Banned books from Ireland’s room of ‘evil literature’ finally see the light of day

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According to the Guardian, for nearly a century, the Irish Department of Justice in Dublin hosted a secret collection of 12,000 banned books, seized by the Censorship of Publications Board for alleged indecency, references to contraception, or violence. Works by prominent authors such as Oscar Wilde, Edna O’Brien, J.D. Salinger, and D.H. Lawrence were among those interred. Orlaith McBride, director of the National Archives, announced that the collection, along with the censors' notes and minutes, will be transferred to the National Archives to be made accessible to social history researchers. This move is part of the repeal of Ireland’s historical censorship laws. Brian Hughes, a history lecturer, suggests this shift reflects Ireland's transition toward a more secular and liberal society compared to the era following independence, when the 'Committee of Evil Literature' was tasked with protecting public morals.