Mayo bookshop sells ‘powerful’ foster care memoir

A Westport bookshop has begun stocking Sadie Harpur’s new autobiography, ‘The Hidden World of a Foster-Girl’.

The Tertulia Bookshop on The Quay in Westport, run by Neil Paul and Brid Conroy, has taken stock of the Wexford based writer's autobiography.

Ms Harpur’s book is dedicated to the memory of her much-missed foster-brother Gary and the official launch included a short ceremony to honour his memory.

Born and raised in Dublin, but now living in Wexford, Ms Harpur went through turbulent periods of high anxiety as a foster child.

Suffering from learning difficulties resulting from undiagnosed dyslexia, she was described as mentally below average, and suffered bouts of depression, suicidal thoughts and was repeatedly bullied.

She endured serious teenage problems, including self-harming, violent outbursts, zero self-esteem, and the eventual suicide of her foster-brother Gary.

Ms Harpur said writing the book was ‘hugely therapeutic’.

“It helped me look deep into my past and unlock thoughts and experiences I had hidden away in a dark place. I hope others might take comfort from the fact that I survived” she said.

 Neil Paul and Brid Conroy of The Tertulia Bookshop, Westport

Jackie Hayden assisted Ms Harpur in writing this book. 

Mr Hayden has previously topped the Irish book charts with two editions of ‘My Boy’, a book about the late rock star Philip Lynott based on exclusive interviews with Lynott’s mother, Philomena.

Hot Press writer Niamh Browne called ‘The Hidden World Of A Foster Girl’ a ‘hugely powerful’, ‘gut-wrenching read, pulling at every heart string’.

“Hugely powerful, it’s a memoir about the anxieties of growing up in foster care in Ireland” said Ms Browne.

Posting on writing.ie, Grace O’Reilly, “Sadie is an inspiration to many, and I sincerely hope that she is proud of both how far she has come in her life, and of her writing her true-life story in this book to help others both now and in the future … overall my heart ached for her.”

The Irish Foster Care Association has described her book as ‘inspirational’. 

‘The Hidden World of a Foster-Girl’ is available from all good bookshops for €15.