Legacy of the Irish Catholic Theocracy

Anomie: Anarchy in the 21st Century

In this episode we take a look at the tragic and horrifying history of the Catholic theocracy that controlled Ireland between 1920s and 1980s. For vulnerable women and children this was a rule of terror as "fallen women" (women who had children outside of wedlock) were incarcerated in work camps called Magdalene Laundries, while their children were often sold to American families in what was little more than human trafficking. For the children of troubled working class families this theocratic state could rip them from their homes and house them in Industrial schools where physical, mental and sexual abuse was endemic. This and more has left a deep scare on Irish society, which has been reopened by the recent government attempt to seal the records of the Mother and Baby Home commission. Despite the horrible nature of the topic we try to look at what can be learned from this period and how Irish society has moved on.

Please find below a list of links to more information about the topics and events discussed in the podcast:

https://www.irishmirror.ie/news/news-opinion/pat-flanagan-column-attempts-cover-22933921

https://youtu.be/hWY8hkF3yWk

https://www.facebook.com/BBCArchive/videos/550571951982506/

https://www.aljazeera.com/program/people-power/2020/7/9/irelands-mother-and-baby-scandal/