The Unveiling of Ireland’s Shameful Legacy. Caelainn Hogan and Phil Mullen in conversation with Alison O’Reilly

Set in an era of conservatism, social repression, Church authority, and abuse of power, John Banville’s Christine Falls explores themes including the mistreatment of women, the laundries, and illegal adoptions. Join us for this event where our panel discusses the unveiling of Ireland’s ongoing legacy, considering in particular what role the media played in this. 

Caelainn Hogan is a writer and journalist from Dublin whose first book Republic of Shame investigates the ongoing legacy of Ireland's religious-run, state-funded institutions and the shame-industrial complex that incarcerated women and children. 

Dr Phil Mullen is Assistant Professor of Black Studies at the Department of Sociology,Trinity College Dublin. Phil was born in Dublin and grew up in the Irish industrial school system. Returning to education in her 20s, she completed her PhD as a Government of Ireland PhD scholar, examining the racist and racialised aspects of how Black mixed African-Irish women who grew up in the Irish institutional care system without families construct their identity. 

Alison O’Reilly is an award-winning Irish journalist, author, and documentary-maker. Currently a Senior News Journalist at the Irish Examiner, O’Reilly is widely recognised for her groundbreaking reporting on social justice issues — particularly her exposé of the Tuam Mother and Baby Home burial scandal, one of the most significant revelations in modern Irish history. She is currently directing a new documentary on the Tuam mother and baby home.

Photography will take place at this event for promotional use by Dublin City Libraries and the One Dublin One Book programme. Photographs may be used as publicity material by Dublin City Libraries and Dublin UNESCO City of Literature, to include social media, print media and digital media and/or in newsletters, programmes, on radio and TV, on websites or for public display.