Intellectual Disability and Ireland, 1947–1996 Towards a Full Life? reviewed by Hannah Brown
Published in Social History of Medicine, January 2025.
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Abstract

Intellectual Disability and Ireland, 1947–1996: Towards a Full Life? by David Kilgannon draws from his PhD thesis, sponsored by a Wellcome Trust Doctoral Studentship. Kilgannon’s research is warmly welcomed, as the history of disabled people in Ireland remains mostly untrodden. This work plots the evolution of statutory disability policy. At the beginning of the period, there was a focus on the protection and segregation of intellectually disabled people. By the period’s end, the approach had changed to caring within the community and striving for a ‘normal’ life.Kilgannon’s work is meticulously and skilfully researched using a rich range of sources and archives, including the archives of Lenus, University College Dublin, Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland, Dublin Diocesan, RTÉ and Royal Physicians of Ireland. Additional records utilised by Kilgannon came from the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland organisational records, patient registers from St John’s Hospital and St Columba’s Psychiatric Hospital, as well as records from the Department of Finance.