Ancestry UK

Babies' Home, Fahan, Co. Donegal, Republic of Ireland

In 1939, 40 babies were evacuated from the Derry Nazareth House to an empty manor house overlooking Lough Swilly at Fahan in County Donegal. The property was subsequently purchase for permanent use as a babies home by the Sisters of Nazareth. When they were older, the Fahan children were transferred either to one of the Derry homes, the girls going to the Nazareth House and the boys the Termonbacca home.

A second house on the same estate was also later acquired for use as a holiday home for children from the Derry homes.

In more recent times, Fahan has been used as an old people's home.

Records

Note: many repositories impose a closure period of up to 100 years for records identifying individuals. Before travelling a long distance, always check that the records you want to consult will be available.

  • Sisters of Nazareth Archive, Sisters of Nazareth Archive, Nazareth House, 169-175 Hammersmith Road, London W6 8DB. The archivist is Christine Hughes. The archive contains material from the very beginnings of the order in the 1850s up until the present day. The archive is not open to the public and does not have facilities for personal searchers, although exceptions can be made for Sisters and for academic researchers. Enquiries are welcomed by post only for privacy and confidentiality reasons and replies are by also letter. There is no fee for dealing with enquiries, although donations to the Sisters are appreciated.

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