Author Unearths Asylum's Hidden Stories

Author Doireann Ní Ghríofa has penned "Said the Dead," a work exploring the true stories of patients at Cork's former psychiatric hospital. The book focuses on the lives of women admitted to the institution, a place Ní Ghríofa feels a deep, personal connection to due to her own past experiences with severe depression.

Much of Ní Ghríofa's research involved delving into patient casebooks held at the city archives. She supplemented this with visits to the derelict hospital building, seeking to immerse herself in the environment where these women lived and often suffered.

The author's own history of mental health struggles, including two suicide attempts in the river Lee, created an urgent sense of identification with the women. She reflects on gratitude for her current life and her ability to process difficult histories through writing.

Contrary to her initial assumptions, Ní Ghríofa found that many women were admitted due to extreme exhaustion from poverty and child-rearing pressures. Some recovered and were discharged, while others faced harrowing circumstances, highlighting the complexities of institutional care.

Ní Ghríofa also acknowledges the ethical considerations of her work, recognizing the need to bring hidden lives to light while respecting their privacy. The book navigates the fine line between historical rescue and appropriation, reflecting on Ireland's past institutional traumas.