Church and State: Censorship and Political Interference in the Libraries of County Mayo

Abstract

This article focuses on the role played by the Roman Catholic Church and authorities in the Irish Free State during the early years of Mayo County Library Service in Ireland. It looks particularly at the religious, political, and social agenda of the 1920s and 1930s and shows how this affected the library service in the county. The Censorship Act of 1929, which had severe implications for libraries, librarians, and authors, is explored in the context of Mayo and other Irish county library services during the period. The article also examines the appointment of a Protestant librarian in County Mayo, which became a great cause célèbre in 1930–31, resulting in the dissolution of the County Council and the near-collapse of the national government because of church and public reaction. It was an incident in which individuals from the highest echelons of the State and Church became embroiled. The article is based on an examination of surviving local archive material relating to Mayo County Library Service held in various archival repositories.