It Tolled For Them

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Have you seen this bell?

Last week, during a discussion about the derelict Magdalene Laundry site in Donnybrook, Dublin 4, Dr Laura McAtackney, an historical archeologist, shared images (above) of a make-shift bell used by the nuns at the institution.

Laura sadly added that the bell went missing between visits to the site.

Breeda Murphy writes:

 It is not of any monetary value but in terms of what it conveys – we can speculate as to the purpose; calling the girls to work;  to pray – recite the Angelus perhaps; to eat or that it was time to load the van with fresh laundered linens etc – who knows? but it’s significant as a piece that reminds us of absence.  The absence of the women who rang the bell and those for whom the bell tolled whose footprints are erased from such sites.

Anyone?

Last week: An Archeology Of Containment

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