Mountmellick Children's Home

[Mrs Dalloway]

I am trying to find out any information on a Mother and baby home in Mountmellick which is now St Vincents hospital, Co Laois.  Does anyone know if this was part of the workhouse?  The birth I am interested in was just after the second world war.  I am trying to learn something of the conditions of the home and what life was like for those living there.... also if people choose to be in the home of their free will.
Thanks, Clarissabell

[Mountmellick Local]

As far as I know, St Vincent's Hospital was a workhouse and not a mother & baby home per se.  I'll ask my Mum but I think that was its past history.

[aghadowey]

There's links to Workhouse information in LAOIS RESOURCES at the top of this thread which will include its history.

[Mrs Dalloway]

Thanks guys.  I am really trying to find when it stopped being a workhouse... I know the Sisters of Charity took over the running of it, but what kind of a "home" did it become then and if pregnant women were kept there against their will or not and if it was a sort of Magdeline Laundry. 
I've come across 2 children who were discharged from there just before they turned 3 years old and I wonder if that was a policy in the place, and if so, where did these children go once they turned 3?  Does anyone know if the mother's were involved in doing laundry work?  What happened to the toddlers while their mothers were working?? 
So many questions...

[Mountmellick Local]

To be honest, I don't know about any of that. It was always a geriatric hospital in my lifetime and I only knew that it originated as a workhouse. But I'll see what I can find out and let you know...

[aghadowey]

From the workhouse website: "The workhouse later became St Vincent's Hospital. From 1903 to 1986, nursing care was provided by the Daughters of Charity."

[Mrs Dalloway]

Mountmellick local - that'd be brilliant if you could find out anything.... and yes aghadowey, I read that piece on the Workhouse website.  I wonder what "nursing care" means... 

I suppose I need to find out if this institution was a Laundry or not, as the case I am interested in shows that mother and child were in the home together for almost 3 years.  Surely both weren't "sick"... and if thery were what sort of care was provided?
 
Perhaps I need to get in touch with the Sisters of Charity.  I wonder if there is a convent still in the area. 

I really appreciate your help.  Thanks,
Clarissabell

[benababy5]

Hi,

I just found your post. My grandmother is from mountmellick and she remembers seeing babies in the home. She also vividly remembers women on their knees scrubbing the floors. Si mountmellick was definitely a mother and baby home

[rathmore]

http://www.workhouses.org.uk

Mountmellick Co Leix Laois

became St Vincents in 1903 to 1986, Daughters of Charity

unmarried girls would have been sent there to have there baby, most times the girls were not allowed to keep the baby