The Fallen: The Lost Girls of Ireland's Magdalene Laundries and a Legacy of Silence by Louise Brangon. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2026. 351 pages *****
A difficult as well as painful read at times. I have heard/read of the Irish Laundries briefly in other books. The Laundries in Ireland were run by nuns who told themselves that they were saving girls from their own impulses and outside influences. Some of the girls were not "ready" for the outside world. Some were characterized as "fallen" women who had babies outside of wedlock. Brangon has suggested that no babies were born there and unwanted girls were dropped off by their families. No visitors, no communication with the outside world, left to toil and pray. Given new names and a fresh start, not to be confused with incarceration and a lifetime of isolation (no friendly chatter here) with unbearable living conditions. Local residents and officials turned a blind eye to the injustice and having lived there was a "stigma" that could not be shaken. If a girl was fortunate enough to be released to her community or sent to work elsewhere, she had few life skills to sustain her. The ability to spend, save, or to even shop for herself was beyond her. A lucky few moved from their town and created a fictional background to fill in the gaps when asked about their families or past. Brangon follows a few women to give us a glimpse into their particular situations. Carmel was assigned to the sewing room and created beautifully patterned lace and vestments. Reading their stories evoked feelings of anger, sadness, and incredulity. How could this happen and yet, being of Irish descent it explains a few things. My father and his brother were sent to an orphanage and industrial school when their mother died. My grandfather was out of work and unable to care for 6 boys during the Depression in Philadelphia. It is disturbing to read that Ireland closed the last of its Magdalene Laundries in 1996!! The conditions and stories are a black mark on the history of Ireland and the Catholic Church, and it must be told, kudos to Louise Brangon. I highly recommend this book to everyone and a must read if you are of Irish descent.
Dr. Louise Brangan is an Irish academic who researches injustice and punishment. She is a 2023 BBC/AHRC New Generation Thinker, the playwright of The Ireland We Dreamed Of, and winner of the 2024 RSL Giles St Aubyn Award. She lives and works in Scotland. For more information, https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Fallen/Louise-Brangan/9781668079744
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