Magdalene Memories Project Launched

By David Looby
New Ross Standard
September 5, 2015

http://www.independent.ie/regionals/newrossstandard/magdalene-memories-project-launched-31491790.html

People from the New Ross area who have memories or experiences to share of their experience in industrial schools or Magdalene Laundries in New Ross or Waterford - including survivors, their relatives, visitors to the institutions, and members of the religious orders are being asked to contribute to a project run by Waterford Institute of Technology.

Funded by the Heritage Council, the Waterford Memories Project is recording Ireland's cultural heritage to provide a platform for further analysis of our history.

The project records and archives personal stories of life before, during and after their time in the industrial schools and laundries located in Waterford and The Good Shepherd Laundry in New Ross.

'Preserving accounts of the experiences of survivors of Magdalene Laundries has massive implications for our heritage,' according to Dr Jennifer Yeager, psychology lecturer at Waterford Institute of Technology who is currently working on the oral history project. The research is conducted by Dr Yeager through sensitive and private one-to-one interviews; participants have the choice of a written transcript of their experience being published, or an audio or video recording.

"It is vital to remember, commemorate and learn from their experiences.' You can visit www.waterfordmemories.com or contact Dr Yeager at jyeager@wit.ie.