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Dublin’s Hidden Histories is the latest series of ‘Trinity Talks’ from the Trinity Long Room Hub Arts and Humanities Research Institute and Near FM. In this series of talks and radio programmes, we feature an exploration of sites in Dublin which are the subject of ‘difficult’ histories, from asylums to prisons. The series presents experienced researchers and compelling storytellers in their subject areas for this exploration of ‘history in the shadows’. The stories are accompanied by live performances by An Góilín Traditional singers.

In episode two, Ciaran Murray interviews Professor Lindsey Earner-Byrne, School of Histories and Humanities, TCD who reflects on the long history of the Donnybrook Magdalene Laundry in Dublin, which operated from the 1830s to 1992, acting as a ‘refuge’, asylum, and effective prison for generations of Irish women.

They discuss the myriad reasons women were sent there and the changing function and perception of the laundry, along with the relationship it had with its neighbours in the south Dublin community. The discussion will also explore the Justice for Magdalene’s Research (IFMR) resource and the plans to demolish the old laundry-asylum and build apartments in its place. The music is gratefully provided by Michael Stein and Wynton Moore from An Góilín Traditional singers. 

The book featured in this interview  is Mark Coen, Katherine O’Donnell and Maeve O’Rourke (eds), A Dublin Magdalene Laundry: Donnybrook and Church-State Power in Ireland (Bloomsbury, 2023). Prof Earner-Byrne is grateful to Dr Mark Coen for providing her with the annals extract relating to Mary Fleming’s story. 

Lindsey Earner-Byrne was appointed as the Bank of Ireland Professor of Contemporary Irish History in the School of Histories and Humanities, Trinity College Dublin, in August 2023. She is also the director of the Trinity Centre for Modern and Contemporary Irish History and a Fellow of TCD since 2024. She has researched and published widely on modern and contemporary Irish history with a particular focus on poverty, welfare, gender, sexuality, health and vulnerable and marginalised groups.

The episode is presented by Ciaran Murray. Produced by Dorothee Meyer Holtkamp. Sound design by Paul Loughran. Recorded by Gay Graham and Gabor Zajzon. Thanks to Mercedes Lopez on production support. Thanks to Aoife King and all the team in Trinity Long Room Hub Arts and Humanities Research Institute.

The series is made with the support of Coimisiún Na Meán’s Sound and Vision scheme, with the Television License fee.

The Trinity Long Room Hub is Trinity’s research institute for the Arts and Humanities. For more visit https://www.tcd.ie/trinitylongroomhub/about/

For more on An Góilín Traditional singers please visit https://goilin.com/