Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

St. Stephens' Cemetery, New Ross, Co. Wexford Flowers for Magdalenes (New Ross) 2014
magdalene laundry

Memorial for those incarcerated in Wexford Magdalene Laundry to be held tomorrow

The organisers say the memorial is a time where people can reflect, lay flowers, read a poem and spend a quiet moment at the graveside.

A MEMORIAL SERVICE is taking place this weekend in Wexford to commemorate the women who were incarcerated in The Good Shepherd Magdalene Laundry, St. Mary’s in New Ross.

People are asked to meet at the entrance to St. Stephen’s Cemetery, Irishtown, New Ross in County Wexford.

The Good Shepherd Sisters apologised for the abuse uncovered in a report last year. They ran four laundries, including one in Waterford which did not close until 1996.

Apology

In their apology at the time of the report’s release, they said it was “part of the system and the culture of the time”.

They said: “We acted in good faith providing a refuge and we sincerely regret that women could have experienced hurt and hardship during their time with us,” adding:

It saddens us deeply to hear that time spent with us, often as part of a wider difficult experience, has had such a traumatic impact on the lives of these women.

The date of the memorial, which is being supported by the National Women’s Council of Ireland, was chosen to mark International Women’s Day which is on 8 March but is being held one week early to coincide with similar events taking part in Dublin, Cork and Galway.

Adults and children are all welcome to attend the event, which the organisers said is a day “to reflect, lay flowers, read a poem and spend a quiet moment at the graveside”. Attendees are asked to bring flowers which will be placed on the grave of the women.

The National Women’s Council

The National Women’s Council have been long calling for the State to deliver on its promise to provide full restorative justice for the surviving women without further delay.

Rachel Doyle, head of outreach at the NWCI, has said in the past:

Some women have received offer letters detailing their lump sum and weekly payment entitlements, yet this Government has failed to deliver on the promise of pensions and healthcare benefits, as well as all other elements of restorative justice called for by Justice Quirke.

Orla O’Connor, Director of NWCI, is also on record as stating that it is “unacceptable” that these women “have still not received the justice called for by the United Nations Commission Against Torture, and promised by the Taoiseach himself”.

The memorial service will take place tomorrow at 12.30pm. For more information, click here.

Read: Women ‘yet to receive a penny’ on anniversary of apology to Magdalene survivors>

Read: UN anti-torture body questions Ireland’s record on abortion and Magdalenes>

Your Voice
Readers Comments
7
    Submit a report
    Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
    Thank you for the feedback
    Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.