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National College of Ireland in 'active discussions' with council over former Magdalene Laundry site

The laundry on Sean McDermott Street was the last to close in the State in 1996.

magdla Our Lady of Lourdes convent on Sean McDermott Street. GoogleMaps GoogleMaps

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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    Mute ivy mike
    Favourite ivy mike
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    Aug 2nd 2013, 8:48 PM

    I remember the irish media had me giving every white haired man the beady eye before he was caught

    32
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    Mute David Lynch
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    Aug 2nd 2013, 10:01 PM

    i watched a programme on him and his gang! whitey killed anyone who he suspected on being an informer, he always preached about loyalty! He was himself an informer for the FBI.

    26
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    Mute john ferguson
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    Aug 2nd 2013, 9:20 PM

    Seems like a nice old guy. Can’t imagine him doing anything he’s being accused of.

    20
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    Mute Lump Hammer
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    Aug 2nd 2013, 8:54 PM

    Champion & Hero

    20
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    Mute Fagan fagan
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    Aug 2nd 2013, 9:24 PM

    @ lump
    If your into the sort of person who imports drugs , sells them , kills people, intimidates , extorts business owners and is giving the heads up by the FBI I can understand how he is a hero to you
    coming from a person who spent considerable years in the states he is a embarrassment to the Irish community just ask anyone in the wood side/sunny side end of queens NY they will tell you he is a w****r

    42
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    Mute Fagan fagan
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    Aug 2nd 2013, 8:55 PM

    Pleading the 5th
    He was a FBI rat I wonder if they told him keep that shut

    12
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    Mute Fagan fagan
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    Aug 2nd 2013, 9:49 PM

    Correction by fagan
    You actually have to take the stand before you plead the 5 th
    All else I said I stand by

    5
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    Mute liam grennan
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    Aug 2nd 2013, 11:22 PM

    The FBI claimed he was a rat. Very easy to do and he on the run. They made it up

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    Mute Fagan fagan
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    Aug 3rd 2013, 12:08 AM

    @ Liam
    Ffs son the dogs in the street knows the connection between him& the Feds

    4
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    Mute Ossi Fritsche
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    Aug 2nd 2013, 10:02 PM

    After all the defence witnesses were slammed by the prosecution last week.

    5
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    Mute James Troy
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    Aug 2nd 2013, 10:07 PM

    Ah woodside, is Sean Og’s still there.

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    Mute Fagan fagan
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    Aug 3rd 2013, 12:05 AM

    @ James
    Home 10 years now couldn’t tell ya
    To be honest all I can remember is the 7 train lol

    3
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    Mute Fagan fagan
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    Aug 3rd 2013, 12:19 AM

    @ James
    Do remember 5 am going for a fry in the stop in down from dillons pub before the block burned down
    Had the Morrison but jaysus we built that city in our droves during the 90′s

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    Mute  
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    Aug 3rd 2013, 1:10 AM

    Awful headline, he doesn’t have to testify, that’s absolutely his right under American law, and it can’t be used against him.
    Obviously juries do hold it against the accused, and the media tend to do the same, as they have done nothing this case.

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    Mute jason bourne
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    Aug 3rd 2013, 5:06 AM

    It’s not an awful headline, what the hell are you on about you plank, everyone knows you don’t have to take the stand when you are an accused, that’s not just confined to American law.. It’s a valid headline given what bugler is accused of so don’t let on you know more about law than other folk cause you haven’t a clue

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    Mute Richie Woods
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    Aug 3rd 2013, 12:46 AM

    Embarrassment to the Irish ! Our politicians do that for us, we don’t need a yank to do it for us.

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    Mute Amaru Lee Murphy
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    Aug 3rd 2013, 7:48 AM

    Moral dilemma; he cannot accept to be seen as a rat, yet he misses out on immunity!

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    Mute El Nig
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    Aug 3rd 2013, 7:45 AM

    Probably important to point out the Jeremiah O’Sullivan was not just any US Attorney – but the US Attorney General & Head of Strikeforce

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    Mute Thomas Murray
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    Aug 3rd 2013, 12:02 AM

    Got what he deserves. Sk**.

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    Mute aiden sweeney
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    Aug 3rd 2013, 3:36 AM

    I have had an opportunity living there and meeting allot of folks of his time, South Boston is an amazing place with the shamrock in pride but the silence in Southy was because of this man in a very dangerous times with gangs on every side of it and funny they say the Robin Hood of Southy weird

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