'I cant imagine the kind of courage it takes to be you': Oprah speaks to survivor of Magdalene laundry

Oprah speaks to author of 'Small Things Like These' Claire Keegan as part of her new book club series. Picture: Harpo

Oprah Winfrey has commended one of Ireland’s youngest survivors of the Magdalene laundries, saying: “I just can’t imagine the kind of courage it takes to be you”.

The American TV star was speaking during an interview with Carlow woman Maureen Sullivan, who appeared on Oprah’s new podcast series, which focuses on authors selected from her book club.

The interview follows the release of the critically acclaimed film Small Things Like These, starring Cillian Murphy.

The movie is based on a book by author Claire Keegan, who was in the studio with Oprah.

Maureen Sullivan, now 71 years old, was locked up in the New Ross laundry in Co Wexford at age 12, after reporting to a nun that her stepfather was sexually assaulting her.

She was then transferred to another laundry, in Athy, Co Kildare, before being sent to a school for the blind in Dublin. 

Last year, she published her book, Girl in the Tunnel, about her experiences.

Speaking on the podcast, which aired this week, Oprah told Ms Sullivan: “You are one strong, powerful woman, to come through what you did. The assault, abuse, and constant sexual molestation from your stepfather, and your mother knew, your mother knew.

“And I love that first chapter in Girl in the Tunnel when you say: ‘what did I do wrong?’ 

You simply told on him, and by telling on your stepfather, who was constantly sexually assaulting you, you then were sent to the laundries, to an even worse existence.

“I am so sorry,” Oprah continued. 

“This is the thing that is so striking, your stepfather was a pure predator, because not only was he sexually assaulting you on a regular basis, and everybody in the house knew, certainly your mother knew and your grandmother knew, but they couldn’t do anything about it.

“But he did what a lot of predators do, he started calling you a liar. ‘Maureen is a liar’ — he started doing that long before you told on him. So that when you did tell, nobody would believe you."

Ms Sullivan told Oprah: “Yes, he brought his own children up like that, he had himself covered in every way. He was evil."

Maureen also attended the premiere of Small Things Like These in Dublin recently and thanked author Claire Keegan for writing the book, which is a fictional story based around factual events.

Oprah asked: “Do you feel some sense of validation that you have been heard?”.

“Yes, I do” replied Ms Sullivan. 

“And I’d like to thank Claire very much for that, we are starting to heal.” 

Speaking to the Irish Examiner following the interview, Ms Sullivan said it was “an honour” to be asked to go on the Oprah podcast.

I really did feel like Oprah was listening to me and I watched her for years and she’s very spiritual and connected with people. She is a very genuine and sincere woman, I found her lovely.

“It puts the focus back on this important topic. I have a good counsellor and I am doing workshops and going back to my inner child. You have to heal, otherwise you will carry the pain."

A spokesperson for the Oprah show said: "It’s about reaching out to a larger audience because this topic has impacted so many people.

“We always try to reach many people with one story.”