Philomena Lee, whose story of forced adoption inspired an Oscar-nominated film has spoken of how nuns at a mother-and-baby home lied to her son about her.

Lee, who inspired the film 'Philomena', says her adopted son Anthony had made repeated attempts to contact her but that the Sacred Heart Sisters wouldn't pass on her contact details.

She has been speaking at a major conference in Cork on reforming Ireland's adoption laws.

She said she had given her details to the sisters at Sean Ross Abbey in Tipperary but they wouldn't pass them on to her son, who was born there:

"Redefining Adoption In A New Era" will examine the opportunities and challenges for adoption law and social work practice. The conference continues in Cork.