The poem deals with the religious and sexual suppression caused by a rather dogmatic Catholic Church. The Catholic Church is intolerant towards abortion. Its belief in the value of female virginity before marriage has resulted in girls killing their new born infants. The greater part of these girls are said to be unmarried at the time.
             Killing new born infants is in conflict with the Christian belief, because love and forgiveness are of the utmost importance here. Killing is no such form of love and compassion.
             The title, Limbo, refers to the Catholic doctrine of limbo being a place where unbaptised children go. This is not to be compared with Heaven nor Hell. The existence of such a place seems unfair as the infants have done no wrong whatsoever. They are the quintessence of the human souls. Seamus Heaney says 'Even Christ's palm, unhealed/Smart and cannot fish here' . He questions the existence of Limbo. How can Christ himself not reach this place? If it's neither good nor wrong, is it a actual place?
             'Limbo' recalls a specific incident in Ballyshannon where a dead infant is hauled in by fishermen. All throughout the poem fishing is mentioned. The dead infant is called a 'minnow' â A small one thrown away. Christ is also known as 'fisher of men' , and his disciples as fishermen. The religious symbol of Christianity is the fish.
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