Musician releases song in memory of Longford teenager Ann Lovett

AN IRISH musician has marked the anniversary of the death of a teenager who died in Longford during childbirth. 

It is 40 years this January since Ann Lovett, who was 15-years-old when she died, gave birth to a baby boy beside a grotto in Granard, Longford. 

The baby boy subsequently died too.

Ann’s story became one etched into Irish memory long after her death, on January 31, 1984.

Ann was one of nine children. She was a schoolgirl when she fell pregnant and gave birth in tragic circumstances, outside of St Mary’s church in Granard. 

Self-employed musician Martin Leahy has now released a song in her memory. The Cork man uploaded his song to Youtube, entitled Where We Lay Our Bodies Down (for Ann Lovett).

Here is my song called 'Song For Ann Lovett'. This month marks the 40th anniversary of her tragic death and that of her baby boy. She died at a grotto in Granard, Longford on the 31st of January 1984. Her story is lodged deep in the national consciousness https://t.co/pfNvp3Ykb0

— Martin Leahy (@TheNewReview2) January 10, 2024

Martin says: “Her [Ann’s] death represents a dark time in Ireland and her story is lodged deep in the national consciousness. When the story broke at the time, hundreds of letters were sent to The Gay Byrne Show in what became known as The Ann Lovett letters. 

“The letters contained an outpouring of untold stories by many Irish women who were inspired to write because of the tragedy... RIP Ann Lovett and her baby boy.”