A Technological University of the Shannon staff member has launched a powerful memoir about growing up in one of Ireland’s first Jehovah’s Witness families.
Trish Bourke, the university’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Champion, has officially launched her memoir, Unwitnessed, which chronicles her personal journey of growing up in a Jehovah’s Witness family in rural Ireland.
The memoir provides a rare insight into navigating a complex belief system and the courageous decision to seek a different path. It details Trish’s pursuit of third-level education and her career as a leading advocate for equality and diversity within the Irish higher education sector.
The official launch took place today in the library of the TUS Athlone campus, where colleagues, friends, and members of the community gathered to celebrate Trish’s literary achievement and her career-long dedication to social justice.
Speaking at the launch, Trish said: “I am thrilled to be here today surrounded by my colleagues and friends. This is an extremely proud moment, and I hope that my book will inspire others who may feel silenced. In my role in Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion, I advocate for voices that have been historically ignored or erased. For years, mine was one of them.
This memoir was my way of breaking that silence, not just for myself, but for others who have endured similar systems — whether religious, cultural, or familial. I wanted to give shape to experiences that are often invisible, especially in an Irish context. I wanted to show how shame can be inherited, how healing is nonlinear, and how identity can be reclaimed — even after it’s been stripped away.”
President of TUS, Professor Vincent Cunnane, who gave the welcome address at Trish’s book launch, said: “Trish’s bravery in sharing her story is inspirational. Her journey from leaving a life that she knew didn’t serve her, to becoming a national voice for inclusion, is a powerful testament to her strength, courage and determination. It also shows the transformative power of education. Her story reminds us that every individual deserves the opportunity to find their voice, achieve their potential, and contribute to a more equitable society.”
Unwitnessed is published by Menma Books and will be available in Easons and all good book shops soon.
To pre-order, go to menmabooks.eu or to learn more about Trish and hear the accompanying soundtrack to the book, go to unwitnessed.net.
