The '\Magdalene Laundries' were a network of laundaries operated by the Catholic Church in Ireland, and run by the Sisters of the Magdalene Order.

The laundries were named for Mary Magdalene, the prostitute who repented her sins and became one of Jesus' closest followers. They were started in the middle of the 19th century as rehabilitation centers for prostitutes. By the 20th century, unwed mothers, rape victims and generally "wayward" women were considered eligible inmates.

The working day would start at 5 in the morning and consisted of hand-washing, drying, and ironing clothes from children's orphanages, churches, and prisons. The scrubbing was intended to wash away the women's sins. Bedtime was at 7 in the evening.

Many women lived and died in these institutions with little hope of escape. The only way they could be freed, was by being claimed by a relative, although officially they had to be signed out by two men. Often, family members were told that the women had moved away and would be impossible to find on account of having assumed new identities.

The existence of the laundries was largely unknown until, in 1998, an order of nuns in Dublin sold part of their convent to a real estate developer. It was discovered that the remains of 133 women were buried in unmarked graves on the property, and the scandal became local and national news in 1999.

The last Magdalene laundry was closed in 2001. The Catholic Church has made no reparations to the women that were incarcerated, most of whom, incapable of fending for themselves in society, now live in government and private institutions.

In November 2002, the movie The Magdalene Sisters was released to critical acclaim. Earlier that year there was also a British mini-series, Sinners.

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