Paddy McMenamin to launch book in Termon this evening

BELFAST native Paddy McMenamin is set to launch his new book ‘Voices from Inside-Hidden Journals of Long Kesh’ this evening in the new GAA centre in Termon.

The new book will be launched by historian, author and teacher Dr Joe Kelly.

Mr McMenamin’s latest book contains 15 journals which he edited and typed up within the cages in Long Kesh in the 70s.

With the help of his father, they were smuggled out and have been kept in a shoe box for the past 50 years.

University of Galway had expressed interest in acquiring the collection in recent years, and last August, Mr McMenamin donated the cage papers to the university.

They, in turn, have put them into their Special Collections Archives for future undergrads and postgrads to use in their study and research of 20th century Irish history.

The cage papers are a primary source and offer a unique perspective on life for republican political prisoners in the 70s.

The collection now joins the Special Collections alongside those of former President Mary Robinson, back-channel peace negotiator Brendan Duddy, civil servant Maurice Hayes, and barrister and civil rights activist Kevin Boyle, among others.

The papers have been digitised by University of Galway and are available worldwide online.

The book, Mr McMenamin’s fourth since the pandemic, contains every journal of the collection, 100 photos from the cages, Irish language notes, poetry and song.

The launch will take place tonight in the new GAA centre in Termon at 7pm.

€5 of each book sale will go towards the Termon fundraising drive to further develop the magnificent work already completed in 2025.