Censorship in Ireland, Then and Now - The Wild Geese
2024-03-29T15:01:50Z
https://thewildgeese.irish/forum/topics/censorship-in-ireland-then-and-now?commentId=6442157%3AComment%3A51849&feed=yes&xn_auth=no
When Brendan Behan's Borstal…
tag:thewildgeese.irish,2014-04-12:6442157:Comment:87986
2014-04-12T06:05:06.777Z
Against The Wind
https://thewildgeese.irish/profile/AgainstTheWind
<p>When Brendan Behan's <em>Borstal Boy</em> was banned in the late 1950s the <em>Irish Times</em> featured a cartoon of two men passing a newsagent placard reading " Irish Author Banned " one man says to the other, ' Success upon success, I'd say'. Behan used to say if all the books banned in Ireland were printed in Irish the language would thrive.</p>
<p>On hearing the above book was also banned in Australia Behan's acerbic comment was " Australia; where's that?"</p>
<p>James O'Brien (…</p>
<p>When Brendan Behan's <em>Borstal Boy</em> was banned in the late 1950s the <em>Irish Times</em> featured a cartoon of two men passing a newsagent placard reading " Irish Author Banned " one man says to the other, ' Success upon success, I'd say'. Behan used to say if all the books banned in Ireland were printed in Irish the language would thrive.</p>
<p>On hearing the above book was also banned in Australia Behan's acerbic comment was " Australia; where's that?"</p>
<p>James O'Brien ( Against The Wind)</p>
My mother-in-law had the same…
tag:thewildgeese.irish,2014-04-10:6442157:Comment:87597
2014-04-10T02:07:46.941Z
Geraldine Callaghan
https://thewildgeese.irish/profile/GeraldineCallaghan
My mother-in-law had the same saying....May she R.I.P.
My mother-in-law had the same saying....May she R.I.P.
So few know about this, or ap…
tag:thewildgeese.irish,2014-03-03:6442157:Comment:81077
2014-03-03T21:23:59.103Z
Mike morley
https://thewildgeese.irish/profile/Mikemorley
<p>So few know about this, or apparently even care. I wrote in my Irish American News column about this some 8 years ago. I interviewed Coogan recently and showed him a copy of Mary's book. He said he had heard of it but never actually seen it I gave him the copy. --- …</p>
<p></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"></p>
<p>So few know about this, or apparently even care. I wrote in my Irish American News column about this some 8 years ago. I interviewed Coogan recently and showed him a copy of Mary's book. He said he had heard of it but never actually seen it I gave him the copy. --- </p>
<p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';">NAUGHTY MARY, WHIST YER GOB.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span> I don’t recall how I came across this book about Mary McAleese, the first Irish President born in British-ruled Northern Ireland. But with Christmas coming up the end of the month, it’s a good time to recommend her inspiring biography by Ray MacManais titled “The Road From Ardoyne, The Making of a President”. (Brandon Books - Mount Eagle Publications, Dingle, Co. Kerry, Ireland,</span> <span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';">ISBN: 0863223419)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span> Mary was raised in the Ardoyne, a poor Catholic Belfast neighborhood that’s borne the brunt of many pogroms by pro-British mobs over the years. Ardoyne is home to Holy Cross School for Girls where day after day in 2001 and 2002 Royal Police allowed Protestant “neighbors” and members of pro-British UDA and UVF paramilitaries to pelt Catholic parents and their daughters with spit, abuse, bags of urine and explosive devices as they made their way to grade school.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Back in 1969 the Ardoyne was also set upon by Protestant mobs encouraged by RUC and B-special police. Catholic families in several entire streets were burned out of their homes and 17 residents shot. Mary’s father packed the family up and drove down to Dublin. They returned, but had to once again abandon their home when it came under repeated attack.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span> I decided this would be a great read, and went off to Border’s to pick up a copy. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The book was published in hardcover in 2004 and paperback a year later, but Borders had never heard of the title and did not have it in inventory. My odyssey had begun. An online search of Brentano’s and other American booksellers was also futile. Amazon.com had a few copies, used and new, but all were from the UK- booksellers at the Scottish Parliament, the British Parliament, and smaller private shops- that’s where the interest lay. I ordered two and waited for them to arrive.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span> Meanwhile, I checked with an Irish librarian at my local public library. “I’ve never heard of it” she said, but ran a search of the Illinois system. She came up with one copy, not in Chicago, but down in Urbana in an Irish collection at the U of I. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had it sent up. Then I ran into Irish American News’ long time book reviewer, Frank West, a man who’s had the tenacity to devour and review thousands of Irish titles over the years. No dice. Out of curiosity I touched base with Peg Reid, librarian at the Irish American Heritage Center. (“What’s the title, again?”) Peg looked it up and actually found one copy available there.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span> At Shannon airport this year I browsed the large bookstore at the duty free. On either side of the main passageway were two huge displays- biographies of Hillary and Billery. I asked the salesgirl about the Irish President’s biography. She rubbed her chin and looked ceilingward. “I can’t say I’ve heard of it”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> This wasn’t a big shock by now, even in Ireland. I was used to telling librarians and booksellers all about a book they should have been describing to me. So I asked if the manager was around… perhaps he had heard of it. She rounded up the manager, a pleasant and very knowledgeable young man. He knitted his brow, pursed his lips, rubbed his chin, but no cigar. He was equally dumbfounded, but wanted to know more about the book. When I got to the part about her family being burned out of Belfast, a light seemed to come on. “Oh, that’s a no-no”, he said. “A no-no- What do you mean?” He told me that the President was not supposed to make any controversial statements. Apparently fiery attacks by armed police and klan-like religious vigilantes were not fit for discussion, especially by the country’s President.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span> Like Alice discovered in Wonderland, things were getting curiouser and curiouser. You’d have thought I was asking for copies of Ulysses, or Naked Lunch. But of course everyone would recognize those titles right off; and they’d have copies on hand. I called the Irish Consulate here and, sure enough, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the secretary also had not heard of the book. Considering the book was about the boss, and written with her approval, one would think they’d have a big stack on hand. She put me on hold and got back in a minute or two. Yes, the vice-consul and consul had heard of the book. I mentioned the Shannon experience. “Oh, that’s a small bookstore”. The consuls suggested I try the big Irish bookseller, Easons. (Easons does not carry it.) They suggested Amazon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> I told her the hard cover came out in 2004. “Oh, 2004. You know they only come out for awhile and then they’re gone”. I pointed out that 2004 was only 2 years ago and that the paperback was released only last year. Besides, the book didn’t sell out, it had never been put on the shelves in the first place. I could tell the receiver on the other end had morphed into a hot pratie. “Go to Amazon. Try Amazon”. “Sure thing. Thank You”.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span> McAleese’s account of her stint as a reporter and researcher for the government-owned RTE during the hunger strikes, a period she describes as "the most difficult, the darkest, the worst time of my life", may be considered even more of a “no-no”, something best kept in the closet behind the Waterford shamrock bowls. McAleese has compared working for RTE current affairs back then to working for the East German secret police. It was a sticky situation. Some former staffers maintain that up to 15 members of the Official IRA or Workers Party were ensconced in key positions at RTE. They were anti-Republican, anti-Nationalist, and courted the Unionist point of view in their programming. McAleese (in her diary): “RTE journalists…never did their research, never did their homework. They would come to Belfast and head straight for the bar of the Europa Hotel. They used to get their information, or a version of the information, from the RUC Press Office.” “H-Block coverage is biased at worst, misguided at best.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span> So, buy the book. Buy a couple of copies if you can round them up, and give one to a friend. Pass your copy around when you’re done. You will have the thrill of beating the system and tasting forbidden fruit, all from the comfort of your easy chair.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';">Watch IRISH JOURNAL TV</span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Chicago- All cable systems: Channel 19: Monday 7PM, Tuesday 2PM</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Comcast- (Elmhurst bills) 41 West suburbs– Channel 19: Tuesday 7:30 PM</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Comcast- (Skokie bills) 24 North suburbs – Ch. 19 (or 35): Tuesday, 6PM</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>E-mail: <a rel="nofollow" href="mailto:tvmikemorley@aol.com">IrishTV@ameritech.net</a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';">© Mike Morley</span> 2006</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';"> </span></p>
On this day 1994 - Irish Gove…
tag:thewildgeese.irish,2014-01-11:6442157:Comment:72069
2014-01-11T12:20:28.818Z
Nollaig 2016
https://thewildgeese.irish/profile/BelindaEvangelista
<p>On this day <span>1994 - Irish Government announces the end of a 15-year broadcasting ban on the IRA and its political arm Sinn Féin.</span></p>
<p>On this day <span>1994 - Irish Government announces the end of a 15-year broadcasting ban on the IRA and its political arm Sinn Féin.</span></p>
I wonder if they ever saw it…
tag:thewildgeese.irish,2013-10-13:6442157:Comment:56357
2013-10-13T19:24:08.746Z
Maerton Davis
https://thewildgeese.irish/profile/MaertonDavis
<p>I wonder if they ever saw it though?</p>
<p></p>
<p>I wonder if they ever saw it though?</p>
<p></p>
The great stain glass artist…
tag:thewildgeese.irish,2013-10-13:6442157:Comment:56260
2013-10-13T14:35:41.592Z
annette counihan
https://thewildgeese.irish/profile/annettecounihan
<p>The great stain glass artist Harry Clark who created the bewleys windows and other great works was asked to create a piece for the united nations i think in the early 50's he created a 3 panel window of brillant colours from stories of famous witers there were ladies with low cut dresses, and men with far to tight spandex..:) so the piece was turned down and never used as a display in the UN it sat in the basment of his home for years untill his death it was sold...an art dealer from miami…</p>
<p>The great stain glass artist Harry Clark who created the bewleys windows and other great works was asked to create a piece for the united nations i think in the early 50's he created a 3 panel window of brillant colours from stories of famous witers there were ladies with low cut dresses, and men with far to tight spandex..:) so the piece was turned down and never used as a display in the UN it sat in the basment of his home for years untill his death it was sold...an art dealer from miami bought it and now it hangs in a museum in south beach miami...a really beautiful piece its about 10ft high and has 3 panels...it it hung very nicely with light showing off the colour but..What is it doing in south beach miami? like the wild geese it should come home........</p>
I remember at St Brigids scho…
tag:thewildgeese.irish,2013-10-11:6442157:Comment:56076
2013-10-11T22:04:37.358Z
Aine macaodha
https://thewildgeese.irish/profile/AinemacAodha
<p>I remember at St Brigids school in N. Ireland they banned us from going to the cinema to watch, Life of Brian, the nuns even picketed outside the cinema, I watched it a few years later and fell about laughing, it was so funny.</p>
<p>I remember at St Brigids school in N. Ireland they banned us from going to the cinema to watch, Life of Brian, the nuns even picketed outside the cinema, I watched it a few years later and fell about laughing, it was so funny.</p>
Well it was fun smuggling in…
tag:thewildgeese.irish,2013-09-30:6442157:Comment:53436
2013-09-30T11:31:45.634Z
Maerton Davis
https://thewildgeese.irish/profile/MaertonDavis
<p>Well it was fun smuggling in Lady Chatterley to school and we'd all have a read.</p>
<p>Sometimes some brave guy would smuggle a men's magazine like Playboy into school after the families trip to Belfast. That was the best but another friend who went to Synge Street got caught and had his arse beaten until it was red. Won't say what the Brothers did after that as it is now common knowledge.</p>
<p>Remember the Church ruled Ireland and what the Pope or the Bishops said was taken seriously.…</p>
<p>Well it was fun smuggling in Lady Chatterley to school and we'd all have a read.</p>
<p>Sometimes some brave guy would smuggle a men's magazine like Playboy into school after the families trip to Belfast. That was the best but another friend who went to Synge Street got caught and had his arse beaten until it was red. Won't say what the Brothers did after that as it is now common knowledge.</p>
<p>Remember the Church ruled Ireland and what the Pope or the Bishops said was taken seriously. Dev never moved without consulting Rome and Ireland's foreign affairs was the same.</p>
<p>There are some items that have to be censored for children. I do believe that but adults who have had a full education and exposure to the world should be allowed to make up their own minds what to read or what to watch.</p>
<p>Maerton.</p>
Utterly delightful - new to m…
tag:thewildgeese.irish,2013-09-26:6442157:Comment:51960
2013-09-26T22:47:11.457Z
Rose Maurer
https://thewildgeese.irish/profile/RoseMaurer
<p>Utterly delightful - new to me, of course, but You Tube is available!</p>
<p>Utterly delightful - new to me, of course, but You Tube is available!</p>
It has been said that of all…
tag:thewildgeese.irish,2013-09-26:6442157:Comment:51849
2013-09-26T09:44:06.177Z
Kieron Punch
https://thewildgeese.irish/profile/KieronPunch
<p>It has been said that of all the actors who dubbed Gerry Adams, the one he preferred was Belfast man, Stephen Rea, who would go on to play leading roles in The Crying Game and Michael Collins.</p>
<p>It has been said that of all the actors who dubbed Gerry Adams, the one he preferred was Belfast man, Stephen Rea, who would go on to play leading roles in The Crying Game and Michael Collins.</p>