'John Lennon's Dead'

by Sile Darragh

'John Lennon's dead' is the ironic title of Sile Darragh's account of a life of protest and resistance in Armagh Gaol in the late 1970s and early 1980s, including the two hunger strikes, and of how life on the outside played out on the inside.

It is, by far, one of the best accounts of life in jail by a female prisoner. Sile writes about the horrific conditions, the ill-treatment, the comradeship, the formulation of strategy and of how they were still just teenagers who in normal circumstances would have been thinking about discos, buying clothes and make-up and building homes.

Told with wry humour and great feeling it goes a long way in redressing the imbalance in the prison history which for many reasons has focused on the blanket protest in the H-Blocks where ten republicans died on hunger strike in 1981.

Genres: Ireland

144 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1988

Reviews

[Jamie Bookboy Fitzpatrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heartbreaking and heartfelt account of life inside the Armagh Gaol where female republicans were held during the 70s and 80s.

There were definitely parts where I could feel myself tearing up, especially the transcribed comms between the men on the H-Blocks and the women in Armagh.

The postscript is full of optimism, which is nice.

Lacks any criticism or critique of the Provisionals leadership, which I think all the best memoirs from the conflict include.

Great read, got through it in about 5 hours

[Colleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely wonderful. I'm very grateful to have gotten to read Síle's account of life in Armagh Gaol. I've read all about the men in the H Blocks during the same period, but this book was my first real exposure to the experiences of the republican women political prisoners.

I purchased this book on the Falls Road last summer while I was visiting Belfast. I purchased over a dozen books while I was there, so it's taken me a while to give each one the attention it deserves. When I picked this book up last week, I was shocked to see that it had been signed by Síle! I had no idea when I bought it, so the pleasant surprise was most welcome.

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read. An interesting history of women’s contribution to the struggle and the fight against criminalization. An insight into the conditions women endured. A must read for anyone interested in Irish history.

[Arda · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took me over three years to remember to edit this. This was a gift sent from a great friend with a beautiful heart. I kept thinking about Teresa Darragh throughout reading this book. I'm into prison literature - prison movies - prison motifs, and this placed me in the setting of jail with these young girls. An important documentation and quite educative.