An 81-year-old Irish woman told of her joy after meeting her long lost mum for the first time since birth.
Eileen Macken grew up in Kirwan House orphanage on the North Circular Road in Dublin and began searching for her mum, aged 19.
Last year she desperately appealed for help for a happy ending to the heartbreaking 60-year search for her mum.
With the help of a genealogist who heard the appeal, Eileen remarkably discovered that her 103-year-old mum, Elizabeth, was still alive and living in Scotland.
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Speaking to RTÉ Radio 1’s Liveline yesterday, Eileen, said: “I’ll be 82 in August, and I’ve never known my mum, I’ve never seen my mum, I’ve had no information whatsoever.
“Last August I got a call from the genealogist that he had found my mum, that she was alive at 103.”
Despite some reservations about the impact a meeting might have on her elderly mother, Eileen says when she found out her mum was alive, nothing would stop her from seeking reunification.
She said: “My own family, which I can understand, worried about me going without getting an invitation from the family.
“It went on for so long that I just thought that I’ll take the bull by the horns. I went over on April 11 and I knocked on the door.”
Now living in Kildare, Eileen made the trip to Elizabeth’s home in Scotland with her husband George, her daughter Hazel and her son-in-law.
Ms Macken knocked on her mum’s door and was greeted by one of her two half brothers.
She said: “A gentleman opened the door, and I told him I was from Ireland, that I had found my mum here, and could we come in to see her. And he said ‘certainly’.
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“We came in and Joe, honestly, I haven’t got over the acceptance that I got. I was thinking look this is terrible what am I going to do, but they accepted me and I had a great chat with my mother.
“I went to see her, and Joe she is the most beautiful lady, a lovely family, they gave me a great welcome.
“She was reading the newspaper and when she saw me, I said we were from Ireland and she said ‘I was born in Ireland’.
“Now, I know she’s my mum, and I did say it to her ‘You know I’m your daughter’.
“And she just looked up at me and she took my hand, and we had a great chat and she never kind of accepted it, I think it’s nearly gone past her.
“But there was such a bond between the two of us, it was fantastic. Such a kind lady.
“She was thrilled and she never let go of my hand.
“I said to my children ‘All my life, I love this lady that I don’t know who she is’.”
After staying in Scotland for three days Eileen says it was hard to go home but says she had to respect her mother’s age and health.
She said: “It was hard because she wouldn’t let me go. I was afraid to stay too long with her because she’s elderly and I had to respect that.
“My mother said to me ‘Oh I’d love to make you some tea, but I don’t think I’ll be able to.’
“And I told her don’t worry at all about it. I don’t want tea I just want to chat to you’.”
Thanking Joe Duffy and the genealogist who helped to track Elizabeth down, Eileen revealed she has never been happier, she said: “I’m such a happy lady now.
“I don’t think I’ll ever come down out of the clouds.”
Ms Macken joked that she has been so overjoyed since coming home from the visit that she has struggled to concentrate on doing any house work since.
Her mother Elizabeth will celebrate her 104th birthday this weekend.
