Northern Ireland

Six decade search sees Dublin 81-year-old finally reunited with 104-year-old birth mother in Scotland

Eileen Macken said she never gave up hope during her 62-year hunt
Eileen Macken said she never gave up hope during her 62-year hunt Eileen Macken said she never gave up hope during her 62-year hunt

AFTER more than six decades searching, an 81-year-old `orphan' was finally reunited with her long-lost mother - who turns 104 today.

Eileen Macken, who grew up in a Bethany Home orphanage in Dublin, began looking for her mother when she was 19, eventually contacting RTÉ's Liveline to appeal for help last year.

She revealed that a genealogist had been in touch to say he had tracked her mother Elizabeth to Scotland and Mrs Macken travelled there last month with her husband, daughter and son-in-law.

"Once I heard that, nothing would stop me trying to get to see her," the mother-of-three told RTÉ's Joe Duffy.

"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'.

"We came in and Joe, honestly, I haven’t got over the acceptance that I got."

Elizabeth was reading the newspaper when she saw her.

"I said we were from Ireland and she said 'I was born in Ireland'. I said: 'You know I'm your daughter' and she just looked up at me and she took my hand.

"I think it's nearly gone past her, but there was such a bond between the two of us. It was fantastic... They accepted me and I had a great chat with my mother."

Mrs Macken said she never gave up hope during her 62-year hunt.

"I felt, how could I be one person on this planet and having nobody - I had to go and search," she said.

"We had three days of wonderful happiness that I've never ever had before."