St Brigid’s Hospital, Ballinasloe, Co. Galway.

21/08/2026

Just looking at website and they have amazing things happening there. Books, a play, and history talks about the Asylum and prison. I'm writing about visiting Grangegorman and the amazing achievements the development team did with transforming this imposing asylum into a hive of creativity and activity.

Come and learn more about the Grangegorman Histories project and the new Beyond the Walls exhibition. You will also have an opportunity to browse our selection of books exploring Grangegorman’s past. One night for all, Friday, 18 September from 17:00-21:00.

13/08/2026

The has a big feature about St Joseph’s Industrial School. There’s a talk this Saturday in by
Abbie McGowan Librarian & Researcher

https://stjosephsindustrialschoolballinasloe.wordpress.com/podcast-2/
Contact
[email protected]
stjosephsindustrialschoolballinasloe.wordpress.com

Providing information on its history and those who spent time there

25/07/2026

Still plenty more to say!
Today was a decent step. Thank you to Irish Independent . Huge thanks to author and to Cllr Alan Harney and to everyone else who has messaged me or spoken to me in person.
To the boy from Cork, who is about my age now - I truly hope we get to sit down and chat soon.
Thanks to the HSE for commenting and taking on responsibility.
Thank you to N.I.Paranormal society who finally got me inside those walls.
And final words - the glorious Chippendale mirror which was vandalised beyond saving. €20,000 of damage done to it. Avoidable. Wasteful. I’m sure Ballinasloe could have used those funds.
If you have a story to share please get in touch. Sara (the full feature will be on my site www.saracolohan.com from tomorrow)

23/07/2026

Anyone with a subscription to the Irish Independent can open the link and read away.
For the rest of us - we can read it this weekend. I’ve chatted to author whose book is out now (her fictional St Brendan’s is loosely based on St Brigids) and councillor Cllr Alan Harney about St Brigid’s. I also get an exclusive update from HSE.
This weekend in the Irish Independent.

Michelle McDonagh draws on childhood visits and a lifelong ‘morbid fascination’ to fictionalise the former hospital’s history and its human cost in her new book

15/07/2026

Independent Galway has just posted this moving story. Just proving how important our recent history is - the good, the bad and the ugly. All important to document. Well done to all the contributors.

A survivor of the Tuam Mother and Baby Home has spoken of his pride at seeing his story shared, as a groundbreaking exhibition exploring the lasting legacy of Ireland’s institutional past opened in Galway on Wednesday.

Read the full story: https://tinyurl.com/vn3s54by

08/07/2026

I’m researching another feature on St Brigid’s and the informal kindness shown to children who passed through it — including a boy from a Cork orphanage who was cared for in the women’s ward as a child. If you or your family have memories of this, or you are that person, I’d love to hear from you in confidence.
Many thanks in advance
Sara Colohan [email protected]

Mental Hospitals in Ireland History of young child patients

03/07/2026

Writing about St Brigids and its future.

I’ll be in Ballinasloe this weekend - if anyone is available for a chat to reminisce, discuss what the future holds for St Brigids I’d love to meet or chat on the phone.
Just message me here - and we can swap numbers.
I’m particularly looking for elderly staff - who would be happy just to chat about the old days!

I know it was a difficult place for many, but I know it was a life line and a great place to work for many others.

Thanks for letting me know if anyone is free…

29/06/2026

I saw this on ’s Instagram
The threat of Brigids was so real.
I have heard of young children who were sent to St Brigids from Cork. I wonder if it was from the home Bessborough
Thinking of all the brave survivors around the world today.

28/06/2026

To in this little FB community
How lovely that we get acknowledged in this brand new book released by author


Thanks to everyone for sharing stories.

A special thanks to my amazing elderly nurse who told me incredible tales. RIP Margaret.

Thanks to the URBEX Team who scaled those walls. N.I.paranormal ❤️

Congratulations again to Michelle Mc Donagh, who spent many a summer holiday in Ballinasloe and even based her book’s fictional town on B’sloe!

Here’s a link to the book!

https://www.easons.com/if-these-walls-could-talk-michelle-mcdonagh-9781399737913?srsltid=AfmBOoob-22h4r8XpZhGQ_5g9FLeKvhz5h9ZGDnC5S7GR1UmgbxuAQSN

21/04/2026

What an unlikely source of information - the one and only Timmy Mallett. Ballinasloe Life Magazine offering some insight.