A novelistic exploration of the neglected history of Grangegorman

The history of St Brendan’s Hospital at Grangegorman in Dublin is the subject of increasing attention since its recent reinvention as the campus of TU Dublin. It is an extraordinary story.

The Richmond Asylum (as it was first known) opened in 1814 and served as one of Ireland’s earliest psychiatric institutions. Initially intended to provide care for Dublin’s mentally ill, it expanded to become one of the largest “mental hospitals” in Europe.

Throughout the 19th and 20th Centuries, the asylum witnessed dramatic changes in attitudes toward mental illness, eventually moving away from custodial care and towards community-oriented approaches. By the late 20th Century, mental health reforms led to downsizing, with community-based care becoming the norm. St Brendan’s finally closed in 2013.

The history of this institution can be told in many ways. Perhaps the most powerful way is through the stories of its patients and staff members. Over the 199 years that it operated as a psychiatric hospital, Grangegorman bore witness to the struggles of tens of thousands of people. Many patients were mentally ill, but many were not. Some were just troubled by life circumstances. While they likely needed assistance and support, committal to a psychiatric hospital was excessive for most and entirely inappropriate for others.

Against this background, Dermot Bolger’s recent novel, Hide Away, sheds light on neglected aspects of the Grangegorman story in a new and exciting way. This book richly rewards reading and reflection. This is not surprising: Bolger is one of Ireland’s best-known and widely admired writers. This novel further confirms that status.

Bolger has already written some 15 novels including The Journey Home, The Family on Paradise Pier, Tanglewood, and The Lonely Sea and Sky. He is also a poet and playwright.

Bolger’s novel, which was published last year, does not disappoint. The story commences behind the walls of Grangegorman in 1941 as the lives of four different people collide, all affected in various ways by the events that surround them. The War of Independence looms large in the tale, as two veterans with very different experiences after the war are reunited. The character of the doctor, Doctor Fairfax, is also well drawn, and the complexity of his position within the asylum is apparent.

There is a lot to savour in this book. The central narratives are involving and credible and the exploration of the impact of the War of Independence is sensitive and unsparing. This is a period of Irish history that merits re-examination, including the role of the mental institutions.

In addition to the main plotline, there is much to value in the rich, detailed texture of this book. Everything from false teeth to Freudian psychology makes an appearance and a great deal in between. The atmosphere of the asylum is deftly conveyed, along with the essential humanity of the characters. As is customary in his work, Bolger avoids simple answers to complex questions. He tells his story vividly and well. We draw our own conclusions.

In the case of our asylums, those conclusions are far from clear and certainly not simple. As a result, it is reassuring that there is growing interest in these histories. The past decade has seen a particular focus on St Brendan’s, most notably through ‘Grangegorman Histories’. This is a public history programme of research and shared discovery of the Grangegorman site and surrounding communities, with an excellent website (www.ria.ie/research-programmes/grangegorman-histories/).

Dermot Bolger’s novel adds significantly to the overall exploration of neglected dimensions of the history of Grangegorman. The book highlights an important period in the existence of this institution. It also shines a light on a complicated, contested passage in our national story.

Prof Brendan Kelly is Professor of Psychiatry at Trinity College Dublin and author of The Modern Psychiatrist’s Guide to Contemporary Practice: Discussion, Dissent, and Debate in Mental Health Care (Open access: www.taylorfrancis.com/books/oa-mono/10.4324/9781003378495/modern-psychiatrist-guide-contemporary-practice-brendan-kelly)