Film tells true story of a forced adoption

There are lots of Philomena Lees in Ireland, writes Conall Ó Fátharta

As is so often the case with Irish scandals, it takes Hollywood to bring them into to the public consciousness.

It certainly was the case with The Magdalene Sisters in 2002, and the same may happen with the release of Philomena, the story of Philomena Lee’s search for the son she was forced to put up for adoption in 1952 when she was aged 19.