Midlands Irish Survivors Service

13/03/2026

📣Our campaign for Philomena's Law has achieved a major victory today
At a summit in Cork, the British government announced it would introduce a new law ensuring applicants to Ireland's Mother & Baby Institutions Payment Scheme living in Britain won't lose their means-tested benefits.

This comes two years into our campaign to secure Philomena's Law and is a landmark achievement.

Thank you to everyone who has been involved in the campaign, especially those groups providing support to survivors: London Irish Centre, Fréa, Coventry Irish Society, icap, Luton Irish Forum

Thank you also to Liam Conlon for Beckenham & Penge for engaging with and listening to survivors and driving the campaign in Parliament.

Survivors will no longer find themselves financially penalised for accepting the redress they are due in recognition of the abuse and trauma they experienced.

Read more here: https://www.irishinbritain.org/news/philomenas-law-to-be-introduced

13/03/2026

UK prime minister promises to change the law to stop Irish women compensated for abuse from being financially penalised in Britain

06/02/2026

We’re launching a new series on our Substack:

How we got here: An Irish Trauma History

This series looks at the social, cultural, and institutional histories that shaped trauma in Ireland, and how those legacies still live within bodies, families, and communities today

The first piece, The Architecture of Silence in Irish Society, explores how silence became normal in Ireland, and why breaking it can still feel dangerous

You can read it here:

How silence became normal- and why breaking it feels dangerous

27/01/2026

📻 Tune in to BBC CWR tomorrow morning to hear our CEO, Simon McCarthy, talk about the Coventry Irish Society’s campaign for a permanent Irish heritage centre, and some sad news about our current home at Eaton House.

Simon will be on air around 7.15 am on Tuesday 27 January, and you can listen via BBC Sounds:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/live/bbc_radio_coventry_warwickshire

19/01/2026

'We know she truly understands what Tuam represents- not just for Galway, but for women across Ireland'

Tuam families call on Catherine Connolly, personally connected and a long-time advocate for survivors of institutional abuse, to meet and reflect on the legacy of the Mother and Baby Home

Catherine Connolly had an aunt, Margaret O'Connor, who was incarcerated in the Tuam home where her baby Mary Margaret O'Connor died and is one of the children on the official death list, the 'Irish Examiner' has learned

15/01/2026

Ever wondered how people trace their family history using DNA? 🧬

Our latest Substack post walks through the process of working with a genetic genealogist, step by step

Read it via the link below- feel free to share and subscribe if you enjoy it!

How using DNA and written records together can help Survivors to trace birth relatives and familial roots

12/01/2026

✨ Looking Back on 2025 ✨

What a year! Here’s a quick look at what we got up to:

🎉 Special Moments:
- Afternoon Tea at the Irish Embassy in London with the Ambassador- plus a private tour!
- A wonderful holiday to Wicklow, exploring Glendalough, Dublin, and Wexford- the Sunny Southeast really treated us well

📝 Projects & Research:
Hosted Prof. Geraldine Brady and Dr. Verusca Calabria from Nottingham Trent University for a reminiscence session. Part of an ongoing Oral History Project, helping Survivors tell their stories in their own words, for future generations

💻 Online & Learning:
- Launched our completely free Substack, sharing updates, insights, and stories from our work
- Took part in a webinar hosted by Barnardos Ireland, giving free advice on the Irish government’s Action Plan for Survivors

🤝 Advocacy & Support:
- Regular meetings with the Department of Children, Irish Embassy, Patricia Carey, and other Survivor organisations in Britain.
- Worked with Liam Conlon MP on Philomena’s Law, which could support former Mother and Baby Home residents in Britain. (You can help by contacting your MP- we have email & letter templates!)

💼 Work Experience Programme:
We’re looking for A-level students to join our placement! Spaces are limited, so don’t wait- this is a great opportunity to gain experience, learn about our work, and make a difference. Contact us directly to apply

📱 Connecting Online:
- Launched Facebook, LinkedIn, and X accounts- join us to stay up to date!
- Our intern Charlie Byfield created two amazing films: one for Coventry Irish Society, and one featuring our incredible service users, who speak about their own experiences as well as how the service has impacted them.
🎬 The film is available to watch here: https://youtu.be/Yi7ZDha3SWA?si=8RrdXkBGttS2OiRV

💚 2025 was full of connection, storytelling, and advocacy- and we can’t wait to continue the work in 2026!

A film by Charlie Byfield. Supported by University of Warwick.Music by Epidemic Sound. With interviews from Gerry McMahon, Mary Stewart, Esther Hegarty, Mary...

01/12/2025

25/11/2025

Some very kind words from Pa Daly TD💚

We are grateful to call him a friend of the charity☘️

Thank you for speaking up for Survivors and ensuring that they are never forgotten

13/11/2025

🌟 A-Level Students Wanted! 🌟

Join the Midlands Irish Survivors Service for a work experience placement and gain insight into the operation of a third-sector support and advocacy service

Places are limited so call us today on 02476256629 or contact Manisha O'Malley