IRELAND
Galway Advertiser

February 07, 2013.

By Kernan Andrews

Women who spent time in the Galway Magdalene Laundry have been invited to meet with The Congregation of the Sisters of Mercy, who ran the institution.

The sisters invitation comes following the McAleese Report into the extent of State involvement with the controversial laundries. In a statement issued yesterday, the order said it was “regrettable that the Magdalene Homes had to exist at all”.

The Sisters of Mercy, who ran the Dun Laoghaire and Galway laundries welcomed the report, saying they hoped it would lead to “greater understanding and healing”.

The sisters said the Galway laundry was “already in operation before coming under our care” and that “many of the women who resided in the Galway home remained voluntarily in our care for the remainder of their lives”.