A former Magdalene Laundry building is to become a new refuge for domestic abuse sufferers.
The building, located on Forster Street in Galway
City, operated as a laundry from 1922 to 1984.
It is now set to be
transformed into Waterside House, the city’s emergency safehouse for
families suffering from domestic abuse.
The Sisters of Mercy donated the property to
abuse charity Cope Galway on a 99-year lease as a result of the
organisation approaching them earlier in the year.
Speaking at the announcement, chief executive of Cope Galway Jacquie Horan said she could not express how delighted and relieved she is.
“We approached the Sisters of Mercy as we
believed the location of the convent site, the security aspects and the
potential to renovate all pointed to its suitability as a possible
alternative to [the charity’s existing building] Waterside House,” she
said.
“The synergy between the history of the site
and the current reality for Waterside House clients, and the fact that
the Rape Crisis Centre has been on the site for some time already, also
led us to believe that the convent site offered real potential.”
Ms Horan said their current location was not up
to a high enough standard as it made families in need stay in one large
room each and did not have access to basic cooking facilities.
“Although the current refuge offers safety and
security to women and children escaping in an emergency situation, and
this is obviously of the utmost importance, this type of living
arrangement is totally unfit for purpose, and families in a state of
distress deserve better.”
In 2012 the centre accommodated 100 women and
their families, but did not have space to take in a further 200
referrals of women and families, who had to seek alternative care.
The charity will conduct an examination of the
site to ensure it is suitable as a long-term domestic violence refuge in
terms of size and design.
“Financing the project will be a challenge, but
we believe it is an exciting and positive challenge for Galway and we
will be inviting everyone to join us in converting this opportunity into
a reality,” Ms Horan said.