The Country Girls - Edna O’Brien
The Censorship of Publications Acts of 1929 established the Censorship of Publications Board. Books could be banned if they were considered to be indecent or obscene. From 1930 onwards, many books of undoubted literary merit, as well as serious books on reproductive issues and sexual health, were banned and listed in the Government publication Iris Oifigiúil, and in the Irish Times. Her frank treatment of sexuality in these and subsequent novels brought her into conflict with the Catholic Church, and these novels were banned by the Irish Censorship Board.
Strict censorship has since ceased, and virtually all books banned have been unbanned. A 2007 era listing of banned books showed that none had been banned since 1998.
