The hidden legacy of forced and coercive adoption in Ireland.

The Adoptee Voices Report outlines the findings of three different surveys that examined: the effects of closed adoption on adoptees; records and DNA testing in the process of family tracing; and adoptees’ opinions and views on the Report of the Commission of Inquiry into Mother and Baby Homes.

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“History, despite its wrenching pain, cannot be unlived; but if faced with courage, need not be lived again.”
– Maya Angelou

Read the Adoptee Voices report

Surveys undertaken by Aitheantas

Aitheantas conducted 3 surveys to form the Adoptee Voices report.

468

'Identity Rights for Adoptees'

Hosted online by Uplift, on behalf of Aitheantas. There was a total of 468 respondents to the survey. The majority of respondents (81%) were adoptees. Other participants were children or family members of adoptees.

20

Participation, Validation and Memorialisation

This qualitative survey was conducted following the publication of the final report of the Commission of Inquiry into Mother and Baby Homes and related matters in January 2021. The survey was shared on the Aitheantas Facebook page, to adoptee-related support groups and on social media. There was a total of 20 participants.

19

Genealogy

The Aitheantas Genealogy Survey was issued to individual genealogists, genealogy and family history forums and groups by email and through social media platforms. The 19 survey respondents were a mixture of professional genealogists and family history researchers.

Case Studies

There are 3 case studies in the Adoptee Voices report: Mary, Sally, and David. Their names have been changed to protect their anonymity.

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“As a teenager, young adult, always looking for someone who looked like you. When dating, I'm always afraid they could be related. Not knowing [my] background.”
Mary
“Medically I had a stroke which was genetic and could possibly have been prevented if I had the information [...] my health is impacted for life due to this stroke”.
Sally
“Give me my rights! I have lived with rejection for long enough, I don’t need my country rejecting me any longer. Learn about our pain & tell me we don’t deserve the human right to identity”.
DAVID
Read the case studies

Read the foreword

We are honoured to have Colette Kelleher, a trailblazer and a dedicated campaigner for social justice and equality in the Seanad and beyond, write the foreword to our report.

Read the foreword

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