113:
offensive material operated outside
Ireland, leaving only individual booksellers and distributors liable to prosecution. Their prosecution did not have any real impact on the availability of objectionable material. Another problem was that the powers of customs and postal authorities to seize this material were ill-defined and seizure was thus ineffectual. The Committee concluded that it was the Irish state's duty to prevent the circulation of publications that were considered to be obscene and morally corrupting. The Committee proposed the introduction of new legislation and the establishment of a censorship board to advise the minister on which publications should be prohibited.
22:
153:
periodical is given to matters related to crime. A book or periodical may also be prohibited if the Board considers that it advocates abortion or ways of carrying out abortions. Most of the publications considered by the Board have been reported because of obscenity. When considering a book, the Board measures its literary, scientific and historical merit and takes note of its general tenor, the language in which it is written, and its likely circulation and readership.
554:, a semi-autobiographical novel about a writer's descent into alcoholism, was released in Ireland after being banned for thirty-four years. The book was originally published in the United Kingdom in 1972, but was banned in Ireland on its release because it was thought to be indecent and obscene. The next six of his novels were also banned, making Dunne the most banned author in Ireland. He was unable to get a new book published in Ireland until the late 1980s.
456:, an autonomous body established by the government to promote, fund and advise the government on the arts, was created in 1951. It was initially headed by Father O'Sullivan, a Catholic priest. The Council took a strong anti-censorship stance and awarded innovative young artists, musicians and writers as winners of the
194:. Specifically, this meant works that were considered to be indecent or obscene, newspapers whose content relied too much on crime, and works that promoted the "unnatural" prevention of conception or that advocated abortion. Irish writers who were found offensive were officially regarded as agents of decadence and
506:, the Minister for Justice, sponsored the Censorship of Publications Act, 1967. This act limited the period of prohibition orders of books to twelve years (although books released after this period could be banned again by the Board). The act thus allowed the immediate sale of over 5,000 previously banned books.
525:
The
Regulation of Information (Services Outside the State for the Termination of Pregnancies) Act, 1995 modified the 1929, 1946 and 1967 Acts to allow publications with information about "services provided outside the State for the termination of pregnancies". However, no publications that advocated
214:
explains that during the 1930s there was 'a general intolerant attitude to writing, painting and sculpture. These were thought dangerous, likely to corrupt faith and morals...One encountered frequently among ordinary people bitter hostility to writers...Obscurantism had settled on the country like a
198:
who were striking at the roots of family life and moral decency. For example, Father P.J. Gannon thought that the Act was "but a simple measure of moral hygiene, forced upon the Irish public by a veritable spate of filth never surpassed". He thought that all literature must provide "noble ground for
112:
priest, heard submissions from individuals, organisations and institutions, including religious and social institutions. Its report, which expressed dissatisfaction with the existing laws, was presented to the minister on 28 December 1926. One problem was that the vast majority of the publishers of
570:
The
Censorship of Publications Act, 1967 remains in force even though the Irish social climate has greatly changed in the interim. Some current criticisms of the board include the fact that its meetings are held in secret, that all complaints must be considered by the board (for example, the Bible
302:
was banned by the Board. The book was a collection of stories and sayings from an old country tailor called
Timothy Buckley and his wife Anastasia that the author had recorded. Although they were exactly the type of Irish people romanticised by de Valera, their real-life language was too broad and
138:
officer or by a member of the public. It can also examine any such publication on its own initiative. If the Board finds that a publication is obscene, it can be prohibited for a period of time. During this period any buying, selling or distribution of the publication in the
Republic of Ireland is
142:
Every member of the board must read the publication in question before deciding whether to prohibit it. For a book to be prohibited, at least three members of the Board must agree with the decision and only one member can dissent. If a prohibition is passed, it comes into effect as soon as it is
322:
The
Censorship of Publications Act, 1946 made "further and better provision" for the censorship of publications. Periodicals that had a large amount of matter related to crime were liable to be banned. The Act also established the Appeals Board. The first application made to the Appeals Board
152:
A book can be prohibited by the
Censorship of Publications Board if they consider it to be indecent or obscene. A periodical can be prohibited if it is considered to be frequently or usually indecent or obscene, or if the Board is of the opinion that an unduly large proportion of space in the
125:
The
Censorship of Publications Board and the Censorship of Publications Appeal Board have five members each, serving five-year terms unpaid. The members of both boards are appointed by the Minister for Justice, but both boards are independent authorities and no minister has power over their
156:
A prohibition order on a book lasts for a period of twelve years. A first prohibition order on a periodical is for a period of three, six or twelve months, depending on how often it is published. A second or subsequent prohibition order on a periodical causes it to be permanently banned. A
121:
The
Censorship of Publications Act 1929 established the Censorship of Publications Board. The Censorship of Publications Board can examine any book or periodical that is for sale in the Republic of Ireland. A publication found to be obscene can be prohibited, making its buying, selling or
522:– the Board considered the booklet "indecent or obscene". The Health (Family Planning) Act, 1979 deleted references to "the unnatural prevention of conception" in the 1929 and 1949 Acts, thus allowing publications with information about contraception to be distributed in Ireland.
68:. This makes it illegal to buy, sell or distribute that publication in the Republic of Ireland. The Board prohibited a large number of publications in the past, including books by respected authors. However, since the 1990s it has not prohibited publications very often.
178:
The laws enacted by the
Censorship of Publications Act, 1929 were introduced in an era of political isolationism and cultural and economic protectionism. Catholicism, the religion of 93% of the population, was the fundamental philosophy behind the censorship laws.
88:
that the existing censorship laws were sufficient to deal with the sale and distribution of obscene literature, and that it was not the State's duty to decide what was proper for the Irish public to read. However, public pressure caused O'Higgins to appoint a
209:
Although the new laws were typical of censorship laws in many other countries in the 1920s and 1930s, they were implemented with an eagerness which gradually alienated and embittered many Irish writers. It caused some writers to leave the country. The author
557:
Between 2000 and January 2018 a total of 34 periodicals and 11 books were referred to the board, of which 7 publications (all in 2003) were prohibited, and one book: "The Raped Little Runaway", for containing "numerous explicit descriptions of the
223:, perhaps the most vociferous critic of the censorship laws, wrote: 'Our Censorship...tries to keep the mind in a state of perpetual adolescence in the midst of all the influences that must, in spite of it, pour in from the adult world.'
571:
had to be considered when it was submitted in 1988), and that the board operates generally on the basis of standards and criteria that are vague and ill-defined. A thoroughly researched critical study by Michael Adams,
306:
In November 1942 there was an important debate about the censorship system in the Oireachtas. Sir John Keane moved that the Censorship Board be reconstituted. Three banned publications in particular were debated.
1042:
622:
538:
was banned for six months because it was found to 'have been usually or frequently indecent or obscene.' It was investigated after complaints from the public regarding advertisements in the magazine for
219:
attempted to fight censorship with solidarity among writers, but it achieved little in this field. The fight against literary censorship was fought mainly by isolated figures.
483:. He took a year's leave of absence from his position as a teacher in a Dublin primary school to take up the fellowship. However, the Censorship Board banned his second novel
1037:
64:. It is governed by the Censorship of Publications Acts of 1929, 1946 and 1967. The Board has the authority to prohibit any book or periodical that they find to be
630:
206:
felt that the arts in Ireland were to be encouraged when they observed the "holiest traditions", but should be censored when they failed to live up to this ideal.
864:
994:
1080:
547:
lifted the ban, stating that its publishers should have been given the opportunity to state their case before the Board before the ban was implemented.
157:
prohibition order can be appealed against by the author, editor or publisher of the book, the publisher of the periodical or any five members of the
457:
303:
racy for the Censorship Board. After the book was banned, three priests forced Buckley to go on his knees and burn the book in his own fireplace.
690:
487:
because of its themes of parental and clerical child abuse in June 1965 and he was not allowed to resume his job. The 'McGahern case' became a
1075:
830:
589:
56:
is a formally independent but government-appointed board established by the Censorship of Publications Act, 1929 to examine books and
543:
posing as health studios. However, the Board did not suggest that the magazine's publishers were aware that they were brothels. The
308:
754:
729:
584:
215:
fog, so of course anyone who had eyes to see and the heart to feel, was rebellious.' The Academy of Letters established by
941:
875:
515:
1060:
1032:
1022:
1027:
319:. The Chairman of the Senate instructed that these passages were deleted from the public report of the debate.
122:
distribution in Ireland illegal. A prohibition can be appealed to the Censorship of Publications Appeal Board.
77:
182:
A main aim of the new legislation was to prevent the introduction of "unwholesome" foreign influences such as
262:'s writings were ever banned by the Board, while copies of his works were burnt by the British Customs, and
90:
425:
363:
277:
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93:
to determine whether it was necessary to extend the government's existing censorship powers so that
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838:
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220:
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135:
109:
413:
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298:
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200:
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described the Irish censorship laws as 'the fiercest literary censorship this side of the
8:
377:
293:
232:
134:
The Censorship of Publications Board examines any book or periodical referred to it by a
61:
35:
Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.
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1052:"Tales out of School", an extract from Irish author John McGahern's autobiography
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747:
Influence and Control: The Catholic Action Movement in Ireland in the 20th Century
342:
Many important works of literature continued to be banned by the Board, including
421:
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94:
945:
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The Splendid Cause. The Catholic Action Movement in Ireland in the 20th Century
417:
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900:
Campbell, Patrick (16 July 1946). "Censorship of Publications Appeals Board".
492:
1069:
473:
461:
437:
393:
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359:
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contained provisions for the censorship of newspapers and periodicals during
237:
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recounting his experiences with the Irish Censorship of Publications Board.
441:
409:
281:
255:
161:. A person convicted of possessing prohibited publications is liable for a
793:
Dreams and Responsibilities: The State and the Arts in Independent Ireland
469:
397:
259:
211:
187:
183:
1043:"Censorship of publications in Ireland" at the Irish government website
339:. The appeal was dismissed without a hearing for the appealing parties.
995:"Censor bans first publication in Ireland in 18 years - Independent.ie"
559:
158:
659:"Ferreting Out Evil – the records of the Committee on Evil Literature"
1038:
List of prohibited publications from 1993 – December 2003 (PDF file).
65:
835:
The Pursuit of Sovereignty & the Impact of Partition, 1912–1949
191:
57:
540:
520:
Family Planning – A Guide for Parents and Prospective Parents
575:, was published in 1968 by the University of Alabama Press.
479:
McGahern was awarded the Macauley Prize for his first novel
968:"Questions 149, 150, 151 : Censorship of Publications"
1061:
Irish author Frank O'Connor's view of the Censorship Board
514:
In 1976, the Censorship of Publications Board banned the
226:
Among the first 13 books to be banned (announced in the
534:
On 11 August 1999, the entertainment listings magazine
498:
287:
173:
100:
The committee, initially consisting of a professor of
724:. Dublin: Greenmount Publications/Original Writing.
652:
650:
648:
1033:Text of the Censorship of Publications Act, 1967.
1028:Text of the Censorship of Publications Act, 1946.
1023:Text of the Censorship of Publications Act, 1929.
1067:
645:
491:and was a significant factor in encouraging the
495:government to again amend the censorship law.
311:was against their censorship, while Professor
509:
992:
335:, which had been translated into English by
271:
893:
684:
682:
680:
678:
676:
412:. Irish writers who were censored included
1081:Book censorship in the Republic of Ireland
942:"Banned Irish Novel Finally Gets Released"
786:
590:Book censorship in the Republic of Ireland
268:was banned in the U.S. for several years.
825:
823:
821:
819:
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795:. The Arts Council/An Chomhairle Ealaíon.
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772:
770:
768:
766:
688:
250:and several books on sex and marriage by
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673:
315:was in favour. Keane read passages from
790:
623:"Censorship of publications in Ireland"
617:
615:
613:
611:
609:
607:
605:
1068:
944:. The Dublin Quarterly. Archived from
934:
862:
814:
804:
802:
763:
744:
719:
689:McGonagle, Marie (10 September 2000).
526:or promoted abortions were permitted.
165:of €63.49 or six months imprisonment.
853:
585:Censorship in the Republic of Ireland
562:", the first book banned since 1998.
602:
15:
1076:Politics of the Republic of Ireland
908:
799:
656:
499:Censorship of Publications Act 1967
288:Censorship of Publications Act 1946
174:Censorship of Publications Act 1929
13:
14:
1092:
1016:
993:O'Connor, Wayne (12 March 2016).
831:"Ireland: culture & religion"
691:"Censorship laws are out of date"
550:On 18 May 2006 Lee Dunne's novel
516:Irish Family Planning Association
573:Censorship: The Irish Experience
372:. Other authors banned included
71:
54:Censorship of Publications Board
20:
986:
960:
920:magazine banned for six months"
447:
104:, two members of parliament, a
738:
713:
149:, Ireland's official gazette.
1:
974:. Oireachtas. 1 February 2018
595:
565:
529:
749:. Lulu Press, Incorporated.
116:
91:Committee on Evil Literature
7:
578:
10:
1097:
791:Kennedy, Brian P. (1990).
510:Amendments to the 1967 Act
460:, a fellowship, including
168:
865:"Stitching Up the Tailor"
278:Emergency Powers Act 1939
272:Emergency Powers Act 1939
60:that are for sale in the
29:This article needs to be
745:Curtis, Maurice (2009).
720:Curtis, Maurice (2008).
258:. Surprisingly, none of
129:
863:Lovett, Gerard (2006).
454:Arts Council of Ireland
355:The Heart of the Matter
243:The Well of Loneliness
97:could be safeguarded.
76:On 2 October 1925 the
922:. RTÉ. 12 August 1999
552:Paddy Maguire is Dead
196:social disintegration
701:on 29 September 2007
695:Sunday Business Post
317:The Tailor and Ansty
299:The Tailor and Ansty
230:, in May 1930) were
217:William Butler Yeats
78:Minister for Justice
661:. National Archives
378:F. Scott Fitzgerald
233:Point Counter Point
62:Republic of Ireland
881:on 25 October 2006
333:The Midnight Court
136:Customs and Excise
102:English literature
841:on 21 August 2006
756:978-0-557-05124-3
731:978-1-906018-60-3
402:John Cowper Powys
365:The African Queen
106:Church of Ireland
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874:. Archived from
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837:. Archived from
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629:. Archived from
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406:Somerset Maugham
386:Ernest Hemingway
374:Theodore Dreiser
313:William Magennis
199:noble emotion".
108:clergyman and a
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82:Kevin O'Higgins
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972:Dáil questions
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430:Frank O'Connor
418:Benedict Kiely
390:D. H. Lawrence
370:C. S. Forester
350:John Steinbeck
337:Frank O'Connor
329:Irish language
325:Brian Merriman
309:Sir John Keane
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248:Radclyffe Hall
221:Seán Ó Faoláin
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1004:13 September
1002:. Retrieved
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978:13 September
976:. Retrieved
971:
962:
950:. Retrieved
946:the original
936:
924:. Retrieved
917:
910:
901:
895:
883:. Retrieved
876:the original
871:
843:. Retrieved
839:the original
834:
808:
792:
746:
740:
721:
715:
703:. Retrieved
699:the original
694:
663:. Retrieved
635:. Retrieved
631:the original
626:
572:
569:
556:
551:
549:
535:
533:
524:
519:
513:
502:
484:
481:The Barracks
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478:
451:
448:Arts Council
442:Iron Curtain
426:Kate O'Brien
422:Edna O'Brien
410:Evelyn Waugh
364:
353:
345:East of Eden
343:
341:
332:
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282:World War II
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256:Marie Stopes
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126:decisions.1
124:
120:
99:
86:Dáil Éireann
75:
53:
51:
38:
30:
518:'s booklet
493:Fianna Fáil
470:Brian Friel
436:. In 1950,
398:Thomas Mann
260:James Joyce
212:Mervyn Wall
188:consumerism
184:materialism
58:periodicals
1070:Categories
596:References
566:Criticisms
545:High Court
530:Since 2000
294:Eric Cross
192:immorality
159:Oireachtas
84:stated in
918:In Dublin
536:In Dublin
323:involved
201:President
117:The Board
952:1 August
926:1 August
885:1 August
872:Siochain
845:1 August
705:1 August
665:1 August
637:1 August
579:See also
541:brothels
485:The Dark
292:In 1942
139:banned.
296:' book
265:Ulysses
169:History
66:obscene
31:updated
1054:Memoir
753:
728:
1045:Oasis
879:(PDF)
868:(PDF)
627:Oasis
331:book
130:Rules
1006:2018
980:2018
954:2006
928:2006
887:2006
847:2006
751:ISBN
726:ISBN
707:2006
667:2006
639:2006
472:and
452:The
432:and
408:and
362:and
276:The
254:and
190:and
163:fine
52:The
444:.'
368:by
358:by
348:by
327:'s
246:by
236:by
1072::
997:.
970:.
870:.
855:^
833:.
816:^
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765:^
693:.
675:^
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625:.
604:^
476:.
468:,
464:,
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284:.
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