Episode 458: The Kavanagh Sisters. Standing Up And Speaking Out

Sometimes after I do these interviews, I have to stop and really think about what I'm doing. I mean, with this job I've chosen. On the one hand, as we all know, this topic of trauma, is nothing short of devastating. Sometimes the interviews are challenging and stories can be hard to listen to.And yet at the same time, after almost all of the interviews I do, I walk away completely inspired, energized by the strength of my guests, and also truly hopeful with the courage of the human spirit.

Today's episode truly encapsulates each of those elements. And it was an interview that really did bring me back to center and made me realize (again!) that I'm in the right place and doing what I love.

The Kavanagh Sisters were born into a large family of ten children in the mid-1950’s and 1960’s in a disadvantaged area of Dublin, where their father sexually abused each of them for over two decades. In 1989 they made the decision to bring charges against their father and, in 1990, the Irish state took a successful case against him and he was convicted and sentenced to a term of seven years and was released having served five years.

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In 1992 the sisters took part in a groundbreaking RTE documentary series entitled Tuesday File, Silent Scream (produced by Moya Doherty). Up to that point, RTE programmes on child abuse always had the interviewee’s face hidden and voices distorted, but my guests openly volunteered to share their story and despite the attempted injunction by their imprisoned father, the documentary was aired on RTE in October 1992.

The programme won a Jacobs Award in 1992 and early the next year the sisters were nominated for the Harvey’s/Sunday Independent Irish Women of the Year. This program also went on to be used as a training tool for professions dealing with abuse victims and won the US National Women’s Studies Association Award in 1994.

 

 

In This Episode

The Kavanagh Sisters' WebsiteWhy Go Back?, Paula Kavanagh, Joyce Kavanagh, June KavanaghClick, Click, Paula Kavanagh, Joyce Kavanagh, June KavanaghThe Kavanagh Sisters’ PodcastThe Kavanagh Sisters on FacebookNeale Diamond WalshGary ZukovOprahSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-trauma-therapist-podcast-with-guy-macpherson-phd-inspiring-interviews-with-thought-leaders-in-the-field-of-trauma/exclusive-content

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