Product Description

"I promised that I would one day write a book and tell the world about the home for unmarried mothers. I have at last kept my promise." In Ireland, 1951, the young June Goulding took up a position as midwife in a home for unmarried mothers run by the Sacred Heart nuns. What she witnessed there was to haunt her for the next fifty years. It was a place of secrets, lies and cruelty. A place where women picked grass by hand and tarred roads whilst heavily pregnant. Where they were denied any contact with the outside world; denied basic medical treatment and abused for their 'sins'; where, after the birth, they were forced into hard labour in the convent for three years. But worst of all was that the young women were expected to raise their babies during these three years so that they could then be sold - given up for adoption in exchange for a donation to the nuns. Shocked by the nuns' inhumane treatment of the frightened young women, June risked her job to bring some light into their dark lives. June's memoir tells the story of twelve women's experiences in this home and of the hardships they endured, but also the kindness she offered them, and the hope she was able to bring. I promised that I would one day write a book and tell the world about the home for unmarried mothers. I have at last kept my promise.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #14551 in Books
• Published on: 2005-03-17
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 224 pages

Review
"'I promised that I would one day write a book and tell the world about the home for unmarried mothers. I have at last kept my promise.'"

From the Publisher
A moving account of the cruel reality of life inside a home for unmarried mothers in 1950s Catholic Ireland

About the Author
June Goulding worked as a midwife in a 'home' for unmarried mothers in 1951. She is the mother of seven children and lives in Cork. The Light in the Window is her first book.

Customer Reviews

A Real Eye Opener
I couldn't put this book down and recomend it to everyone to read. The tale of June Goulding and the horrors that she saw at Bessboro Unmarried mothers home is one that is unbelievable. What a cruel world we lived in when unmarried mothers were denied even basic medical care when they were pregnant. Not allowed to speak and with all of their possessions and clothes removed from them they faced a horrible ordeal as they give birth. They are then made to stay at the home to work for 3 years and then have the heartbreak of their children being taken from them.
Every woman should read this book and thank her lucky stars that she was not treated in this way.

Disturbing
I still don't understand nuns cruelty how dare they call themselves holy.Absolutely no humanity. This book should be read by every woman who has had a child, it makes you realise how lucky you are.I cant even begin to imagine the anguish these poor creatures went through, how cruel to have your child taken from you after three years. June Goulding is a marvellous woman for what she tried to do for these poor girls. I just cant bear to think of the suffering they went through. A deeply moving account. I only hope places like this don't exist anymore.

the light in the window
having attended convent school,the treatment of those"sinners" does not surprise me in the least,we were treated like 10th rate citizens purely because we were of the poor community,the "money"people were treated well,we were beaten with sticks,or anything they could get their hands on.one of the nuns told me,when i was very little that she could see me in when i was grown up,she said "you will go to england and marry a protestant" and guess what, im proud to say i did.