Doireann Ní Ghríofa's 'Said the Dead' Resurrects Forgotten Women from Victorian Asylum Archives

Doireann Ní Ghríofa, a writer and poet celebrated for her prose debut A Ghost in the Throat, has released a new book titled Said the Dead. This work delves into the experiences of female patients at a dilapidated Victorian mental hospital in Cork, which is set to be transformed into contemporary apartments. Over several years, Ní Ghríofa explored patient casebooks at the Cork City and County Archives, concentrating on the perspective of Dr. Lucia, the assistant medical officer, who conveyed the women's narratives. Among the notable patients are Anna Martha, a violinist and artist turned probationary nurse, and Bridget, who returned to Ireland pregnant after an assault in America. Following a discussion with an archivist, the book reverts pseudonyms to actual names, raising ethical concerns regarding consent. Ní Ghríofa reflects on the balance between safeguarding the women and ensuring their stories endure. She attributes the book's strength and defiance to Paula Rego's painting Angel. Published by Faber & Faber, Said the Dead is now available.