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In the middle of the last century, thousands of students from African countries were studying at Irish universities. By 1962, one tenth of the student population in Ireland were African.
Some had children outside marriage, who, more often than not, were born in one of Ireland’s mother and baby homes. Their names, like a lot of fathers to Irish children born outside marriage at that time, were left off the birth certificates. The children were placed for adoption.
Today, some of these children, now adults, are searching for their African heritage. This is Conrad, who grew up thinking he was Irish-Nigerian but actually discovered he has South-African roots.
Jude is a tailor in Dublin. He’s 79 and hopes he will find answers about his African heritage before his 80th birthday. For years he was told his father was from Trinidad but DNA tests suggest he was more likely Nigerian. Conrad is helping with his search. They’re getting closer.
Jude and Conrad spent their childhoods in orphanages. The Irish government investigated the homes and whether mixed-race Irish children were less likely to be adopted from them. Their report will be published soon. Some mixed-race people, like Marguerite, were adopted.
Marguerite only has her natural father’s country of origin - Zambia. She has no name or surname. But she’s still hopeful she might be able to trace him.
Conrad, Jude and Marguerite hope the Irish government will acknowledge the specific experiences of mixed-race Irish people in the homes and provide funding for researchers to help them and others trace their origins. Read more about them here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-55145873
A huge thanks to @conradbryan, @AssocMRI, @Magsimaloo + Jude Hughes for speaking to the BBC. Thanks also to @_k_westcott for editorial oversight and endless patience and to @paulkerley for production. @m_err + @photomcq took beautiful photos + @karlenepinnock gave useful insight.
