Láthair Adhlactha Nua do Naíonáin i Reilig an Bhóthair Mhóir forbartha ag Comhairle Cathrach na Gaillimhe agus Ospidéal na hOllscoile, Gaillimh

Tá láthair adhlactha nua do naíonáin i Reilig an Bhóthair Mhóir á forbairt ag Comhairle Cathrach na Gaillimhe agus Ospidéal na hOllscoile, Gaillimh.

Níl aon spás fanta anois i ‘Láthair na nAingeal’ atá ann cheana, an áit ina gcuirtí uaigheanna ar fáil do naíonáin a básaigh sular tháinig siad ar an saol nó a bhásaigh nuair nach raibh siad ach ina naíonáin an-óg, agus ní úsáidfear í a thuilleadh le haghaidh adhlacthaí.

Ón 1 Feabhra 2026, beidh adhlacthaí á ndéanamh i ‘Leaba na Leanaí’ ar láthair léana nuafhorbartha taobh istigh de Reilig an Bhóthair Mhóir. Beidh cead bláthanna úra a leagan ar an uaigh tráth an adhlactha; tabharfar chun bealaigh iad, áfach, ionas gur féidir an féar a choinneáil néata. Ós rud é nach gceadaítear clocha cinn aonair, beidh fáilte mhór roimh theaghlaigh ar mian leo ainm a linbh a áireamh ar chlocha cinn comhroinnte sin a dhéanamh.

Beidh Ospidéal na hOllscoile, Gaillimh ag tabhairt faoi athchóiriú ar ‘Láthair na nAingeal’ atá ann cheana lena chinntiú go bhfanfaidh sé ina áit chuimhneacháin shíochánta ómósach.  I measc na hoibre atá beartaithe a dhéanamh, tá na colbhaí a ghlanadh agus colbhaí nua a chur in áit seanchinn nuair is gá, chomh maith leis na clocha ainmnithe a ghlanadh. Mar chuid den obair seo, beidh orainn crann agus toir a bhaint, mar go bhfuil a gcuid fréamhacha ag cur isteach ar an uaigh anois. Tá an-aiféala orainn go gcaithfidh muid é seo a dhéanamh, ach tá sé riachtanach chun an áit a bhfuil na leanaí curtha a chosaint agus chun an láthair a chaomhnú leis an gcúram agus meas atá tuillte aige.

Chun go mbeidh muid in ann an obair feabhsúcháin seo a chur i gcrích, ní mór na plaiceanna aonair, na clocha ainmnithe, na dealbha agus na nithe pearsanta ar fad atá leagtha faoi láthair ar ‘Láthair na nAingeal’ a thabhairt chun bealaigh. Cuirfear na plaiceanna ainmneacha aolchloiche atá ann cheana ar ais arís a luaithe a bheidh an obair críochnaithe, agus beidh tuismitheoirí fós in ann ainmneacha a leanaí a chur leis na plaiceanna.

Tá Ospidéal na hOllscoile, Gaillimh agus Comhairle Cathrach na Gaillimhe ag tabhairt cuireadh anois do thuismitheoirí agus do theaghlaigh a gcuid earraí pearsanta a bhailiú - earraí ar nós plaiceanna aonair, clocha, dealbha agus bréagáin - atá leagtha ar an láthair faoi láthair.  Iarrtar le mórmheas ar theaghlaigh na hearraí seo a thabhairt leo faoin 15 Feabhra 2026. Tabharfaidh Comhairle Cathrach na Gaillimhe léi aon earra eile nach mbeidh bailithe tar éis an dáta seo agus stórálfar go sábháilte iad lena mbailiú ar feadh trí mhí go dtí an 15 Bealtaine 2026.  

Tá míle fáilte roimh thuismitheoirí agus teaghlaigh ar mhaith leo tuilleadh eolais a fháil faoin atá beartaithe againn nó faoin gcloch chinn chomhroinnte teagmháil a dhéanamh le: Helen Byrnes, Bean Chabhrach Tacaíochta Méala, ag an uimhir 087 7712329, nó le Anne McKeown, Comhordaitheoir do Chúram Deireadh Saoil, ag an uimhir 087 4418574, ó Luan go hAoine.

Galway City Council and Galway University Hospitals Develop New Burial Plot for Babies at Bohermore Cemetery

The existing ‘Plot of the Angels’, which has provided a resting place for babies who died before birth or in infancy, has now reached capacity and will no longer be used for burials.

From 1 February 2026, interments will take place in a newly developed lawn plot ‘Leaba na Leanaí’ (Babies/Children’s bed) within Bohermore Cemetery. Fresh flowers may be placed at the time of burial; however, they will be removed for lawn maintenance. As individual headstones are not permitted, families who wish to have their baby’s name included on a shared headstone will be very welcome to do so.

Galway University Hospitals will be undertaking a refurbishment of the existing ‘Plot of the Angels’ to ensure it remains a peaceful and dignified place of remembrance. The planned works include cleaning and replacing the kerbing, along with cleaning the naming stones. As part of this work, it will be necessary to remove a tree and shrubs, as their roots are now impacting the grave. We deeply regret having to take this step, but it is essential to protect the resting place of the babies laid to rest here and to preserve the plot with the care and respect it deserves.

To allow for the completion of these enhancement works, all individual plaques, naming stones, statues, and personal items currently located on the ‘Plot of the Angels’ will need to be removed. The existing limestone name plaques will be returned once the works are complete, and parents can continue to add their babies’ names to the plaques.

Galway University Hospitals and Galway City Council are now inviting parents and families to collect personal items such as individual plaques, stones, statues and toys currently placed at the plot. Families are kindly asked to remove these items by 15 February 2026. Any items remaining after this date will be removed by Galway City Council and securely stored for a three month period, until 15 May 2026.  

Parents and families who would like more information about the proposed works or the shared headstone are welcome to contact: Helen Byrnes, Bereavement Support Midwife, at 087 7712329, or Anne McKeown, End of Life Care Coordinator, at 087 4418574, Monday to Friday.