Sean Ross Abbey
| Sean Ross Abbey | |
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 Sean Ross Abbey
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| Coordinates: 52°57′18″N 7°47′49″W / 52.955°N 7.797°WCoordinates: 52°57′18″N 7°47′49″W / 52.955°N 7.797°W | |
| Country | Ireland |
| Province | Munster |
| County | County Tipperary |
| Irish Grid Reference | S132894 |
Sean Ross Abbey south of Roscrea in County Tipperary, Ireland is a convent and the location of St Anne's Special School run by the Sisters of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary. St Cronan is believed to have founded a monastery at this location in the 6th century.
A mother and baby home operated here from 1930 to 1970. Babies born in the home were put up for adoption, many of them in the United States. What records are available for Sean Ross adoptions are held by the HSE.
Martin Sixsmith's book, The Lost Child of Philomena Lee and the film Philomena based on it concern the adoption of Michael A. Hess, born Anthony Lee at Sean Ross Abbey in 1952.
The graves of an unknown number of mothers and babies are located in the unmarked area known as the Angels Plot.
The main building was built about 1750 as Corville House, a country house with two storeys over a basement. Although much extended and fitted with UPVC windows, the house is listed as being of special architectural and artistic interest. The gardener's house and walled garden are also mentioned in the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage. Within the grounds are the ruined Corville Abbey with its associated small grave yard, an ice house and a lime kiln. There are also several functional modern buildings associated with the school
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