Just logging into here to say that to those who are following me, thank you — but you’re better off following me on my actual account which is: @danielloftus.projectinfant.ie — this account just serves as a digital repository for my tweets. 🙂

Psyching myself up to email all 556 candidates who are running in the #GeneralElection on November 29th, to see what representatives would support should they be elected to the Dáil, in terms of mother and baby home related issues. My email inbox will never know peace again...

Apocalypse… now?

Not sure I’ll be doing much Twitter-ing today given the day that’s in it. Doubt what I would be tweeting about would have much relevance to #Election2024 nor would it be seen by many. But we’ll know (hopefully?) soon… Although, regardless of which for my US people… VOTE! 🗳️

Really trying hard not to be pessimistic now, but it does feel like life is spinning around me. I know I’m stressed because I mislay things when I am stressed. Every passing day I feel like I’m losing my marbles & my mojo. This place is not what it used to be and I hate it.

I keep forgetting you can have custom ringtones on a phone, so have changed my notification and call ringtone. Although what I thought was a nice notification tone, Mum has now asked me ‘Why does it now sound like a doorbell goes off every time you get a message?’ 🤭😂

When you see a tone deaf comment on another post that you were about to reply to, only to see that they deleted it instead before you could respond. 😁

Was hoping to get a 23andMe kit for me and mum, almost forgetting that there was a deal on. 50%, quite decent. For the UK site. Turns out it’s only 35% off for the European one. 😕 Add that with a load of shipping costs and maybe it’s not an idea after all. 😬

So had my first house / college party. Didn’t drink (apart from Mi Wadi… 😅) Pro-tip: don’t go into the city on Hallowe’en unless you want to be almost knocked over & have to avoid a minefield of broken glass bottles. 😬 But nice to have had the experience. Live & learn. 🤷🏻

The finale of #AgathaAllAlong is out and I can’t watch it yet, so will have to restrain myself watching any TikToks because I just know I’ll see a video spoiling what happens in it. Would’ve watched it when it went live but that’d be 4am / 5am here, and I’ve got a busy day. 😫

Trying to make sure I still share more of my research into #MotherandBabyHomes, but have to ask — is there anything you’re wanting to learn more about when it comes to the institutions? Or parts, you want me to share more of? Names of children? Newspapers? Info re. Deaths?

I don’t think there’s anything better than your mind working away on something and then out of nowhere, songs you’d forgotten about just starts randomly playing in your head and the euphoria you get from hearing it again. 🙂 Have got Take That’s greatest hits playing now… 😅

And yet, cousins are not being included to help identify the remains of babies who died at Tuam. Yet, DNA can pull this off. And what relationship would’ve helped to make this happen? COUSINS.

I was going through Mum's adoption paper files with her. I came across a letter from the Sacred Hearts Adoption Society addressed to my mum in 2000, signed 'Sr. Sarto'—my heart froze. Seeing the info, it pretty much went a little like this... 🧵

It’s been almost a month since I’ve written on my blog. I need to find time to write the posts, but assignments are kinda getting in the way! So don’t worry if you’re wondering what’s happened. I’ve not forgotten it. ‘Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda’ is still going to be the next post.

Me, one second: “YAY! I got this assignment done. I can take a breather and take it easy for the evening.” College with two assignments due in less than two weeks:

Nothing like showing up for the 7:50 with a 15 minute delay, turning the 7:50 train into the 8:05, which just to happens to the time the next train is scheduled, either way I might be late to lectures this time. 🙄

Impromptu reminder that am on other platforms. Best place would be to subscribe to the place where I write things.

Doing online gaming is fun, playing with friends and a few that I don’t know. One said “You have a voice that could put people to sleep. I hope you don’t have a podcast.” Well… 😅😶 (The lower ratings are probably people I have put to sleep… 😆)

I take it I can't just respond to someone who's asking me where I fit into their mangled tree to say, 'Your tree is a mess'. Could I? 😅 Like, it is bad - I'm not sure it could be salvaged. I am struggling to try and understand where I would even fit into this. 😟

There is a petition going around to reduce the time for the release of the 1951 census of England and Wales to 80 years instead of 100. You can find that petition here should you agree & wish to sign it.

A lot younger than you. *sighs* Bots. 🙄

Feeling like a right eejit. I’m already fussing over the formatting for assignments trying to make sure it’s perfect but trying to make sure I have it right. “[…], and double-space your work.” Does this mean the lines are supposed to be double spaced or paragraphs? 😬

Today was tiring, but so worth it. I got permission to visit the GRO with @ctcantwell to examine birth records to uncover more names of those connected with #Bessborough who either died there / elsewhere. The research led us to find 37 more names. 🥹 Leaving 32 remaining... ❤️

Kinda defeating the point of the ‘block button’, but well done(!) — you utter megalomaniac.

Once again, pray tell, why hadn’t something like this already been in place? Thought it would’ve been common sense, no? New law will make it a criminal offence to destroy records of survivors of institutional abuse – The Irish Times

Not trying to detract from the article, but would like to point out something. Strange how there is a determination to make religious orders contribute / pay for redress for schools abuse survivors, but were very gentle with them for mother & baby homes?

Thinking of using my middle initial when giving talks, bios, blurbs etc. so it's like my Twitter @, it's Daniel M. Loftus. But if I put in my other initial making it Daniel MF Loftus, I feel like I could have so much fun with that. 🤣🤭

Well, that certainly throws a spanner in the works... 😅 'Certificate not procurable, medical attendant dead.'

Hearing and reading every bit of coverage about #MariSteed illustrates how much of an impact Mari's activism and research had on adoption, mother and baby homes & Magdalene Laundries. Listen to @pjcoogan's tribute to Mari on @BessboroMissing archive here:

Was I calling it a night & going to sleep 10 minutes ago? Yes, yes I was. That was until I had a literal brainwave about something that may have cracked a brick wall. [I love and hate the fact that I'm a night owl...] Now, will I be calling it a night? Maybe not just yet... 🤭

They loved the name Joseph, it's his first AND middle name... 😅 #Genealogy

Someone's desperate to get more sales...

Look at me being a trailblazer! Getting a top contributor badge… in the group I manage and run. 😅 (For anyone affected by or who wants to learn more about M&B homes, I run this group for survivors, their families & the general public, which may be of interest…)

The mind does boggle wondering how someone manages to read this as O'Toole instead of what it clearly reads: O'Sullivan. [Before anyone does ask, yes I have reported this one...]

An addendum onto Find a Grave’s list here. • Find a Grave has had more fake / parody memorials than BillionGraves. • BillionGraves has a higher chance of listening to feedback and taking it on board. • It’s impossible for entries to be created without a… [1/2]

#NextGENeration: Discoveries is off to a start! Let's see what it brings...

21 years ago today, I graced the world with my presence... (🤭😆) Me at (technically 20, almost) 21 months versus me at 21 years. 🥳

With the fact that the government just spent €9 million euro on pouches as if that solves other issues (although that’s another rant entirely) — this is yet another thing I’m finding myself to screaming into the void with as we could’ve gotten answers for #Bessborough with that.

Would appreciate some input. I’ve been working on three blog posts (they’re not yet complete) & don’t know which one to put out first. Which one grabs you?

Well, I think that’s all the mentions answered today. 😅 Seemed to get a good few from @bbboatclub’s & @BBCWomansHour’s tweets on the topic of mother and baby homes today, thanks to all who thought of me & tagged me. ☺️❤️✨

For a process that was supposedly so easy, it’s not proving to be such. 🙄 Hope this’ll be rectified. ‘Philomena Lee among mother and baby home survivors to 'experience difficulty' accessing redress’ by ⁦@AlisonMaryORE⁩ of ⁦@irishexaminer⁩

This NEEDS revisiting. Yesterday, I was on the phone with a lovely man called Ted. He found the article about me speaking about the lack of cousin relationships to test the #Tuam babies with. Ted's a first cousin of Josephine Steed, a child who died in 1933. He can't give DNA.

Find a Grave, I can’t even take you seriously anymore.

I love & hate my work. 😞 Love because it's history that I get to shed light on daily, hate that I'm the one to do it when the government had the ability to do what I do. They'd the chance, but sealed it. Then I realise how much M&B survivors are screwed time & time again.

After it already being tipping raining for my walk to college & being soaked by two separate cars who sped through puddles, I haven’t even started a lecture and would already like to call it a day. 😫

Twitter, I (@Project_Infant) need your help! I'm creating an online hub of material relating to mother & baby homes, I'll talk more in-depth about it below, but for now... Reply to this with any (and all) articles about any aspect of mother & baby homes. Please RT! 🧵

If you ever have a bit of time to spare, please consider helping @Project_Infant to conduct research to find the names of those who died in mother and baby (and other) institutions in Ireland. More info here:

There is a new level of irony hearing @MichealMartinTD say that the State should’ve bought Bessborough (and it’s grounds) in 2024, when he is no longer Taoiseach. He had every opportunity when he was in that position to do so, yet never did.

Funny how the day turns out. I struggle to read text on slides for presentations from my lecturers in the halls, despite sitting at the front. Kept thinking it was the lighting / set up. Booked an eye test to be safe. Turns out I'm short sighted and need glasses. 😅🤷🏻