My Name Is Joan

Photo Credit: Documentary Short Film Festival

I was extremely fortunate in meeting Susan this month at the Sean Ross Abbey Commemorations in Roscrea, Co Tipparary, Ireland.

A lovely lady with like many others a very sad story to tell, I recommend you watch the trailer and share wherever possible to highlight and support those who have gone through similar circumstances.

There are still many people out there who have yet to trace their mothers and fathers through what I can only describe as the darkest period of one’s life.

My Name is Joan” tells the story of Susan Drew, a woman who was born Joan Fagan to an unwed mother in the St. Patrick Mother and Baby Home in Dublin, Ireland in 1949. While the documentary chronicles Susan’s journey to find her true identity, it also highlights the illegal exporting of children by the Catholic Church to families in other countries for profit while the Irish Government looked the other way. The Irish Government still denies adopted children access to their information even though forced adoption affects at least a quarter of the Irish population. In 2015, an inquiry into Mother and Baby Homes was launched and the results are due out in 2018. Many believe the inquiry will not shed light on what really happened to mothers and their children in these homes, and the Government is dragging their feet and hoping the issue will die as the people who were directly affected or engineered the illegal adoptions die.

Award of Merit-Best Shorts Competition

Gold Award Winner-Spotlight Film Festival

Award of Distinction-Canadian International Film Festival

Humanitarian Award-Best Shorts Competition

Best Documentary Short-New Haven International Film Festival

Best Documentary Short-Alliance for Women in Media

Award Winner-Women’s Only Entertainment Film Festival

Visit the Website here to read the full story and find links to social media

Belinda