An NUI Galway PhD researcher, who is undertaking an historical study of foster care in 20th century Ireland, is seeking interviewees for the project.
Jamie Canavan, who already holds BA and MA degrees and who grew up in Boston in the United States, is interested in meeting people who were fostered as children, parents who had a child fostered and foster carers (parents/guardians ).
“I am also seeking children who were in a household which fostered children, hired or boarded out, a philanthropist involved in foster care or a social work professional between approximately 1922 and 1987. Were you formally or informally placed ‘at nurse’ with your extended family, neighbours or official foster carers?”
Ms Canavan is keen to meet people from the above categories any time in the coming year for an oral history interview. A translator is available for those whose first or preferred language is Irish.
She says that women, children and marginalised people are often “muted” in physical historical records.
“Oral history interviews will allow for this study to hear the voices and stories of those directly involved in the Irish foster care system. Interviewees will receive detailed information on their role and rights as a participant before the interview takes place. Full or partial anonymity will be respected when requested.”
People interested in receiving further information or participating in the study should contact Jamie Canavan at [email protected] or telephone (083 ) 4828418.
