The Magdalene Laundries

The Catholic Church, which at that time had political power in Ireland, felt these laundries, would serve as a “safe house for women” who were banished from society, because they had illegitimate children, were serving as prostitutes, or were other

wise considered to be sinners by the Church. They were girls considered to be a danger to society. Most of them were 18-20 when they went in and 40-50 when they left. Sent to these laundries by their families, they would be cut off from society. They would be given new names or numbers, and be told to forget about their past. The nuns felt that by keeping them in these so called "jails" they would be protecting them from the outside world.

These Magdalenes, or "public sinners," were subject to a lifetime of penitence performing domestic chores. These were harsh, thankless chores such as laundering prison uniforms. This labor supposed to wash away their sins." They would wake up at 5:00 in the morning and go to sleep at 7:00 at night and. Th

Some topics in this essay:
Catholic Church, Church Ireland, Magdalene Laundries, Mary Magdalene, Throughout Ireland, outside world, magdalene laundries,