Barbara Walsh: Vanished after Dark

The Walsh house in rural Connemara is quiet by 4am on the 22nd of June 1985. Earlier in the night it was full of people celebrating the brief return of two family members who had emigrated. But now the friends, neighbours and even the local Gardaí who had attended the party have all dispersed. So, when 14 year old Jacquie Walsh wakes up in the middle of the night the only person she sees is her mother, 33 year old Barbara asleep on the couch. Jacquie tries to wake her but when she does not stir, Jacquie places a pillow beneath her head and drapes a blanket around her before heading to bed. Barbara Walsh was never seen again.For years, her family were told that the young mother of 7 must have wandered off – Despite not having a car and living over 50 miles away from Galway city.In this episode, former Garda forensic detective John Sweetman goes back to 1985 and examines the original investigation, the new leads for the cold case team and asks where is Barbara Walsh? Presented by John SweetmanCreated by Darren ClearyEpisode Written by Siobhan WalshScript Edited by Eoin BrennanExecutive Produced by Eoin BrennanExecutive Produced by Ruth FitzsimonsProduced by Siobhan WalshAssistant Produced by Siobhan MaguireSound Design and Editing by Neil KavanaghAudio Editing support by Ed SmithMarketing support by Bríd Walsh and Roisin ReillySocial support by Mark Hayes and Robyn ReeArtwork and graphics by Eric Rowntree