Past pupils of Christian Brothers schools and institutions in Ireland are being invited to attend an event at the national convention centre in Dublin on October 20th. It is being held to mark the 250th anniversary of the birth of Edmund Ignatius Rice, founder of the order.
Billed as “an evening with former president Mary McAleese and guests”, the theme is “to reuinite, reconcile, give thanks and look to the future . . .” Central to the event will be pupils abused in institutions run by Brothers and their representatives. It will look to the Brothers’ future and to setting up a network of past pupil unions.
Fr Peter McVerry, Dr Daire Keogh, Micheál Ó Muircheartaigh and the Artane band will take part. Senator Martin McAleese said it “would not happen without the abused. We all have to stand together. It would be wrong to do otherwise.”
lost it.michael
hope you have a good day Michael.
hope the day goes well for them, i am still cold.Michael
I hope the day goes well. for them ,hope they don’t forget.and do not forget the children you have buried
Paddy,
Do you know if anybody is going to protest outside the Convention Centre on Saturday? I could not see anything on the Convention’s website about this meeting. Anyway, keep up the good work Paddy.
The first time I saw a boy raped by a brother, I was just 4, didn’t really understand what what it was about but later in life I realised what had happened.
The Christian Brothers never even attempted to come clean about their nature, nor acknowledge countless thousands of child victims, let alone compensate them or treat them with dignity nor bother to seek reconciliation of any kind.
The CB’s are a self traumatising organisation which cannot comprehend normality and in the past existed as an exclusive, secretive group which enjoyed unfettered power over the most innocent.
It is clear that they are clueless as to what constitutes reasonable behaviour as individuals and as an organisation.
certainly, the gliterati of Irish politics can be induced to attend but can any reasonable person provide the logic as to why anyone should engage with a group of people who insist that there is no need for genuine reconciliation with other groups who have been found to be victims of the terrific and extended wrong doing.
The gulf is huge.
RB
Hi Paddy, in response to your request, Re: The Gig. It’s being held in (THE DUBLIN CONVENTION CENTER) at 18.30hrs on Saturday, 20th October. Best regards, Mossie.
That would be a very good idea, FXR. A very good idea indeed. I hear that Munster Survivors Support Services are supposed to be bringing about 2,000 members to this despicable event. Where they are going to get these Survivors from is beyond me?
Where he got these 2,000 ex pupils from is nothing short of a mystery? If this is the case, it just goes to show you where this groups loyalties are. With the religious, i also heard that one of this group is supposed to be speaking at this event.
They are looking for forgiveness from Survivors, but there is only one thing wrong about this. They have NOT asked the Survivors. So here we go again, this group is talking for all of us, without our permission. Whats new. Does anybody listen?
Thank you Mary for your beautiful poem, and the lovely picture (click back to .com to see the whole Magdalens website).
As for the rest:
Infamy…… INFAMY…..! ! !
That’s true! Those of us who were abused while in the so called ‘care’ of religious orders and the State were accused by those very orders telling lies. Bear in mind though that the organisation L.O.V.E. Let Our Voices Emerge was to the forefront in accusing us of looking for money and of ‘suffering’ from False Memory Syndrome. That organisation was headed up by Florence Horseman-Hogan and some fellow travellers of hers who just didn’t accept that anyone who alleged abuse was telling the truth. Now that the Ryan and other reports have come out, they’ve all gone very quiet. One can but wonder why? Paddy.
When is this ‘gig’ on. I might wander around and see if one of the ‘brothers’ would buy me a pint! Nice black pint with a white collar – yeah – just in keeping with the mood of the evening. Date and time required please. Paddy.
Paddy, before the Ryan Report was published in 2009, the Christian Brothers constantly accused the survivors of lying and looking for money.
What is wrong with Mary MCalese? What planet is she on? Why should anyone want to defend or resurrect this group who carried out such heinous crimes against vulnerable children.
Have a thought for the countless people who committed suicide, ended up homeless, alcoholic and destitude for years. For the people who could never earn a living. For the people who ended up in Mental Institutions and the domestic violence that was then introduced into the homes.
Remember the children of Letterfrck, Daingean and other hell holes who were raped and beaten with hurleys. Remember the kids who were starved. Remember the children who were probably murdered and buried in unmarked graves. Remember that Peter Tyrell, a survivor from Letterfrack, committed suicide by setting himself alight in London.
Don’t forget the thousands of children who were terrorised and humiliated in the classrooms every day They should be disbanded. It was just evil what they did to children. There is nothing to reconcile or celebrate. Don’t let them get away with another cover up.
There will likely be a number of international journalists there who might be enlightened by being given copies of the Ryan report.
Bloody good idea that FRX. They would Not be expecting that.
She probably will Martha. Don’t you know. She is well set up, don’t worry about that. But I will bet Munster Survivors will be there also, wait and see.
I think it would be a good idea to have enough people outside this PR liefest to give the media the other side of the story. Then their PR stunt would turn into a PR diaster.
Mossie Heaphy wrote:-
“Yes indeed they will FXR, you may be assured of that. But we will also have one or two of these (So Called Group Leaders) there also. watch and see, then you will be able to see who is really working for the Survivor, and also who is really working for the religious.
You will be surprised.”
I, for one, will be surprised if, for example, Christine Buckley, is not there …
Yes indeed they will FXR, you may be assured of that. But we will also have one or two of these (So Called Group Leaders) there also. watch and see, then you will be able to see who is really working for the Survivor, and also who is really working for the religious.
You will be surprised.
These christian brothers have travelled all over the planet. The abuse dident stay in ireland. From different countrys there are articals about abuse concerning them. This ex president seems to have bypassed all information. Who had this idea in the first place. If i remember rightly one of his decendents was in artane Is he going!!!. the whole thing is a sick joke.It would be like thanking the nazi party for a stay in thier prisons.
Holy Mary McAleese, will be there sporting her new nuns hairdo. You can bet your money Bertie Potato and a few more will crawl out of their limos to make an appearance. Ireland is a country dominated by traitors who lick up to the Vatican occupiers.
Amere=Brush-hand wrote:-
“This is the psychotic organisation that terrorised, raped and abused thousands of children and made violence to children acceptable in Irish society. There is nothing to celebrate. Abuse survivors should keep their distance. It will probably retraumatise the victims. They should have been disbanded and arrested.”
Yes, but this is Ireland where the Criminally Insane are still in the Power. Why? Because, the Irish people, per se, don’t care whose running the country …
Actually just click on the link, you dont have to paste it into the address bar.
Cheer, mary
http://www.magdalenelaundries.com/graves/angela_collins.htm
To open up this picture,Please copy the link above into the address bar then paste the link.
Paddy I hope this helps.
Thanks,
Mary
Yes, they should be shut down and Got rid of. They are now trying to fool Survivors yet again with their forgiveness and Waffle. They are obviously not on the same planet as Survivors at all.
I believe one particular group in Cork promised to bring thousands of Survivors to this event. Where he is going to get them from is nothing short of a mystery. But then again, this Parasite is around quite a long time now, and is well in Cahoots with the Religious. Perhaps they are funding this Idiot in some small way to keep him sweet?
I believe this Muppet would sell his soul for a few pieces of silver, and has done on many many occasions before.
Keep a look out for him when this Reunion is held, and you will clearly see for yourselves who I am referring to.
Watch the space.
This is the psychotic organisation that terrorised, raped and abused thousands of children and made violence to children acceptable in Irish society. There is nothing to celebrate. Abuse survivors should keep their distance. It will probably retraumatise the victims. They should have been disbanded and arrested.
Mary, I’m sorry I can’t put photographs on with comments – I’m just not good enough to do it. Sorry about that. Best wishes. Paddy
This photo was taken over 13 years ago when I was fighting for justice for my mum.
I was an unmarried girl
I’d just turned twenty-seven
When they sent me to the sisters
For the way men looked at me
Branded as a jezebel
I knew I was not bound for Heaven
I’d be cast in shame
Into the Magdalene laundries
Most girls come here pregnant
Some by their own fathers
Bridget got that belly
By her parish priest
We’re trying to get things white as snow
All of us woe-begotten-daughters
In the streaming stains
Of the Magdalene laundries
Prostitutes and destitutes
And temptresses like me–
Fallen women–
Sentenced into dreamless drudgery …
Why do they call this heartless place
Our Lady of Charity?
Oh charity!
These bloodless brides of Jesus
If they had just once glimpsed their groom
Then they’d know, and they’d drop the stones
Concealed behind their rosaries
They wilt the grass they walk upon
They leech the light out of a room
They’d like to drive us down the drain
At the Magdalene laundries
Peg O’Connell died today
She was a cheeky girl
A flirt
They just stuffed her in a hole!
Surely to God you’d think at least some bells should ring!
One day I’m going to die here too
And they’ll plant me in the dirt
Like some lame bulb
That never blooms come any spring
Not any spring
No, not any spring
Not any spring Well President Mary may be you should play this lycis at the reunion and remind the holy church how survivors are still suffering today what do you do have a party just to make the catholic church look good. There is no future without the truth. Shame on you all.Its insulting to the living and dead.
I dont know anything much about this man but artane is nothing to be proud of. hundreds of children suffered rape hunger overwork in that place. who wants to give thanks for that well the abusers themselves. he created a monster. good intentions to start with but that dident help victims.As for looking to the future well leave the children alone now there has been enough damage .
Mary McAleese, our ex President, was interviewed by Gay Byrne on RTE tv – “The Meaning of Life” series tonight 9th October 2012.
She seems to be someone who is struggling hard to define herself as a normal Human adult in terms of her Roman Catholic cultural childhood conditioning.
Its sad to see and adult of her age (she’s 61 now) still struggling with her Identity – the sort of thing a Teenager naturally goes through. Obviously Mary McAleese didn’t have a normal childhood.
Mrs McAlleese is an arch Catholic band leader whenever they want to orchestrate a big PR exercise to cover up for the crimes of the rotten Church. What the “christian” brothers imagine when the look to the future would probably horrify most people. They should be abolished and most of them imprisoned.
And who is to give thanks and for what?.
And while there at it why not in the spirit of Edmund Rice hand over the money they owe the state ?. Please close down and go away. Leave Ireland ,
What planet do these people live on?.
From the article:-
“the theme is “to reuinite, reconcile, give thanks and look to the future . . .”
I wonder would that be the same “theme” as that of a “Theme Park” ? “Give thanks” ? To who and for what?
Also:-
“It will look to the Brothers’ future and to setting up a network of past pupil unions.”
I don’t know what that’s supposed to mean either. But I ask, do the Brothers (aka the Catholic Church) actually have a future in Ireland? If they do, then what does that say about the Irish people as a whole?
Sounds like this is just another “Grand Day Out” event for the RC Family: Great fun for those who enjoy that sort of “inbred” thing …
Infamy……..infamy.
As Children in Artane we raised substantial sums of money through child slave labour for the Christian Brothers, why now would ANY Survivor of an Industrial School run by the Christian Brothers support what is Nothing more than a FUND RAISING event, masquerading as a Past Pupils Reunion when our lives were blighted by these people.
It is ironic that we would be invited to attend this event, and raise even more money for those who destroyed our lives as Children.
I am surprised that the former President of Ireland, Mr’s Mary McAleese, and her husband Senator Martin McAleese would try to reconcile crimes of the past by agreeing to front this event.
The One Hundred year history of the management of the Industrial Schools run by the Christian Brothers is catalogued in The Ryan Report as a Famine of Compassion, a Plague of Deliberate, and Relentless Cruelty.
It shames us as a nation, and as a people.
seems very much in the face