LONG before giving birth in hospital became the norm, mothers and babies in Ireland relied on the expertise and kindness of community midwives who could deal calmly with every situation.
Memories of those heroines of community care are being sought from Limerick, and people are being invited to contribute stories and memories about community midwives in the 19th and 20th centuries as part of a project led by the National Museum of Ireland.
The stories can be submitted to a national history and heritage archive, available at ouririshheritage.org.
The lives and contributions of a number of nurses and midwives have already been incorporated into an ongoing exhibition exploring the history of rural midwifery at the National Museum of Ireland in Turlough Park, Castlebar, County Mayo.
“We’d like to hear from more people in Limerick and across Ireland to further expand on this community-led historical research into midwifery,” explained Lorna Elms, iCAN Development Officer with the museum.
“Community midwives provided a vital network of healthcare provision for women in rural Ireland – sustaining the lives of mothers and babies during birth – often in very challenging conditions. The exhibition and archive project acknowledges and celebrates their contributions.”
The midwifery project is delivered by the Irish Community Archive Network (iCAN) – an initiative by the National Museum of Ireland, the Heritage Council and participating local authority Heritage Officers across Ireland.
To learn more about the historical exhibition, or to contribute a story or memory to the archive, visit ouririshheritage.org.
