27/07/2026
Ambassador Ange was honoured to participate in the University of Galway's research day, "A Conversation Across Borders: Transnational Perspectives on Magdalene Cultural Production."
The event brought together Irish and New Zealand academics, playwrights, filmmakers and cultural practitioners to explore how the experiences and enduring legacies of the Magdalene institutions have been interpreted through theatre, film, testimony and artistic practice across national boundaries.
The programme featured contributions from New Zealand playwright and filmmaker Fiona Samuel (Piece of My Heart; 2026 Katherine Mansfield Fellow), Dr Miriam Haughton, New Zealand actor and writer Nicola Pauling, Dr Mary Harney, Jacinta Fay, and Dr Barry Houlihan. Attendees also enjoyed a screening of Fiona Samuel’s acclaimed film Piece of My Heart, followed by a thought-provoking Q&A discussion.
In her remarks, Ambassador Ange reflected on New Zealand's own painful history of abuse and neglect within state and faith-based institutions, drawing connections with the experiences of survivors in Ireland. She highlighted the important work of New Zealand's Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care, which has helped uncover the extent of abuse in state and faith-based care settings and contributed to a wider national process of acknowledgement, accountability and healing.
Thank you to Marine Berthiot and the University of Galway for hosting a thought-provoking and meaningful impactful day of reflection and dialogue. The event highlighted the vital importance value of sharing complex human histories through research, storytelling and the arts, ensuring these experiences continue to inform, connect and inspire audiences across borders and generations.
University of Galway
