“The sick body has its own narrative impulse”: contemporary Irish illness narratives and institutions of care

Abstract

ABSTRACT The perceived social liberalisation of Irish culture over the past ten years has significantly impacted Irish writing, resulting in discussions of formerly tabooed topics like psychosis, menstruation, and infertility. This shift is particularly evident in the recent rise in public interest in creative non-fiction writing. This article examines the rise in popularity of illness narratives: tales of patients’ and care-takers’ embodied experiences of mental and physical ailments in light of Irish medical-historical developments. Focusing on chapters from recent Irish essay collections by Emilie Pine, Sinéad Gleeson, and Sophie White, this article considers how writing about the gendered experiences of women in Irish medical and mental institutions can shape political action and contribute to the formation of radical new cultures of care.