Acclaimed Irish Author Sebastian Barry Opens Up About His Battle With Depression

Barry, who made history earlier this year by becoming the first novelist to twice win the prestigious Costa Book of the Year Award, opens up about the uneasy relationship with his mother, Fair City actress, Joan O’Hara. He also reveals why he didn’t cry when she died.

Barry also talks to Hot Press about his dark childhood, about the devastating impact alcoholism had on his family, how the death of his close friend Donald McCann left him devastated, and discusses how his son coming out had a profound impact on him.

In what is a no-holds-barred interview in the Xmas issue of Hot Press (out tomorrow), Sebastian Barry tells senior editor Jason O’Toole that the Primate of Ireland, Archbishop Eamon Martin should “shut up” when it comes to his and the Church’s views on homosexuality – insisting that such views are “potentially murderous”.

The writer also talks openly for the first time about the “frightening” experience of the fallout from his play about Charles Haughey, revealing that he felt like leaving Ireland after it.

Revealing how he was first hit with depression back in 1999 during a book tour, Sebastian says, “I really had a meltdown in San Francisco. I suppose I – because we’re all so ashamed of these conditions – should’ve rung somebody and said, ‘Will you come and get me?’ Or, ‘Can I book in somewhere?’ But I didn’t: I struggled on. I wasn’t sleeping. And that level of suffering, no one can tell you unless you’ve had it yourself.”

Describing the actual feeling of depression, Sebastian says, “It’s as if somebody has poured acid into your brain and melted it. All the resources that you used to have, tiny little things like coffee in the morning, nothing works – there's no taste in your mouth. I had that for about seven months.”

Sebastian also has this to say about depression, “I was very seriously unwell – and it’s worth talking about. I so admired Prince Harry for coming out and talking about these things. We’re obliged now to be open about these issues. Because it’s so incredibly painful. If your friend had a gaping wound, or the knee was shot out of him by a bullet, you’d rush in to help, wouldn’t you? And bind the wound and bring them to hospital. But mental pain is invisible.”

On the death of his mother, Fair City actress Joan O’Hara, Sebastian reveals, “It wasn’t a moment of sorrow.” He adds, “It was a relief for me to feel that she’d been just let go, because her body was closing down and she was in those awful chains of illness.”

On his relationship with his mother, Fair City actress Joan O’Hara, Sebastian reveals, “We were a bit messed up together.” He adds, “We weren’t right together. Something had a thorn at the roots of everything and we didn’t know how to fix it. We weren’t the gardeners of that sorrow.”

On the Primate of All-Ireland’s Archbishop Eamon Martin’s view that the act of homosexuality is a sin, Sebastian says, “Shut up! We do admire him and he said some good things. But, in this instance, I respectfully tell you to (shouts) shut up already (laughs)!” He adds, “But how dare he even think for a moment, or try to get a picture in his head of what that might mean, and to tell us what he means when he knows not only nothing about it but he’s trying to impose his murderous ignorance on somebody else – and he’s supposed to be a caring priest! How dare he trot out his nonsense. I’ve been at the coalface and I can tell him what he’s saying is potentially murderous.”

On the controversy over his play about Charles Haughey Sebastian says, “It was very frightening. Of course it would be. Naturally it would if people are talking about suing you, especially if it’s a former prime minister. It was sort of a thing I had to process. It was very strange experience and very surreal.”

Sebastian Barry has much more outspoken views to get off his chest in the Hot Press Interview. He also explains why he’s in favour of repealing the 8th, discuses how his superstar aunt Mary O’Hara walked away from fame to become a nun, and talks about the anger he felt after his son was subjected to homophobic treatment. Of course, sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll are also discussed in this classic Hot Press Interview.