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THE NATIONAL COLLEGE of Ireland is in ongoing discussions with Dublin City Council regarding the former Magdalene Laundry on Sean McDermott Street, TheJournal.ie understands.
The council said it is consulting stakeholders and “interested parties”, including NCI, at the moment over the future of the site, the last such laundry to close in the State.
It’s understood discussions between the council and the college, located on Mayor Street in the IFSC, have been ongoing for several weeks with a view to using part of the former convent for educational purposes.
The redevelopment of the site on Dublin’s Sean McDermott Street has been a talking point for several years. Last year, councillors rejected the site’s sale to a Japanese hotel chain Toyoko Inn after a campaign led by Social Democrat councillor Gary Gannon.
The council, which is looking for a partner to develop the whole site, said it has “previously considered the use of the chapel [attached to the convent] for artistic, educational and community purposes as very suitable for this building”.
However, the council has “no plans” to apply for state funding for a memorial for Magdalene Laundry survivors.
One recommendation from the May 2013 report by Justice John Quirke on compensation for the Magdalene women was that an appropriate memorial be built at the Sean McDermott Street site.
Social Democrat councillor Gary Gannon, who said the site could be used for educational purposes, argues that the State should help fund a memorial, as promised by Taoiseach Enda Kenny in the Dáil in 2013.
“It is a grotesque tribute to the hypocrisy of this State that no funding has yet being provided to develop such a memorial,” Gannon told TheJournal.ie.
“Apologies prove hollow when the State reneges upon its promises to build lasting memorials in the hope that society will forget the suffering that was allowed to happen in our country. It makes us cowards.”
The laundry was the last to close in Ireland in 1996 and was demolished by the council in 2005 following a fire.
As part of the recently drafted ‘Dublin Agreement’ – which sets out council policy and plans for the next five years – councillors have set out a plan to develop the space as a multipurpose ‘Site of Conscience’.
Magdalene Laundries operated across the state ostensibly as rehabilitation centres for women who became pregnant outside of marriage, women with mental disabilities or homeless women. The incarcerated women were not not permitted to leave on their own free will and only in recent years has the State tried to make amends for the abuse and punishment meted outed by the religious orders.
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Have we not also learned, that maybe we are our own worst enemy?
More power to anyone that uses Facebook, but any reason to stop picking up your phone for no reason has to be a good thing.
An infinite amount of negativity and consumerism on a 6 inch screen can only be good for so long.
Younger adults and kids are a problem. Peer pressure and immaturity takes away their objectively. Facebook has way too much con trol over people’s lives but adults have a right to choice.
@Great White Hope: adults do peer pressure quite a lot. They just don’t use the internet to do it. Never notice if somebody gets a new car in work but others do and say how they must get a new car soon. Keeping up with the Jones’ is a real thing.
I find it strange blaming a private company for the issues in society. They are not a government and have been asking to be regulated for years as they seem to know they shouldn’t be making certain decisions that impact on society.
So where are the regulators? Where are the policies for companies to follow? The Internet has been around for the past 20 years, this isn’t a problem that just creeped up on society. It kinda feels like shifting blame is easier than actually putting controls and protection standards in place
@Gingy Opinion: Facebook asking for regulation is a cop-out on their part, knowing full well that the wheels of regulation are far slower than the pace of change. They have known for some time about the negative impact of their platforms on society as a whole, but chose profits and growth instead. The criticism of Facebook rests in the fact that they offset to regulators what they themselves could, but choose not to do.
@OnlyHereForTheComments: But why is society asking a private company to make these decisions?
None of us would ask a brewery to regulate for who can drive after they consume their products. Sure each brewery would come up with their own rules to suit their business objectives and people would end up consuming the products from the brewery with the most lax rules. There would be carnage.
This is clearly a failure of elected officials to legislate. I take your point on the speed of change, but surely that is the exact same problem that a company like FB would face in terms of the policies they would need to constantly update. The difference being this is a regulators job.
I just think we need to stop trying to shift the failings of society and governments, and take some ownership.
“They values profits over safety” they do.
Say it in a devon accent, think lotr -
I find it strange blaming a private company for the issues in society. They are not a government and have been asking to be regulated for years as they seem to know they shouldn’t be making certain decisions that impact on society.
So where are the regulators? Where are the policies for companies to follow? The Internet has been around for the past 20 years, this isn’t a problem that just creeped up on society. It kinda feels like shifting blame is easier than actually putting controls and protection standards in place
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