23, 2024
Irish- born adoptee Bernadette Covo explains her study of the personal experiences of individuals who, like her, have had closed adoptions.
Most people don’t hesitate when they’re asked where they come from or who they got their eye colour from. They know the answers. They’re part of their DNA – literally – and their identity. But people who’ve experienced a closed adoption can’t answer those seemingly straightforward questions, and they can feel awkward, sad, or even ashamed when they’re asked.
When I began my doctorate in psychotherapy research, I didn’t know what to study. Something relevant to my clients? DiJerent ideas came and went, but none stuck around. Although adoption was a subject that was personal to me and relevant to therapy clients, I initially dismissed the idea, because it had been researched to death – hadn’t it? All those children and adults over the decades throughout the world. There must be tons of studies on how they’ve fared, what they think and feel and how adoption has aJected them.
Well, no. Most of the research that has been done is of the medical kind. I found plenty of studies looking at whether we do better or worse in terms of mental health and ‘adjustment’ than non-adoptees. It was all about looking for diJerences, as part of an attempt to settle a debate about nature and nurture. Much of the research was from the USA and UK, both of which have had open adoption for several decades.
What was really missing from those decades of research was the voices of those most aJected: adoptees, first parents (there’s still almost no research on first fathers) and adoptive parents and siblings. Where they were asked, it was often about specific things like searching for first families. Rarely had adoptees been asked to tell their whole story. In the Irish context, first mothers were only interviewed in depth for the first time three years ago, by researchers from UCG. But anecdotally, there seems to have been a lot of silence, stigma, and shame for everyone touched by closed adoption.
Although there’s been a lot of political and legal change recently in Ireland, such as the Redress Scheme and the Birth and Information Tracing Act, these have come about without full consultation or adequate understanding. An example is the requirement to have spent at least 180 days in a mother and baby home, to be eligible for redress. That might be financially prudent for the government, but it shows a complete lack of understanding of people’s experiences, and risks adding insult to injury. Trauma doesn’t begin on day 181!
So I decided to research the experience of Irish people who have had closed adoptions, giving them a chance to share their stories in full. I’ll be interviewing a small number of people in depth to hear about how their adoption has aJected them, their loved ones, and their lives.
I hope the study will raise awareness of adoptees’ experiences, so that fellow adoptees don’t feel so isolated – when we’re seen for who we are, we feel more at home in ourselves. I also hope that I will help to change the conversation in Ireland, so that the shame and stigma are no longer borne by adoptees and their loved ones, but by the institutions of church and state who failed us in the past and continue to do so.
I’ve recruited several participants already, and am looking for two or three more whose experience matches the flyer. If that’s you, I’d love you to get in touch. Everyone who takes part will receive a copy of the findings, and anyone can contact me to stay informed about the study and receive a copy too.
Are you open to discussing your experience and the significance of it for you and your loved ones?
• Share your story in a confidentinal online interview, for an in-depth research study.
• Participants will receive a copy of the key insights and findings from the study.
• Email Bernadette Covo, researcher, at 06208@metanoia.ac.uk, to find out more.
There are over 13,000 survivors of Ireland’s mother & baby homes living in Britain. “Philomena’s Law” seeks to remove a barrier to many survivors seeking the redress that they are entitled to by protecting redress scheme payments from being calculated within means-tested benefits & social care arrangements. Our Midlands Irish Survivors Service supports former residents of institutional abuse in Ireland. As part of this work, we are involved with Philomena’s Law, which will hopefully be passed in the coming months. Many of you may be familiar with Philomena Lee, who this law is named after. The story of Philomena’s search for her son Anthony (who she gave birth to in a Mother and Baby Home in County Tipperary) was the basis of the Oscar-nominated film Philomena, which stars Judi Dench and Steve Coogan. Labour MP Liam Conlon has introduced this draft legislation in the House of Commons in an effort to get a fairer deal for Survivors of institutions. The current redress scheme for Survivors enables former residents to receive financial compensation from the Irish government for the time they spent in Mother and Baby Homes. As it stands, any Survivor who is receiving means-tested benefits when they receive a compensation payment from the scheme is in danger of losing these benefits. This has a huge impact on Survivors who are yet again being denied the justice and kindness they deserve. If this legislation is passed, it will stop these benefits from being affected, and some cases, ceased altogether. Getting this law passed would change the lives of so many. As a charity, we are aware of many Survivors who have prolonged accepting the redress payment, or who have simply felt unable to accept it at all due to a fear of being penalised for using these funds. We have been working with Liam Conlon, and with other organisations supporting Survivors to try to raise awareness and to promote support for this law, so that it has the best possible chance of being implemented. The most effective and important way to support this law is to write to your local MP and ask them to publicly back Philomena’s Law. We would urge you to use the below email addresses to contact your local MP in Coventry: Zarah Sultana, Labour MP for Coventry South: zarah.sultana.mp@parliament.uk Mary Creagh, Labour MP for Coventry East: mary@marycreagh.co.uk Taiwo Owatemi, Labour MP for Coventry North West: taiwo.owatemi.mp@parliament.uk To get the best chance of your MP seeing your email, you should add ‘Constitutent Request’ in the subject of this email. We hope you will lend us the support we need to get justice for Irish Survivors. If you have any questions, do get in touch with Manisha O’Malley (Survivors Co-ordinator) at manisha.omalley@covirishsoc.org.uk or call us on 02476256629. You can follow the link below to download a free letter template, which you can send to your local MP in support of Philomena's Law.
Mental Health Support Worker (Post is for a one year contract - further funding might be available after one year subject to additional grant aid). Salary: £10,000 per year – 15 hours per-week 10-4pm Monday, Wednesday and Thursday (excluding lunch). Location: Eaton House, 1, Eaton Road Near Coventry City Centre. Established in 1993, Coventry Irish Society (CIS) is a Charity providing a wide range of community health and support services to the Irish community in Coventry. The Coventry Irish Society requires a Mental Health Support Worker to set up, organise and run a half day per-week Dementia Support Group and a half day per- week Walking Group for the local Irish Community. The role includes working with Carers and increasing mental health awareness to support the local Irish community. The charity predominantly supports older Irish but also supports Second and Third Generation Irish, Irish Survivors and Irish Travellers. . Please email your up to date CV with a cover letter clearly detailing your relevant experience in line with requirements of the role. A CV without an accompanying cover letter will not be accepted. simon.mccarthy@covirishsoc.org.uk or email Simon for further information. Actively interviewing. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early. We are obliged to ask all successful applicants to complete a DBS Disclosure form
Coventry Irish Society had a fabulous time celebrating St. Patrick's Day 2025 with members and supporters. From our Lunch Club to celebrating at Christ the King Parish Church and All Souls Primary School. View images from this year's celebrations below. Coventry Irish Society Celebrates St. Patrick's Day 2025 at Christ the King Parish Church
