Into the Light:
Faces of Ireland
Into the Light is a profound, multi-year project led by Paris Jefferson exploring the lives of two very different groups in Ireland, former residents of religious institutions and professional Irish actors, placing them on the same stage to share space, voice, and dignity.
Background
& Context
From the early 1900’s through the 1990s, countless children born and raised in Catholic-run convents and by Christian Brothers lived in environments marked by neglect, violence, and stigma. These survivors often had no family support and were left to find community among themselves. Many carry lasting trauma and silence as a result.
Into the Light bridges two groups:
Survivors: Individuals who endured lifelong hardship within institutional systems, their stories long silenced by shame and secrecy.
Actors: Well-known Irish performers, often in the public eye, symbolising openness, creativity, and cultural expression.
By placing both cohorts side by side, one group historically hidden in shame, the other trained to stand in the spotlight, the project grants equal visibility and respect. It aims to:
Reclaim survivors’ voices,
Introduce mutual empathy through authentic encounters, and
Create a unified narrative of resilience.
“They had to turn to each
other for support”
Into the Light: Survivors and Actors is a moving testament to the power of storytelling and solidarity. By lifting voices long shamed into a shared public space, the project offers both redress and reconciliation. It turns institutional darkness into a collective illumination, where survivors stand beside actors, equally visible, equally heard, equally honoured.
Gallery
Into the Light: Faces of Ireland
