Thread by @1GaryGannon

I’m fairly disappointed at this RTE report on the only Magdalene Laundry to currently be in State possession..

It’s description of the building as derelict are inaccurate- and it’s analysis of the investment potential was flawed & lacked depth 1/?

rte.ie/news/newslens/…

Beyond that- there’s been a concerted effort by the State and others to dilute the significance of that building and its relavance to the State and local community while attempting to sell off this site to an international low-budget hotel chain:

Let me elaborate- 2/?

Last Thursday, on the day of, but before the council vote to decide the future of the former Magdalene Laundry Site, I attended the launch of a local folklore project at the back of the Laundry-

While there, I was presented with this “historical” guide to the Monto area.... 3/?

An illustrative walking tour of the Inner City funded by DCC, and the Inner City Implementation Group (founded following the Mulvey report & Chaired by a very prominent city developer who is very pro- the hotel disposal on this site & appointed by @FineGael .. of course! 👀)

The booklet played up various aspects of the history of that Monto area.. “The Red Lights and the Rebellion” but strangely.. despite offering a map.. never once mentioned, or referred to Magdalene Laundry.. despite it being located centrally on the colourful illustration.

The booklet spoke of Joyce, of historical pubs, buildings & streets, and Lourdes Church where two popes visited; of Madams, Revolutionaries, & Priests, but not one mention of the likely 1000,s of women who were enslaved in the big building that was central to the map/ community

To me, and anyone with reason, it was an attempt to sanitise that portion of our history that others wished us not to focus on.. Funded by organisations that were pushing heavily for a sale & those who stood to profit from sponsorship of they acquiesced.

Oh.. and Enda Kenny was there too last Thursday launching the project- here he is standing under a “for sale” sign for a location he promised would be a memorial site to victims & survivors of the Magdalene Laundries.

It was indeed @EndaKennyTD & @FineGael’s promise to Magdalene survivors that awoke people like me to the reality of these hellish Laundries..

Enda Kenny’s & @FineGael inaction to restoration & Justice 4 Magdalene survivors in the years to follow was reprehensible.

There’s a large push to dilute and bulldoze the parts of our history that we rightfully should be ashamed of.

I saw that tonight on RTE, last week at the launch of a local folklore project, & many times in the past couple of years..

We have to be braver than that.

I personally want to create a national memorial centre on Sean McDermott St to survivors and victims of all forms on religious Institutional Abuse & Incarceration.

To do so would be create a space of truth, understanding & memory.

A national Site of Conscience.