Tracing - a Guide for the Irish-born Person Adopted to the US

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Tracing — a Guide for the Irish-born Person Adopted to the US

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The primary goal of AdoptionIreland: the Adopted Peoples Association is to seek legislative change to the benefit of adopted people and their natural families. APA believes that the Government has an obligation to provide adequate post adoption services. Until legislation is passed to provide these services we would like to offer the following advice, guidelines and services to assist individuals wishing to reunite with the (now adult) child/children that were placed for adoption.

Introduction

As a direct result of enquiries made to the APA from adopted people, details emerged of what appears to have been a large-scale practice that existed in adoption in Ireland. The practice involved Irish single expectant mothers relinquishing their children to American adoptive couples, beginning as early as the mid-1940's. These adoptions were legalised by the Irish Adoption Board, although many (especially pre-1952), were illegal. If you were sent to the US for adoption prior to 1952, please see the link at left for 'DeFacto/Illegal Adoptions'.

What You Can Do

First the you must insist upon the US ("back-end") adoption agency involved, generally a US Catholic Charities branch/service, confirming in writing, that you were adopted to the US from Ireland, and what Irish placing adoption agency was involved. If you cannot get this information, write to the Irish Minister of Foreign Affairs and request verification and proof that you were a) born in Ireland, b) legally adopted from Ireland and c) that your mother signed formal relinquishment (and when).

To obtain a formal copy of your original Irish birth certificate, and you have your original name and surname, you may file a US Freedom of Information Act request (FOIA) to receive certified copies of your Irish passport/visa information, original birth certificate, and other details pertaining to your immigration from Ireland from US Citizenship and Information Services (CIS). Visit USCIS website to download a PDF FOIA form. If you cannot access the site or the form from the web, please e-mail us.

If you do not know your original name/surname, please contact us for additional assistance.

Important

When you have the name and current address of your Irish placing agency, send them a letter (registered post) requesting your non-identifying information. There is a list of questions below to help you to write your request. We advise that you do not provide a contact phone number as the agency may phone at an inappropriate time and also it would be more beneficial for you if you got this information in writing as it will aid your search. We advise that you keep copies of all details in a safe place and make a note of your social worker's name and the times at which he/she would be available to you.

The information you should try and obtain from the agency is:

What your original First/Christian name(s) were?
Where exactly were you born?
What age your natural mother was at the time of your birth?
What if, any hereditary medical conditions are there in her family?
Where she came from, rural or urban, the county, the country?
What her parents' occupations were i.e. farmers, doctors, etc.?
Did she place any other children for adoption?
How many brothers and sisters did she have?
What type of work was she doing?
Was her family aware of your placement?
Her last known contact with the agency and her intentions?
Do they have any knowledge as to her current status i.e. health, married, widowed, deceased?
What, if any, details they have relating to your natural father? -Name, age and occupation?
If she left any message/letter on file for you?
Have any of your natural family members made any enquiries/ been in contact at any time?
Her hobbies/interests?
What level of education she went to in school?
Did she give consent to the adoption? And was she offered any alternative options?
Has the agency had any contact with her or any other natural family member since your placement?
Were your adoptive parents given any medical history/information about your origins?
Would they know where/what church you were baptised in?
What weight you were at birth? And what time you were born?
Was you natural mother single, married or widowed when you were born?

Please note: We advise that you obtain any information given from an agency in writing and that all information provided by an agency must be checked thoroughly.

If you discover that your adoption was illegal, please see our tracing guide for defacto/illegal adoptions or contact us at info@adoptionireland.com

If You Need To Obtain Your Birth Certificate

If you are living in the US and are able to come to Ireland to do your trace, please make sure you have read this guide thoroughly and have joined our online support and advice group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/adoption-ireland before you travel. If you are genuinely unable to come to Ireland to trace, join our Yahoo group and ask for help from a Search Angel. Please note that there are very few Search Angels and they are all volunteers, so please be patient.

If you are coming to Ireland to trace, here's what you need to do. This may seem like a very daunting and nerve-wracking task, but remember you are doing nothing illegal. Numerous adopted people have successfully traced and reunited using this guide. The General Registrar's Office for Births Deaths and Marriages (GRO, also known as Joyce House) is the place to start (see attached list of contact numbers and addresses). Be sure to bring this guide with you when you go to Joyce House. What you need to obtain is a copy of your birth certificate, if you do not already have it, which is a public record, like any other, recorded in the Register of Live Births and which is open to inspection by the general public. This should say where you where born, your original name and your natural mother's name.

Do not even consider going to Joyce House without a reasonable amount of spare cash — we suggest €45.00, but you may only need €10.00. There is a research room located on the first floor, which is open to the public Mon.-Fri. 9.30 am-4.30 p.m. In order to see the books you must fill out a year search form. Do not hesitate to ask the staff for help. They are very helpful, but please be patient as they are understaffed. It costs €1.90 to search a particular year, €15.24 for a general search. Take your time looking through the books and make sure to have some pens and a notepad with you.

The format of these books changed in January 1966 so we shall explain both formats.

PRE JAN 1966:

Births at this time were registered every three months; the books are separated into four quarters, March, June, September and December. There are no dates of birth shown in the books.

EXAMPLE:

SURNAME CHILD'S NAME MOTHER'S MAIDEN NAME AREA OF REG. DATE OF BIRTH VOL PAGE

BROWN KENNETH SMITH DUBLIN N 2 346

BLOGGS JOSEPH BLOGGS DUBLIN N 2 568

BROWN FEMALE CARTER ROSCREA 4 361

* Adopting parents may have changed Child's name.

FROM JAN. 1966

Some people feel it's easier to trace after Jan 1966, some consider it harder. Births from Jan. 1966 are registered in block for the whole year, but do have dates of birth.

EXAMPLE:

SURNAME CHILD'S NAME MOTHER'S MAIDEN NAME AREA OF REG. DATE OF BIRTH VOL PAGE QTR

BROWN KENNETH SMITH DUBLIN N 4-5-66 2 346 2

BLOGGS JOSEPH BLOGGS DUBLIN N 1-12-66 2 568 4

BROWN FEMALE CARTER ROSCREA 28-3-66 4 361 2

BROWN LUKE JONES DELVIN 1-9-66 3 421 3

You will have to look through three or four books but at least you have a date of birth to go on. Again if you do find your own date of birth, check the surname and mother's maiden name for a match. If they do match, it could be the right one but keep going and check all the books! It is not impossible (and has occurred) for two babies of the same name were born in the same place on the same day so it's important to keep going, hard as it is to do. Once you're done, hopefully you will have your birth cert.

We know it's hard not to race at this point but remember you are now in control and there is no rush. The use of this information must be responsible — take your time.

Please Note: At the moment, you will only be able to obtain five photocopies per day, so if it is possible to bring someone with you, you'll be able to get ten. Anything over this amount is posted out to you.

Also Please Note: Don't throw away extra photocopies and notes away; they might be useful to someone else.

Obtaining Your Natural Mother's Birth Certificate

Your next step is to try to get a copy of your natural mother's birth cert. Having her name makes this a much easier task. Have a look at your birth cert. On some birth certs there can be an address for the natural mother, though it might only be the address of where she worked. Your agency may have told you what part of the country she came from. You may also have been told her age. Information like this is helpful in trying to locate your natural mother's birth cert.

When searching the books, it is advisable to not just look in one year but check the two years either side as well. It may be advisable to request your agency or the Adoption Authority to confirm that your mother's name is correct. Use registered post. For example, you were born in 1963 and you have been told your natural mother was about 19 years old at the time, it then follows that your natural mother must have been born around 1944. (1963 - 19 = 1944) Also check 1942, 43, 44, 45, 46.

Note: If you cannot find a birth cert for your natural mother, don't worry it is possible that she may have been born in the UK, it is also possible (particularly if she is quite old) that her birth wasn't registered. If you cannot find her birth cert please contact our helpline at 01-6790011 or mail us at info@adoptionireland.com for advice on your particular case.

What to Do Next

Check If She Is Married
First you will need to check whether your natural mother married or not. You can do this in the General Registrar's office also. Marriages are registered in both the maiden and married names, so you should ask for marriages in your natural mother's maiden name from your year of birth onwards. Marriage certificates contain the bride and groom's dates of birth so you should be able to confirm which one is correct without much difficulty.

Check For Children From The Marriage
If you find that she has married, your next step is to establish whether there were any children born to your natural mother from that marriage. This isn't difficult to do and can be completed easily using the method below.

Say for example your natural mother's maiden name was Smith and her married name was Brown. You are looking for children born with that combination of surnames — e.g. Brown/Murphy will not be a match. This is a useful part of the search because the younger the child is, the more recent the address will be.

Advice and mailing list

Before you go any further please seek advice from AdoptionIreland!
As so many different possibilities can arise at this stage in a trace it is impossible to explain where to go from here.

If you have access to the internet, if you haven't done so already, join our online support group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/adoption-ireland
If you do not have Internet access, please phone our helpline on 01-6790011, where a member of staff will advise you further.
AdoptionIreland holds meetings occasionally as a useful source for help and advice. We are also hoping to run Tracing Workshops in the future.

Remember patience and perseverance will get you there (eventually). If you would like to be notified by post or e-mail of future meetings and events for adopted people, please write to us or e-mail us and ask to be included on our mailing list.

Additional Information And Some Points To Note

Check Your Research!
Please make sure you have thoroughly checked all books in Joyce House, even if you have a gut feeling that you have found the right cert. You do not want to contact the wrong family, so please be thorough!

If You Feel Your Agency Is Not Doing Enough For You
Make your views known to the Adoption Authority. If you are still not satisfied with that response, then please forward copies of your details and the nature of your complaint to AdoptionIreland and we will try to assist you. If all else fails, you can request the Adoption Authority to disclose the information to you. If they refuse, you are within your rights to make an application to the High Court for a Judicial Review of their decision to refuse. The costs involved ensure only the privileged few take this route.

Please Note Your Adoption Agency May Have Closed
If this is the case the files are normally transferred to the relevant Health Service Executive (previously known as the Health Boards). Unfortunately if this is the case, it will take longer as they regard this type of enquiry as low priority, but follow the same procedure. If in the event of the Adoption Authority not being able to inform you where your file is held, then contact the Minister responsible and request her/him to locate it. If this fails, demand an explanation in writing outlining the reasons why and contact AdoptionIreland who will do all in its power to assist you. Once again we advise that you register all post.

If You Are Not Sure About Anything Just Ask!
Remember, there are no "stupid questions" — please contact our helpline at 01-6790011 or mail us at info@adoptionireland.com if there is anything you are unsure of.

National Adoption Contact Preference Register
The Irish Adoption Authority launched the National Adoption Contact Preference Register (NACPR), in April 2005. This involved a leaflet drop to every household in Ireland inviting adopted people and natural parents and family members to register. If you have not yet received a Registration Form, or if you live outside Ireland contact the Adoption Authority at www.adoptionboard.ie or Shelbourne House, Shelbourne Road, Dublin 4, Tel. 01-2309300

Please visit the AdoptionIreland website or ask to be included on our mailing list for updates on adoption matters and public meetings in Ireland. AdoptionIreland wishes you the very best of luck and we hope you reach a successful outcome!

Useful Names and Addresses

AdoptionIreland: The Adopted People's Association: 14 Exchequer Street, Dublin 2. Helpline: 01-6790011 E-mail: info@adoptionireland.com

Adoption Loss (formerly NPNI): Adoption Loss (formerly the Natural Parents Network of Ireland) is a voluntary self-help organisation formed in 1996 by a group of women who had been parted from their children by adoption in the past. They provide help to natural families separated by adoption in four ways: Individual advice by email or letter; Monthly open meetings; Information to Media on adoption issues; Views to Government on adoption legislative reform. Postal address: PO Box 6714, Dublin 4; Email:secretary@adoptionloss.ie Telephone helpline: Sundays 2pm-4pm only 1890-200046 Or visit the Adoption Loss website at www.adoptionloss.ie

ACE (Adopted Citizens of Éire): Northeast US-based group promoting awareness of Irish adoption to the US. ACE is a NY-registered non-profit organisation. Contact: ACE, P.O. Box 628 Islip, N.Y. 11751-0628.

Adoptive Parent's Association of Ireland: Representative association for adoptive parents. Secretary: Helen Gilmartin, APAI, Glendalough Post Office, Co. Wicklow Tel 0404 45184, Fax 0404 45700, e-mail: apai@tinet.ie Public Relations Officer: Helen Scott, APAI, 40 Fairyhouse Lodge, Fairyhouse, Ratoath, Co. Meath Tel 01 8252043.

AFPAI (Adopted and Fostered Person's Association of Ireland): Bernadette Joyce 23 Portmarnock Crescent Portmarnock Co. Dublin. Tracing and information for people who were in long-term foster care and/or raised in institutions.

Barnardos: Adoption Advice Service, Tuesday 2-5pm and Thursday 10-2pm.Christchurch Square, Dublin 8 Tel. 01-4546388. Website: www.barnardos.ie

Births, Marriages and Deaths, (General Registrar's Office): Dublin Office: Joyce House, Lombard St., Dublin 2. Tel: 01-6711968. Roscommon Office: General Register Office, Government Offices, Convent Road, Roscommon. Tel: 090 6632900 LoCall: 1890 252076 Fax: 090 6632999 or www.groireland.ie

Birth Parents of Adopted Children (Cork): "We are a support group based in Cork for birth parents of adopted children. We meet quarterly for support and provide a telephone support service. If anyone is interested in further details, you can email bpacsg@eircom.net"

Justice for Magdalenes: Former members of the Magdalene Memorial Committee have joined with a group of Magdalene Laundry survivors to form a new group to campaign for justice for women who were incarcerated in Magdalene Laundries. Contact: Claire McGettrick, PRO, Justice for Magdalenes at Crocknahattina, Bailieborough, Co. Cavan. Web site: www.magdalenelaundries.com E-mail: info@magdalenelaundries.com; Telephone: +353 (0)87 9526345.

Know My Own: Know My Own is a Cork-based support group for adopted people, allied to AdoptionIreland. Monthly meetings are held in the Ardmanning Inn, Togher. Please see the AdoptionIreland Mailing List for further details (details of meetings are posted there) or e-mail knowmyown@gmail.com

Mathair Áil: Mathair Áil is a group of Irish mothers who lost one or more children to adoption. They run monthly support meetings, have an internet based support group and a helpline number at 087 645 1494 which is available to callers on Sundays from 2pm to 4pm and on Thursdays from 7pm to 9pm. Access to information and support is provided on the Mathair Áil website www.mathairail.org

The National Archives, Bishop Street, Dublin 2, Tel.01 4783711

Treoir: The Federation of Services for Unmarried Parents and their Children, Information Centre, 36 Upper Rathmines Road, Dublin 6 Telephone & Fax 01-4964155.

Adoption Agencies and Relevant Authorities

The Adoption Authority: Shelbourne House, Shelbourne Rd, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4. Direct lines for Adoption Information and Tracing Unit: 01-2309327 / 01-2309328/ 01-2309325 Main Switchboard: 01-2309300 Duty Social Worker: 01-2309306 E-mail: adoptioninfo@health.irlgov.ie Website: www.adoptionboard.ie The Authority has details on all legal adoptions since 1953. Also has the records for St. Therese's Adoption Society, Whitefriar St., Dublin 8, & Catholic Women's Aid, Cork.

Irish Health Boards: For information on specific contact details for relevant Health Boards, visit the Oasis server hosted by the Irish government at www.oasis.gov.ie

St. Patrick's Guild: 203 Merrion Rd., Dublin 4. Tel. 2196551

Sacred Heart Adoption Society: Blackrock, Cork. Tel. 021-4357730.
Also has the records for Sacred Heart, Castlepollard, Co. Westmeath and Sean Ross Abbey, Roscrea, Co. Tipperary.

St. Louise's: 1st Floor, Park House, N.C.R. Dublin 7 Tel. 01-8387122.

Cunamh: 30 South Anne St. Dublin 2 Tel. 01-6779664.

R.G.A.S.: PLEASE NOTE, THE ROTUNDA GIRLS AID SOCIETY HAS NOW CLOSED DOWN, PLEASE CONTACT OUR HELPLINE AT 01-6790011 FOR FURTHER ADVICE.

P.A.C.T.: 15 Belgrave Rd. Rathmines, Dublin 6 Tel. 01-4975155.

St. Brigid's: 16 The Coombe, Dublin 8 Tel. 01-4542917.

St. Anne's, Cork: (This agency has now closed and all files and casework have transferred to the Southern Health Board).

Limerick Catholic: Unit 3, St. Camillus Hospital, Shelbourne Rd. Limerick Tel. 061-326677.

Challenge: Waterford Rd. Kilkenny. Tel. 056-21653.

St. Attracta's: St. Mary's Sligo. Tel. 071-43058.

St. Catherine's: Clarecare, Harmony Row, Ennis, Co. Clare Tel. 065-28178.

St. Kevin's: South Eastern Health Board, 32 the Mall, Waterford Tel. 051-78574.
Also has the records for St John's, Waterford and Challenge, Waterford.

St. Mary's: 20 Denny St. Tralee, Co. Kerry Tel. 066-22524.

CLANN: Merlin Park Hospital, Galway Tel. 091-751131 ext 311.
Also has the records for St Nicholas', Galway

St. Mura's: Pastoral Centre, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal Tel. 074-21653.

Catholic Charities US: Locate your local (placement) diocesan agency here

Angel Guardian Home (responsible for "back-ending" many Irish-US adoptions): 6301 12th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11219, Tel. 718-232-1500

Minister for Foreign Affairs, Department of Foreign Affairs, Iveagh House, St Stephen’s Green,Dublin 2, Tel. 011-1-353-1-4780822

U.S. Department of State: 2201 C Street NW, Washington, DC 20520, Tel. 202-647-4000

US Freedom of Information Act Requests: 9747 North Connant Ave., Kansas City, MO 64153, Fax: (816) 891-7639

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