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Full Circle

In Belfast during the 1970s, thousands of babies were taken from their unmarried mothers. This is the story of Dawn’s search for her daughter told in her own words and music.

Singer-songwriter Dawn has two daughters. One has known Dawn for her whole life, and the other, who was born in Belfast in the 1970s, was taken from her as a baby.

Set against the backdrop of a sectarian society, Dawn was one of thousands of mothers whose children were removed from their care. Placed in a Catholic Mother and Baby Hostel by her family, she was told she was "paying for her sins" - the sin of being unmarried, and falling pregnant young.

Full Circle is Dawn's story - her 40-year search for her long-lost daughter, adopted during the Troubles in Belfast. Her traumatic experience has inspired her creatively – songs, poems and novels all illustrate her journey so far. β€œI just wanted to know her. And to know that she was OK.”

This series of New Storytellers is presenting the winners of the Charles Parker Prize for the Best Student Radio Feature 2024. This award-winning feature was produced by Amy Bartlett, a student on the MA in Journalism (Audio, Docs and Podcast) at the University of the West of England. According to the judges her feature was β€œan impressive piece of work’, β€˜highly personal, and well-told with really powerful use of music to move along the storytelling. I was gripped and horrified".

Producer: Amy Bartlett
A Soundscape production for ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4

Available now

14 minutes

Last on

Fri 16 Aug 2024 00:30
ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4

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The National Language of Nowhere

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Broadcasts

  • Thu 15 Aug 2024 11:45
    ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4
  • Fri 16 Aug 2024 00:30
    ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4