Friday evening’s Late Late Show kicked off in a poignant manner – with a stirring tribute to the thousands of women and children of Ireland’s Mother and Baby homes.
Oscar winner Brenda Fricker lead the tribute following an introduction by Ryan Tubridy, to recite a poem called Voice by Majella Kelly which was accompanied by a powerful animation.
‘To go into the home, was to be given your voice on the spoon and told, swallow it,’ Brenda recited. ‘When they shaved our heads, our voices recoiled on our tongues like dead nettles in empty cups. When they took our names away, the tiny venomous hairs of shame bore untold holes in our throats.’