Kerry industrial school victims remembered – ‘Children were cast aside’
A large crowd gathered at the site of the former St Joseph’s Industrial School in Tralee on Saturday morning to remember one of the bleakest episodes in Tralee’s past.
A plaque was unveiled by Kerry County Council acknowledging the suffering of hundreds of boys who passed through St Joseph’s from 1871 to 1970. The plaque was crafted and kindly donated by local stone mason, Billy Leen.
The occasion was made all the more poignant by the attendance of victims and their families. Michael Clemenger was incarcerated in St Joseph’s between 1959 and 1969 during which time he suffered terrible abuse. He proudly unveiled the plaque after years of campaigning that helps to close the circle of suffering for many.
As a child, Michael spoke of being reminded by the Christian Brothers that he was illegitimate and to remain on his knees and never aspire to anything in life but menial tasks.
“I decided no. I would fight the system and go on and make a life for myself,” Michael told the crowd.
“I was most fortunate to meet my wife [Mary] when I was 21. Ever since that day I am what I am today. I went on to achieve a full academic career and was very successful in life, relatively speaking,” he said.
“I want to thank all the people that made the final decision in making this plaque possible. I am indebted to one and all and may God be good to them. May further generations also recognise their bravery in times of great difficulty,” Michael said.
Mayor of Tralee Terry O’Brien said it was necessary – after so long – to finally acknowledge the torment of the victims.
“Sadly, many of those who went to St Joseph’s have died before this day. We remember all those who suffered,” he said.
He explained how the industrial school system remains a ‘deep scar’ and an ‘appalling blight’ on the history of Ireland.
“It condemned thousands of innocent children to isolation, humiliation, abuse, and internment…for too long it was a feature of a society in which children were cast aside into the hands of a system that often facilitated and covered up physical, psychological, and sexual abuse,” Cllr O’Brien said.
It was fitting that the occasion should conclude with the person who started the campaign for a memorial plaque. While still a student, Alannah O’Sullivan made it her ambition that such a monument would be brought to fruition for victims of St Joseph’s and nearby Nazareth House.
Alannah recited Michael Clemenger’s poem ‘Chiselled in Stone’: ‘Your families and the common man and woman/They all turned their minds away/All that is left is this memorial/To remind future generations chiselled in granite stone.’
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