Breaking The Silence

This event has ended

Online, Saturday 29th May

Featuring Elaine Feeney, Loah, Terri Harrison, The Mary Wallopers, Majella Moynihan, Noelle Brown, Phil Mullen, Jess Kav, Alison Lowry, Caelainn Hogan & more.

This special evening of words and song broadcast from the stage of the National Concert Hall presents personal responses from a range of leading Irish writers, musicians and artists to the ongoing legacy of Ireland’s mother and baby home institutions.

Until alarmingly recently, religious orders and the Irish state operated a network of institutions for the concealment, punishment and exploitation of women called ‘fallen' and ‘offenders', a secretive system that forcibly separated families.

Through breaking silences and sharing testimonies, survivors of Ireland's religious-run institutions have become catalysts of change. In the search for answers, their voices must continue to be heard. 
 
Working with generational survivors of the institutions, this one-off live event is curated by acclaimed author of Republic of ShameCaelainn Hogan.

More artists to be announced.

Presented by the International Literature Festival Dublin and the National Concert Hall.


Date:
Saturday 29th May
Time:
8.00pm
Price:
Free

You might also like...

What's on

Bealtaine Festival

Various Locations

The 2026 Bealtaine Festival, Ireland’s national celebration of creativity in older age (run by Age & Opportunity), takes place throughout May with events nationwide. It features a diverse mix of arts, film, performance, and community engagement, promoting the artistic contributions of older people. Proudly funded by the Arts Council and the HSE, with the support of communities nationwide and a vast network of accomplished local and national bodies.

What's on

Waitress

Bord Gáis Energy Theatre

“Treat yourself to a slice of five-star musical pie” (The Times) as Carrie Hope Fletcher (Calamity Jane, Heathers, The Addams Family) stars as Jenna for 1 week only! Meet Jenna, a waitress and expert pie-maker who dreams of some happiness in her life. When a hot new doctor arrives in town, life gets complicated. With the support of her workmates Becky and Dawn, Jenna overcomes the challenges she faces and finds that laughter, love and friendship can provide the perfect recipe for happiness.  Brought to life by a ground-breaking, female-led creative team, this ‘warm, witty, wise a

What's on

SHARD

James Joyce Centre

After a sell-out premiere in LA and a BBC radio adaptation broadcast to great acclaim, we are proud to bring Stewart Roche’s SHARD to an Irish audience. ​You wouldn’t think it to look at him now but Spooner was once quite the whizz in finance. Good in presentations, great at crunching numbers, a real company man. But the veneer of success hides a desire for something different in life. So when offered the opportunity to join a community by the charismatic Kemp, he jumps at the chance. However, Spooner discovers more than he bargained for in his new surroundings, making him realise