‘Real possibility’ Pope will go to a Magdalene Laundry
A VISIT by Pope Francis to the site of a former Magdalene Laundry during his historic trip to Ireland is under consideration, the Irish Independent has learned.
The Pontiff, who will visit both Dublin and Knock, Co Mayo, next month when he comes for the World Meeting of Families, is expected to visit the site of the former laundry at Sean McDermott Street in Dublin city centre.
The laundry, which closed in 1996, was the last of the institutions to wind down and is the only former laundry building still in State ownership.
It is understood the logistics of a visit to the site are being closely examined by organisers of the papal visit.
The Pope has faced numerous calls to engage with victims of abuse at the hands of the Catholic Church when he arrives in Ireland and the move would be seen as a significant gesture to the women of the laundries.
It would also follow a landmark State event that saw the women honoured by President Michael D Higgins and Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan earlier this year.
“A visit to the Magdalene Laundry on Sean McDermott Street is in the pipeline. It’s not confirmed yet, but there are discussions about how it could be achieved,” a source said.
“It would probably be one of the most significant moments of the visit.
“Obviously there are a lot of sensitive issues attached to it, but it’s now a real possibility. It should be decided shortly.”
Last month, around 200 survivors of the laundries were honoured by the President at an event in the Áras, where he said the women forced to work in the Catholic institutions were “failed by the State” during a “dark period” in Irish history.
“Ireland failed you. When you were vulnerable and in need of the support of Irish society and its institutions, its authorities did not cherish you, protect you, respect your dignity or meet your needs and so many in the wider society colluded with all that through their silence,” he said.
It is believed that around 10,000 women – often unmarried mothers – passed through the laundries between 1922 and 1996.
The Government has this week encouraged women who were admitted to adjoining institutions, but who worked in the laundries, to get in touch amid a commitment to extend its Magdalene Restorative Justice Scheme to this cohort of women.
Meanwhile, all of the tickets for the Pope’s final Mass at the Phoenix Park have now been allocated.
The World Meeting of Families (WMOF) yesterday confirmed all 500,000 tickets had been snapped up.
“While I was cautious at the beginning, I am a little surprised every part of the event is booked out six weeks in advance,” said Fr Timothy Bartlett, secretary general of the event.