Agency, politics and place: Memorialising institutional abuse in Ireland

This article critically examines the proposed Irish National Centre for Research and Remembrance, in Dublin. Envisioned as a memorial, museum, and research archive, and to be located on a former Magdalene laundry site, the Centre is analysed through the lenses of ‘dark heritage’ and hauntology. While the National Centre offers potential for public reckoning and historical accountability, the article assesses the risks of marginalising survivors in its development. Survivor testimonies reveal that these sites remain emotionally and psychologically charged. We thus argue for survivor-led governance and regionally grounded memorialisation that goes beyond symbolism. An ethical form of national remembrance must avoid sanitised narratives, promote grassroots participation and recognise localised approaches to memorialisation to capture the range of survivor experiences. The article sheds light on how co-designed, participatory approaches might further a global model of remembrance rooted in survivor empowerment and social justice.