Mayor’s Reception for Survivors of Institutional Abuse

The Mayor of South Dublin County, Councillor Peter Kavanagh, welcomed survivors of institutional abuse to County Hall, Tallaght on Tuesday, 12 April for a reception in their honour.

The event sought to create a space for community healing by acknowledging the past and listening to the experience of survivors of institutional abuse.

The Mayor’s Reception for the survivors was first proposed by Councillor Francis Timmons. The event saw speeches, poetry, a play and music from survivors and was organised by Terri Harrison, a human rights campaigner and a survivor of a mother and baby home.

Speaking at the reception, Mayor Peter Kavanagh, said, “Acknowledging the past allows us to move towards a better future, to live with our past but not to be defined by it.  We came together tonight to listen to survivors and create a space for community healing.”