Culture And Memory

The Marion Hotel: Memories from Northern Ireland Mother and Baby Homes

In the last 30 years, a dark history of institutional abuse has been uncovered in Northern Ireland’s Mother & Baby Homes. Our heritage focuses on the memories of those affected. This project will showcase and facilitate creative responses to these hidden histories, through 1) a play ‘The Marion Hotel’ by Caitriona Cunningham, a survivor of Newry’s Marianvale home, 2) an oral history project, 3) a series of ‘Reminiscence workshops’ where we invite local communities to come forward and discuss related themes e.g. attitudes to unmarried women, and 4) a digital exhibition of this work. Although the history is dark, the heritage deserves to be celebrated. In this project project we will enable survivors to share their stories with Northern Ireland audiences and take ownership of this history, so their courage and the dedication of the campaigners who exposed the truth is explored and celebrated.