Whispering Hope - Marie's Story: The True Story of the Magdalene Women

Name: Whispering Hope - Marie's Story: The True Story of the Magdalene Women
Rating: 5 (9 reviews)

Marie Slattery · Steven O'Riordan

Jan 2016 · Hachette UK

9 reviews

Ebook

Pages

Eligible

About this ebook

"At the conclusion of my discussions with one group of the Magdalene Women one of those present sang 'Whispering Hope'. A line from that song stays in my mind - 'when the dark midnight is over, watch for the breaking of day'.
Let me hope that this day and this debate heralds a new dawn for all those who feared that the dark midnight might never end."

- Taoiseach Enda Kenny's State apology to the Magdalene women.
On 19 February 2013 the Irish Taoiseach Enda Kenny apologised to the women who had been incarcerated in Ireland's Magdalene laundries. And, in the audience, listening patiently for the words she'd been fighting to hear was Marie Slattery.

For Marie was only 12 years old when she was confined at the Good Shepherd laundry in Sundays Well in Cork in 1972. From there she was sent to The Sisters of Our Lady of Charity in Dublin. The harrowing physical and psychological abuse she endured in the institutions, run on behalf of the State, led to a lifetime of shame and secrecy.

Now, in WHISPERING HOPE, Marie tells her story for the first time. Her fight for justice and forged friendships with other survivors has enabled her to move forward and have her voice heard in this immensely powerful narrative that shines a light on a dark chapter in Ireland's history.

Inspirational and moving, this is the story of a remarkable woman brave enough to confront her past and strong enough to not let it define her.

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Ratings and reviews

9 reviews

PAULINE BREHENY

May 11, 2019

I read the first two of these books a few years back and i found them both quite harrowing & extremely upsetting to read. What happened to these poor women would reduce any reader(s) to tears. Even a heart made of stone would break reading them. Those cruel, unfeeling, heartless nuns should've hung their heads in shame.

Anne

July 12, 2025

Der Mensch ist sein eigener schlimmster Feind. Man findet sich im Mittelalter wieder und in dem Fall endet es leider erst 1996. Ein gutes Buch!

Ruth Metcalfe

April 6, 2026

very sad

About the author

Marie Slattery, 56, spent time in the Good Shepherd Convent, in Sunday's Well, Cork, and also in The Sisters of Our Lady of Charity in Sean McDermot Street, Dublin. She then became pregnant and attended a mother and baby home. She hasn't seen her baby since. Marie lives in Athenry, County Cork.

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