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The Baby Snatchers: A mother's shocking true story from inside one of Ireland's notorious Mother and Baby Homes
The Sunday Times and Irish Times bestseller, as featured in the Sunday Independent'You're all fallen women. You've sowed the seed of Satan. You are nothing.'Mary Creighton was just 15 when she found herself pregnant out of wedlock, in 1960s Ireland. She dreamed of a happy life with her child, but that was shattered when she was sent away to Castlepollard - a home for mothers and their unborn babies.Stripped of their clothes and forced into gruelling work whilst pregnant, those who survived childbirth were made to force-feed their children for adoption into wealthy families. Babies were ripped out of their mother's hands, but Mary refused to let that happen to her. She managed to escape only to later lose her beautiful daughter to social services and the Sacred Heart nuns, who always managed to catch up with her. After spending time in an infamous Magdalene Laundry, and having another two children snatched away, Mary sought to find her lost children, and demand answers for the atrocities committed supposedly in God's name.This is a haunting account of a mother's worst nightmare, as Mary continues to fight for justice for the mothers who suffered and the babies of hundreds of which died and are still buried in the grounds today.
268 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 28, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
December 30, 2017
good read, although Mary made a lot of bad choices, she didn't deserve what happened. the nuns should of ended up in prison. evil hiding behind religion!!!
February 2, 2020
I expected to be more moved than I was. Sorry, but my sympathies went only so far when she kept getting pregnant repeatedly.
January 6, 2018
I read this book over a couple of days. It is quite well written but it's not gripping.
There's quite a lot of detail given about her situation and various institutions.
Especially in the last third of the book I found it difficult to continue to have sympathy for her case.
Having said that this book is better written than many dealing with a similar theme.
There's quite a lot of detail given about her situation and various institutions.
Especially in the last third of the book I found it difficult to continue to have sympathy for her case.
Having said that this book is better written than many dealing with a similar theme.
July 5, 2018
what a fantastic book. this is a subject close to my heart. i cried so much for what those women went through some merely children. the nuns and Catholic church were evil hateful shits. awesome book
February 22, 2019
Oh my hat - this is a hard-hitting book of facts and events that need to be exposed.
Mary Creighton is the oldest daughter in a family of 10 children. They are a poor, rural family in Ireland - father a carpenter and mother a stay-at-home mum. Her father left the family to go work in America. In the 1960's there was no Social Security in Ireland, so the older children needed to work to earn extra money to feed them all. Mary had to leave school at the age of 13 to work at a full-time job - 6 and a half days, 12 hours per day each week, so she ended up having to take on a live-in position as a nanny.
Her mother was a hard, nasty woman and there was no love lost there.
At age 15 Mary fell pregnant and was banished to Castlepollard, a 'home' for unmarried pregnant girls where the mother had to remain until her child had been adopted. While there, Mary heard that her whole family had gone to live in America, leaving on her own in Ireland.
After giving birth to a daughter, she tried to escape to get help from outside to save her child from being taken from her. However, this effort failed and she had to return to Castlepollard.
One cannot believe how callous, cruel, inhumane and barbaric the nuns were. That they made the little babies suffer too is just plain mind-blowing. One can only question WHY and why were the tots not given the clothes and toys that were found hidden in secret rooms???
Apparently the children were not adopted per se, but SOLD to mostly people in America. The church/religion sanctioned this????
A Mr and Mrs Campbell, kindest and most caring people with 6 children of their own, did good by Mary.
Once out of Castlepollard, Mary's behaviour proved how institutionalised (blindly following orders from others) and naive she really was. This led her into a life of horror of which each episode she recounts. Jilted by boyfriend, deserted by family, being a sex-slave, suffering abuse and a deep distrust of the police, it is no wonder that she suffered with deep depression and alcohol abuse at just 20 years of age.
Her 6th pregnancy was the only one where the father was there for her with the birth, but this relationship also floundered.
In summary , she had 3 children taken from her, 1 baby 'lost', she spent time in mother-and-baby units, Magdalene Laundry, and a mental home. Married in 1980, divorced 12 years later.
The book ends with a shocking revelation that occurred in 1993 when the Laundry was to be sold.
In 2017, 14 mother-and-baby homes (run by nuns - 1922 to 1998) were being investigated. Figures quoted are chilling. This truly is Ireland's Shame.
Through Facebook, Mary has been able to make contact with some of the children that were taken from their mothers. Some happy endings.
Mary was always pretty feisty and at age 51 she was able to "to take the bull by the horns" and in a telephone call, told the most offending nun to F.... off!!
Mary Creighton is the oldest daughter in a family of 10 children. They are a poor, rural family in Ireland - father a carpenter and mother a stay-at-home mum. Her father left the family to go work in America. In the 1960's there was no Social Security in Ireland, so the older children needed to work to earn extra money to feed them all. Mary had to leave school at the age of 13 to work at a full-time job - 6 and a half days, 12 hours per day each week, so she ended up having to take on a live-in position as a nanny.
Her mother was a hard, nasty woman and there was no love lost there.
At age 15 Mary fell pregnant and was banished to Castlepollard, a 'home' for unmarried pregnant girls where the mother had to remain until her child had been adopted. While there, Mary heard that her whole family had gone to live in America, leaving on her own in Ireland.
After giving birth to a daughter, she tried to escape to get help from outside to save her child from being taken from her. However, this effort failed and she had to return to Castlepollard.
One cannot believe how callous, cruel, inhumane and barbaric the nuns were. That they made the little babies suffer too is just plain mind-blowing. One can only question WHY and why were the tots not given the clothes and toys that were found hidden in secret rooms???
Apparently the children were not adopted per se, but SOLD to mostly people in America. The church/religion sanctioned this????
A Mr and Mrs Campbell, kindest and most caring people with 6 children of their own, did good by Mary.
Once out of Castlepollard, Mary's behaviour proved how institutionalised (blindly following orders from others) and naive she really was. This led her into a life of horror of which each episode she recounts. Jilted by boyfriend, deserted by family, being a sex-slave, suffering abuse and a deep distrust of the police, it is no wonder that she suffered with deep depression and alcohol abuse at just 20 years of age.
Her 6th pregnancy was the only one where the father was there for her with the birth, but this relationship also floundered.
In summary , she had 3 children taken from her, 1 baby 'lost', she spent time in mother-and-baby units, Magdalene Laundry, and a mental home. Married in 1980, divorced 12 years later.
The book ends with a shocking revelation that occurred in 1993 when the Laundry was to be sold.
In 2017, 14 mother-and-baby homes (run by nuns - 1922 to 1998) were being investigated. Figures quoted are chilling. This truly is Ireland's Shame.
Through Facebook, Mary has been able to make contact with some of the children that were taken from their mothers. Some happy endings.
Mary was always pretty feisty and at age 51 she was able to "to take the bull by the horns" and in a telephone call, told the most offending nun to F.... off!!
March 25, 2018
Monsters
Marys story broke my heart, how can nun's hurt babies and pregnant women and say its God's work, they're fiends
Marys story broke my heart, how can nun's hurt babies and pregnant women and say its God's work, they're fiends
March 5, 2018
Read in 3 days. Harrowing true story. Well written, Mary is such a remarkable strong lady
August 14, 2020
Another small review as I don't know when I will revisit this to even finish it.This is becoming quite a habit sadly at the minute.
This is nothing to do with it's contents,as it's a very important piece of history).I can only review what I read which was a few chapters.
The Baby Snatchers is the memoir of Mary Creighton,a loveable young girl that had incredible hardships surrounding her cold mother even more so after an accident that left her walking with a limp which was just as accepting as pregnant women out of wedlock which takes us to this memoir.A memoir that many women from the 19950-60's can sadly be pained by.
This is what grabbed my interest,this is what needed to be heard and yet I sadly didn't hear it or even able to delve into it deeper,possibly because I didn't get to that part which was the main focus for me but because the writing didn't strike me as someone who had fight,who had strength and a voice greater than this book.It didn't read as it should of to me.I may always have high expectations regarding historic/period reads as I feel them to ever be so important therefore I expected a trance of history,hurt,hope and a fight however I got more of a diary that didn't leap into a woman's heart and mind,that only a woman could understand enough to capture the essence of what it must of been like to have no choice but not to keep your baby because of a martial status.
I was hoping to delve into the infamous Magdalene Laundry in which Mary spent some time in there but sadly I just couldn't get along with the structure of the read,which I very much understand may be a great shame regarding the history.
We as women have so much strength to be thankful for,to be free to love who we wish out of wedlock even more so,to be single and safe within our bodies, to choose whatever form of protection/contraception that we wish,we have more freedom than we think compared.
🌹
This is nothing to do with it's contents,as it's a very important piece of history).I can only review what I read which was a few chapters.
The Baby Snatchers is the memoir of Mary Creighton,a loveable young girl that had incredible hardships surrounding her cold mother even more so after an accident that left her walking with a limp which was just as accepting as pregnant women out of wedlock which takes us to this memoir.A memoir that many women from the 19950-60's can sadly be pained by.
This is what grabbed my interest,this is what needed to be heard and yet I sadly didn't hear it or even able to delve into it deeper,possibly because I didn't get to that part which was the main focus for me but because the writing didn't strike me as someone who had fight,who had strength and a voice greater than this book.It didn't read as it should of to me.I may always have high expectations regarding historic/period reads as I feel them to ever be so important therefore I expected a trance of history,hurt,hope and a fight however I got more of a diary that didn't leap into a woman's heart and mind,that only a woman could understand enough to capture the essence of what it must of been like to have no choice but not to keep your baby because of a martial status.
I was hoping to delve into the infamous Magdalene Laundry in which Mary spent some time in there but sadly I just couldn't get along with the structure of the read,which I very much understand may be a great shame regarding the history.
We as women have so much strength to be thankful for,to be free to love who we wish out of wedlock even more so,to be single and safe within our bodies, to choose whatever form of protection/contraception that we wish,we have more freedom than we think compared.
🌹
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 6, 2018
I loved this book, finished it today, couldn't put it down. Mary had such a difficult upbringing and I really felt for her when she was a child and during her first pregnancy. Her family should be ashamed of themselves and Mary was a fool for ever helping her mother after what she did. She wasn't fit to be called a mother. The nuns were evil yes but her mother was too. The Campbells were by far the kindest most selfless people who as a foster carer I find inspiring and admire them for how they helped Mary. Mary made a mistake leaving that family the first time round and continued to make bad choices from there on in, I found it hard to have sympathy after these choices. As an adult Mary was supposed to step up to taking responsibility for her own direction and fate, I feel she didn't do this very well in life until much later on, too late for some of her own children. Still angry that she helped her mother! That woman failed you Mary, much more than the nuns or social workers or men in your life, she was supposed to protect you and care for you not hand you over to evil people willingly. As an adult she was still supposed to be guiding you, watching over you but she wasn't, she simply wasn't interested in the slightest.
January 22, 2018
Oh wow this story is of such woe and tragedy, I really felt for Mary, her early life seemed to go from one tragic incident to another, craving love from a mother who did not reciprocate the feeling, she fought and overcame each hurdle that life had to throw at her and boy what a lot of hurdles. Many would have given up but not Mary the nuns, mother and baby units and Magdalene laundries of Ireland have/had a lot to answer for, I’ve read several books around these topics and I have to say the women were treat appallingly and Mary was one of these women or should I say when it all started a young girl.
July 3, 2020
Very moving story. I have read a lot of books about young women who have been in the same situation as Mary & imprisoned in the Magdalene Laundries & even though she managed to get out of the laundry she never had it easy but I believe that despite everything the nuns took from her she never lost her strength of character & strong sense of mind & she didn’t let what happened to her & her babies break her spirit & I really admire that about her. Best of luck in the future Mary & I hope that you are now having the happy life you deserve
January 22, 2018
Not dissimilar to other autobiographical tales of woe but illuminating. Having watched the film ‘The Magdalene Sisters’ I read that conditions inside those laundries and similar units were a lot worse.
I think the writer made some poor choices in her life but the influence of the Catholic Church has a lot to answer for.
I think the writer made some poor choices in her life but the influence of the Catholic Church has a lot to answer for.
January 12, 2023
Shocking!!!
All through this book I kept thinking there must have been a better name for this story. I now know why , I could not put this one down. This story will haunt me for a very long time. I will continue to pray for all those mothers and babies who went through this horrific experience at the hands of the Catholic nuns and priests.🙏
All through this book I kept thinking there must have been a better name for this story. I now know why , I could not put this one down. This story will haunt me for a very long time. I will continue to pray for all those mothers and babies who went through this horrific experience at the hands of the Catholic nuns and priests.🙏
August 17, 2018
This is a true story of a young girl who gets pregnant out of wed lock in 1960’s Ireland and is put in a mothers and baby’s home. Run by the Catholic Church who go on to sell the unwed mothers babies. A sad story to read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 23, 2024
🎧4⭐️
I had the audiobook read by Aoife McMahon who was my reason for choosing this book.
This is a true story depicting the horror of the notorious mother and baby homes in Ireland in the 1960’s. I don’t usually read non fiction but I am both fascinated and horrified by the mother and baby homes scandal in Ireland.
It is heartbreaking what the young women endured at the hands of the nuns in those homes, it is soul destroying that families turned their backs on some of these girls as they were more concerned about what the church and their neighbours thought about them than caring and supporting their daughters. But the influence of the church shouldn’t be underestimated, the girls would have been traumatised for life. Unfortunately the grooming of vulnerable children especially living in areas of poverty or council run children’s homes is still very much an ongoing problem.
Without doubt it’s a powerful story. I was shocked just how recently these homes continued to function in.
I had the audiobook read by Aoife McMahon who was my reason for choosing this book.
This is a true story depicting the horror of the notorious mother and baby homes in Ireland in the 1960’s. I don’t usually read non fiction but I am both fascinated and horrified by the mother and baby homes scandal in Ireland.
It is heartbreaking what the young women endured at the hands of the nuns in those homes, it is soul destroying that families turned their backs on some of these girls as they were more concerned about what the church and their neighbours thought about them than caring and supporting their daughters. But the influence of the church shouldn’t be underestimated, the girls would have been traumatised for life. Unfortunately the grooming of vulnerable children especially living in areas of poverty or council run children’s homes is still very much an ongoing problem.
Without doubt it’s a powerful story. I was shocked just how recently these homes continued to function in.
May 24, 2019
Mary, Mary, dear Mary
Sometimes while reading this book I had to just stop and shake my head at some of the life choices Mary made over the years. The unfortunate marriages, the continual pregnancies, but then I would remind myself of what happened to her as a young child and the torture and her losses. That made me much more sympathetic to her plight and I have no right to judge. She was a victim most of her life and her choices were clearly a result of the traumas she lived through. I am glad she got to raise two of her girls and like so many others, I am shocked and appalled at how she was treated over and over again especially by the nuns, the so called "brides of Christ". I hope they one day suffer for their egregious sins.
Sometimes while reading this book I had to just stop and shake my head at some of the life choices Mary made over the years. The unfortunate marriages, the continual pregnancies, but then I would remind myself of what happened to her as a young child and the torture and her losses. That made me much more sympathetic to her plight and I have no right to judge. She was a victim most of her life and her choices were clearly a result of the traumas she lived through. I am glad she got to raise two of her girls and like so many others, I am shocked and appalled at how she was treated over and over again especially by the nuns, the so called "brides of Christ". I hope they one day suffer for their egregious sins.
August 11, 2021
Last month I viewed the Japanese movie The Life of Oharu. The film tells of a woman who's life goes to hell after she is disgraced for loving a man of lower class. This book reminded me so much of that movie because for the book's author Mary Creighton just like Oharu nothing gets better as things go on.
Being a mother out of wedlock Mary is treated no better than a criminal by the Irish nuns and is placed in institutions that are prisons by another name. This book was very hard to read whenever there seem to be sunshine the rain came out.
I heavily advised discretion before cracking this one open.
Being a mother out of wedlock Mary is treated no better than a criminal by the Irish nuns and is placed in institutions that are prisons by another name. This book was very hard to read whenever there seem to be sunshine the rain came out.
I heavily advised discretion before cracking this one open.
January 28, 2024
A horrowing story of one woman’s history in side the mother and baby home and Magdalene laundries within Ireland . Mary made mistakes but there is no doubt it comes from the lack of foundation in her own life as a young child abandoned by her family and at the mercy of the nuns and Catholic Church in Ireland. The story is a disturbing read of the pain and suffering that she went through and shows the trauma cycle and how hard it can be to break this but Mary did and was able to find her peace although I don’t think there is peace for the women of Ireland who suffered these atrocities at the hand of those who were deemed to be doing the work of god
May 28, 2025
This book was amazing to read especially as it is a true story told by the author herself. It highlights the horrors that the unmarried young pregnant mums went through in Ireland. How they were made to drudge all day without pay then give birth in a inhumane way and then eventually have the babies taken away. This book tells how Mary went on a spiral downward slide being let down by so many people even her own mother! However after all the evil … good things do happen and I am glad to read she got her life back on track. A good harrowing read x
July 1, 2018
oh wow! The oppression of Irish women comes across so very well here. A tragic story, but also one of hope, courage and such strength. Thank you dear writer for your honesty and ensuring this story is told. Change and accountability is still needed in Ireland! A tender heartbreaking read but to anyone who has grown up in Ireland's oppressive society, it's a must read. Wishing you much peace and happiness Mary Creighton. WELL DONE!!!
January 10, 2023
Fascinating story!
The author has written a vivid and brutal account of her life in Ireland ! She has told her innermost thoughts, secrets and revelations that are heart wrenching. Thank you Mary Creighton for sharing your life story. I truly appreciate your pain and sorrow. Your story is riveting and one that needs to be told and repeated. Thank you again for sharing your life experiences. You are truly an amazing woman of resilience and strength!
The author has written a vivid and brutal account of her life in Ireland ! She has told her innermost thoughts, secrets and revelations that are heart wrenching. Thank you Mary Creighton for sharing your life story. I truly appreciate your pain and sorrow. Your story is riveting and one that needs to be told and repeated. Thank you again for sharing your life experiences. You are truly an amazing woman of resilience and strength!
August 13, 2020
OK, so I guess I had too much spare time this week... I must admit that I quite enjoyed the story, considering what it's about. I did feel like Mary was a a little too trusting which seemed to be her downfall. I've read a few books about the times in the country, and I still get angry. It just goes to show how, thank God, times have changed...
March 13, 2021
What a sad harrowing story poor Mary has told and her horrific treatment at the hands of those evil so called holy people not the first book of its kind I’ve read but each story is so different you can’t help being shocked as you read I finished the entire book in two sittings in the one day what a brave woman Mary was then and still Is
Read
June 9, 2022Interesting story. I'm conflicted in my feelings towards Mary. It's abhorrent the way the babies were taken and the disgusting nature of the nuns. On the other hand Mary made mistake after mistake and it made me very annoyed at her lack of accountability. But again I'm from a privileged middle class family so perhaps ignorant to the cycle. Anyhow an interesting read would recommend.
July 21, 2024
Few so evil as those who come guised as servants of god. They’ll all burn in hell for their atrocities.
Sadly Mary’s story isn’t new, it’s definitely not rare, and it’s heartbreaking every time we hear it and in every variation. I’m sorry for all your troubles Mary I’m glad you’ve began to find peace ❤️
Sadly Mary’s story isn’t new, it’s definitely not rare, and it’s heartbreaking every time we hear it and in every variation. I’m sorry for all your troubles Mary I’m glad you’ve began to find peace ❤️
December 19, 2019
Wow! What Mary and the countless other women and children had to endure during what should have been the most precious time in a woman life is just unreal. Thank you to Mary for sharing her story. Truly remarkable.
June 1, 2021
Intriguing true story about a pregnant teen and what she goes through at Mother and Baby homes in Ireland. Story starts around 1960 and continues to modern day. Author went through a lot in her life, but she managed to cope and survive. Good read.
July 18, 2018
Interesting read. However, I did begin to just get annoyed by the story. It is awful what happens but at times I felt like she brought it on herself.
August 27, 2018
A fascinating read
A great eye opener. It always shocks me how life was and how these poor women were treated in Ireland, post World War Two.
A great eye opener. It always shocks me how life was and how these poor women were treated in Ireland, post World War Two.
January 28, 2019
Fascinating story and defiantly a page turner.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews