Shamed and shunned, survivors are finally welcomed home

Society shunned them, the State abused them, and the Church exploited them but Ireland has finally laid a welcome mat for the women of the Magdalene laundries.

It was unrolled at Dublin Airport where more than 100 women who fled to Britain, the US, and Australia after their ordeal returned as guests of the nation.

Today it will lead to Áras an Uachtaráin and the Mansion House, where hundreds more will join them for a series of events to acknowledge all that they suffered and their strength in surviving.