On a vacation to Ireland, we were on our way to the Cliffs of Mohr when we stopped at Dunguaire Castle. As we walked up the drive, we were surprised to find a woman sitting there knitting colourful headbands like it was the most natural thing in the world. Her name was Eileen Ferguson. She was a very friendly soul and soon we were talking like old friends.

She told us of the recent breaking of the laundry girl’s scandal. How unwed pregnant girls were sent there to have their babies and give them up for adoption but the girls themselves “were basically slaves for life.” She said these places did the laundry for the whole country and just yesterday she’d heard on the radio the governments’ plan to compensate them. The history of every country contains both triumph and tragedy. What is important is that we learn from those past failures and create a better future.

Shortly after we arrived home, and unaware of this seemingly random conversation, my sister invited me to a movie. She had just read a book by Claire Keegan and was curious to see the film adaptation. The book was called Small Things Like These and the movie brought to life the wretched lives of the laundry girls of Ireland. As we watched, I was stunned by the significance of our chance meeting with the lady who sits and knits in the shadow of Dunguaire Castle. Sometimes we are gifted more than one opportunity to learn the lesson.