Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-q99xh Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-26T03:34:48.656Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The Public Dance Halls Act, 1935: a re-examination

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 December 2018

John Porter
John Porter*
Affiliation:
Trinity College Dublin
*
*Department of History, Trinity College Dublin, [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Historical scholarship has interpreted the Public Dance Halls Act, 1935 in a relatively uniform manner. Most works on the subject have emphasised the expanding influence of Catholic church authorities over dancing following the enactment of the legislation, as well as the increasing restrictions placed on the freedom of dancers. The act has been viewed as one element in a sequence of pieces of legislation passed by successive Free State governments that aimed to limit and control citizens, including the Censorship of Films Act, 1923, and the Censorship of Publications Act, 1929. Using previously unexamined Department of Justice records, this article questions the dominant interpretation of the Public Dance Halls Act. It analyses whether dances moved predominantly into parochial halls, as has been the common understanding, and also considers whether the supposedly harsh restrictions imposed on dancers were actually enforced or observed. The article also proposes that two largely unexamined facets of the legislation and its subsequent implementation be given more consideration. Safety concerns played a sizeable part in shaping dancing regulations, as did the interests and worries of local communities. The article concludes by suggesting that lacunae in the historiography of dance halls in the 1930s are emblematic of wider gaps in Irish social and cultural history and recommends avenues for future research.

Type
Research Article
Information
Irish Historical Studies , Volume 42 , Issue 162 , November 2018 , pp. 317 - 335
Copyright
© Irish Historical Studies Publications Ltd 2018 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1 Ken Loach (director), Jimmy’s hall (2014).

2 Austin, Valerie A., ‘The céilí and the Public Dance Halls Act, 1935’ in Éire-Ireland, xxviii, no. 3 (1993), pp 7–16 Google Scholar ; Smyth, Jim, ‘Dancing, depravity and all that jazz: the Public Dance Halls Act of 1935’ in History Ireland, i, no. 2 (Summer 1993), pp 51–54 Google Scholar ; O’Connor, Barbara, The Irish dancing: cultural politics and identity, 1900–2000 (Cork, 2013), p. 42 Google Scholar ; Brennan, Helen, The story of Irish dance (Lanham, 2001), pp 123–128 Google Scholar .

3 Foley, Catherine, Step dancing in Ireland (Farnham, 2013), pp 160–171 Google Scholar .

4 Brennan, The story of Irish dance, p. 126.

5 Ó hAllmhuráin, Gearóid ‘Dancing on the hobs of hell: rural communities in Clare and the Dance Halls Act of 1935’ in New Hibernia Review, ix, no. 9 (Winter 2005), pp 9–18 Google Scholar .

6 Powell, Fred, Geoghegan, Martin, Scanton, Margaret and Swirak, Katharina, Youth policy, civil society and the modern Irish state (Manchester, 2012), pp 19–20 Google Scholar .

7 Smith, James, ‘The politics of sexual knowledge: the origins of Ireland’s containment culture and the Carrigan Report (1931)’ in Journal of the History of Sexuality, xiii (2004), pp 232–233 Google Scholar ; Inglis, Tom, Moral monopoly: the rise and fall of the Catholic church in modern Ireland (Dublin, 1998), p. 64 Google Scholar .

8 Ferriter, Diarmaid, The transformation of Ireland, 1900–2000 (London, 2004), p. 10 Google Scholar .

9 Martin, Peter, Censorship in the two Irelands, 1922–1939 (Dublin, 2006), pp 45–228 Google Scholar ; Rockett, Kevin and Rockett, Emer, Film exhibition and distribution in Ireland, 1909–2010 (Dublin, 2011), pp 299–335 Google Scholar .

10 Donnelly, James S. Jr., ‘Bishop Michael Browne of Galway (1937–76) and the regulation of public morality’ in New Hibernia Review, xvii, no. 1 (Spring 2013), pp 25–30 Google Scholar .

11 Fowler, David, Youth culture c.1920–1970: from ivory tower to a global movement (London, 2008), p. 91 Google Scholar .

12 Donnelly, James S. Jr., ‘The peak of Marian devotion in Ireland, 1930–1960’ in Stewart J. Brown and David W. Miller (eds), Piety and power in Ireland, 1760–1960: essays in honour of Emmet Larkin (Belfast, 2000), pp 273–274 Google Scholar .

13 O’Connor, The Irish dancing, pp 57–9.

14 Paula Vallely, ‘Nothing between us but the Holy Spirit: the material culture of dancing in rural Ireland, 1935–1960’ (M.A. thesis, National College of Art and Design, 2015), pp 28–48.

15 Sean Shanagher, ‘Recreational dance in Ireland, 1940–1960: politics and pleasures’ (Ph.D. thesis, Dublin City University, 2014), pp 126–9.

16 O’Connor, The Irish Dancing, p. 59.

17 An Garda Síochána, circular report on dance hall licences, Dec. 1938 (N.A.I., JUS/3/90/98/37, pp 1–17).

18 Public dancing licences granted by district law courts up to Dec. 1938 (N.A.I., JUS/3/90/98/37).

19 Flann O’Brien, ‘The dance halls’ in The Bell, i, no. 5 (Feb. 1941), p. 51.

20 Dáil Éireann deb., liii, 1251 (28 June 1934).

21 Smyth, ‘Dancing, depravity and all that jazz’, pp 51–4.

22 Irish Press, 9 Sept. 1935.

23 District Justice Gleeson, public dancing licences granted by district law courts up to Dec. 1938 (N.A.I., JUS/3/90/98/37, p. 11).

24 Brennan, The story of Irish dance, p. 126.

25 Ó hAllmhuráin, ‘Dancing on the hobs of hell’, p. 17.

26 Eoin Devereux, ‘Saving rural Ireland: Muintir na Tíre and its anti-urbanism, 1931–1958’ in Canadian Journal of Irish Studies, xvii, no. 2 (Dec. 1991), pp 25–7; Donnelly, ‘The peak of Marian devotion in Ireland, 1930–1960’, p. 275.

27 Rynne, Stephen, Father John Hayes: founder of Muintir na Tíre, People of the Land (Dublin, 1960), pp 168–169 Google Scholar .

28 Irish Press, 5 Jan. 1938; Riordan, Susannah, ‘“Storm and stress”: Richard Devane, adolescent psychology and the politics of protective legislation, 1922–1935’ in Susannah Riordan and Catherine Cox (eds), Adolescence in modern Irish history (Basingstoke, 2015), pp 129–150 CrossRefGoogle Scholar .

29 Vallely, ‘Nothing between us but the Holy Spirit’, p. 47.

30 Superintendent Flynn, Kildare district, Gardaí circular reply, 14 Dec. 1938 (N.A.I., JUS/3/90/98/37).

31 Chief Superintendent O’Halloran, Mayo region, Gardaí circular reply, 15 Dec. 1938 (ibid.).

32 Superintendent Heydon, Castlebar district, Gardaí circular reply, 14 Dec. 1938 (ibid.).

33 Superintendent Dunning, Swinford district, Gardaí circular reply, 13 Dec. 1938 (ibid.).

34 Superintendent Ryan, Enniscorthy district, Gardaí circular reply, 14 Dec. 1938; Superintendent Murray, Gorey district, Gardaí circular reply, 13 Dec. 1938 (ibid.).

35 Superintendent Chambers, Muine Bheag district, Gardaí circular reply, 13 Dec. 1938 (ibid.).

36 Superintendent Tobah, Ballinasloe district, Gardaí circular reply, 15 Dec. 1938; Superintendent Kelly, Athenry district, Gardaí circular reply, 13 Dec. 1938 (ibid.).

37 Superintendent O’Suillivan, Boyle district, Gardaí circular reply, 12 Dec. 1938 (ibid.).

38 Superintendent Glynn, Carrick-on-Shannon district, Gardaí circular reply, 14 Dec. 1938; Superintendent Bergin, Naas district, Gardaí circular reply, 16 Dec. 1938 (ibid.).

39 Vallely, ‘Nothing between us but the Holy Spirit’, p. 48.

40 Superintendent Jackson, Ballyconnell district, Gardaí circular reply, 14 Dec. 1938 (N.A.I., JUS/3/90/98/37).

41 Superintendent Ó Rioghardáin, Blarney district, Gardaí circular reply, 13 Dec. 1938 (ibid.).

42 Shanagher, Recreational dance in Ireland, 1940–1960, p. 74.

43 Ó hAllmhuráin, ‘Dancing on the hobs of hell’, p. 13.

44 Vallely, ‘Nothing between us but the Holy Spirit’, p. 48.

45 Superintendent Reynolds, Baltinglass district, Gardaí circular reply, 13 Dec. 1938; Superintendent Chambers, Muine Bheag district, Gardaí circular reply, 13 Dec. 1938 (N.A.I., JUS/3/90/98/37).

46 Superintendent Keyes, Abbeyleix district, Gardaí circular reply, 14 Dec. 1938 (ibid.).

47 Foley, Step dancing in Ireland, pp 160–1.

48 Vallely, ‘Nothing between us but the Holy Spirit’, p. 26.

49 Superintendent Heron, Newport district, Gardaí circular reply, 13 Dec. 1938; Chief Superintendent Quinn, Tipperary region, Gardaí circular reply, 15 Dec. 1938 (N.A.I., JUS/3/90/98/37).

50 Superintendent Heaphy, Buncrana district, Gardaí circular reply, 13 Dec. 1938 (ibid.).

51 Superintendent Jackson, Ballyconnell district, Gardaí circular reply, 14 Dec. 1938; Superintendent Ryan, Trim district, Gardaí circular reply, 13 Dec. 1938 (ibid.).

52 Donnelly, ‘Bishop Michael Browne of Galway (1937–76)’, p. 26.

53 Rouse, Paul, ‘The politics of culture and sport in Ireland: a history of the GAA ban on foreign games, 1884–1971’ in International Journal of the History of Sport, x, no. 3 (Dec. 1993), p. 333 Google Scholar .

54 District Justice Walsh, District Justice Forde, public dancing licences granted by the courts up to 1938 (N.A.I., JUS/3/90/98/37 pp 2, 12).

55 O’Brien, ‘The dance halls’, p. 51.

56 Ibid., p. 49.

57 Superintendent J. Kelleher, Tralee district, Gardaí circular reply, 13 Dec. 1938 (N.A.I., JUS/3/90/98/37).

58 Interview with Julia Griffin, cited in Schweitzer, Pam (ed.), Across the Irish Sea: an age exchange publication based on memories of Irish pensioners (London, 1989), p. 80 Google Scholar .

59 O’Connor, The Irish dancing, p. 78.

60 Chief-Superintendent Ó Dubhthaigh, Waterford–Kilkenny district, Gardaí circular reply, 16 Dec. 1938 (N.A.I., JUS/3/90/98/37).

61 Leitrim Observer, 6 Jan. 1934, cited in Cathal Brennan, ‘The anti-jazz campaign’ (http://www.theirishstory.com/2011/07/01/the-anti-jazz-campaign) (19 June 2018).

62 Shanagher, Recreational dance, p. 129; Shanagher suggests that the number of advertisements corresponded closely to the number of dances held.

63 O’Connor, The Irish dancing p. 78.

64 Shanagher, Recreational dance, p. 129.

65 Irish Independent, 14 Sept. 1935, quoted in Fowler, Youth culture in modern Britain, 1920–1970, p. 90.

66 Ibid.

67 District Justice Forde, public dancing licences granted by the courts up to 1938 (N.A.I., JUS/3/90/98/37, p. 12).

68 Superintendent Murray, Gorey district, Gardaí circular reply, 13 Dec. 1938 (N.A.I., JUS/3/90/98/37).

69 Superintendent Bergin, Naas district, Gardaí circular reply, 16 Dec. 1938 (ibid.).

70 Chief Superintendent Quinn, Tipperary region, Gardaí circular reply, 15 Dec. 1938 (ibid.).

71 Chief Superintendent MacCartaigh, Longford–Westmeath region, Gardaí circular reply, 15 Dec. 1938 (ibid.).

72 Ibid.

73 O’Brien, ‘The dance halls’, p. 48.

74 Chief Superintendent E. A. Reynolds, Wicklow region, Gardaí circular reply, 15 Dec. 1938 (N.A.I., JUS/3/90/98/37).

75 Ibid.

76 Chief Superintendent MacCartaigh, Longford–Westmeath region, Gardaí circular reply, 15 Dec. 1938 (N.A.I., JUS/3/90/98/37).

77 Summary conclusion to Gardaí circular replies, 20 Dec. 1938 (N.A.I., JUS/3/90/98/37, p. 4).

78 Chief-Superintendent O’Loinghsigh, Wexford region, Gardaí circular reply, 15 Dec. 1938 (N.A.I., JUS/3/90/98/37).

79 Superintendent Ó Meadhra, Kerry district, Gardaí circular reply, 15 Dec. 1938 (ibid.).

80 Seanad Éireann deb., xix, 791–2 (12 Dec. 1934).

81 Dáil Éireann deb., liii, 1251 (28 June 1934).

82 Cork Examiner, 18 June 1932, 29 Apr. 1933; Belfast Newsletter, 4 Dec. 1933.

83 The Kerryman, 24 June 1933.

84 Irish Independent, 10 Apr. 1934.

85 Irwin, Liam, ‘“The calamitous burning”: the Drumcollogher disaster of 1926’ in North Munster Antiquarian Journal, liii (2013), pp 241–265 Google Scholar .

86 O’Brien, ‘The dance halls’, p. 49.

87 Vallely, ‘Nothing between them but the Holy Spirit’, p. 51.

88 Irish Press, 13 Oct. 1934.

89 Public Dance Halls Act (1935/2), section 2 (2).

90 District Justice Little, Annual liquor and public dance halls licensing sessions, Dublin Metropolitan Division, 29 Sept. 1938 (N.A.I., JUS/3/90/98/37, p. 2).

91 Superintendent Murray, Gorey district, Gardaí circular reply, 13 Dec. 1938 (N.A.I., JUS/3/90/98/37).

92 Ibid.

93 Complaint of unlicensed dancing, Ancient Order of Hibernian’s Hall, Millstreet, Cork, 4 Sept. 1934 (N.A.I., JUS/3/90/98/1).

94 Complaints regarding dance halls, Waterford city, 24 June 1936 (N.A.I., JUS/3/90/98/1).

95 Ibid.

96 Ibid.

97 Superintendent O’Neill, Gort district, Gardaí circular reply, 13 Dec. 1938 (N.A.I., JUS/3/90/98/37).

98 Ibid.

99 Ibid.

100 Chief Superintendent Doyle, Galway district, Gardaí circular reply 15 Dec. 1938 (N.A.I., JUS/3/90/98/37).

101 Superintendent Heron, Newport district, Gardaí circular reply, 13 Dec. 1938 (ibid.).

102 Superintendent Murphy, Mohill district, Gardaí circular reply, 14 Dec. 1938 (ibid.).

103 Burning hall, Ballinagh, Cavan, 3 May 1934 (N.A.I., JUS/8/4); Burning of dance platform, Ballyday, Cork, 31 May 1934 (N.A.I., JUS/8/17); Alleged destruction of dance platform, Turgay, Cork, 14 Oct. 1934 (N.A.I., JUS/8/17); Burning hall, Kerrykeel, Donegal (N.A.I., JUS/8/48); U.I.P. dance damage to property, Ardfinnan, Tipperary (N.A.I., JUS/8/154); League of Youth dance, Kilmovee, Mayo (N.A.I., JUS/8/134).

104 Cronin, Mike, The Blueshirts and Irish politics (Dublin, 1997), pp 135–167 Google Scholar .

105 Kearns, Kevin, Dublin tenement life: an oral history (London, 2000), p. 91 Google Scholar .

106 Public dancing licences granted by the courts up to December 1938 (N.A.I., JUS/3/90/98/37, pp 1–17).

107 Ibid., p. 12.

108 Ibid., pp 2–6.

109 Connaught Tribune, 12 July 1936.

110 Irish Independent, 2 Nov. 1936.

111 Superintendent Peter Fahy, Sligo district, Gardaí circular reply, 16 Dec. 1938 (N.A.I., JUS/3/90/98/37).

112 Ibid.

113 Superintendent Flynn, Kildare district, Gardaí circular reply, 14 Dec. 1938 (N.A.I., JUS/3/90/98/37).

114 Superintendent O’Reilly, Bray district, Gardaí circular reply, 14 Dec. 1938 (ibid.).

115 Ibid.

116 Ibid.

117 Superintendent Breathnach, Dungarvan district, Gardaí circular reply, 12 Dec. 1938 (N.A.I., JUS/3/90/98/37).

118 Ibid.

119 Chief Superintendent Fahy, Sligo region, Gardaí circular reply, 19 Dec. 1938 (N.A.I., JUS/3/90/98/37).

120 Loach (director), Jimmy’s hall.

121 Superintendent Ua Ceallaigh, Letterkenny district, Gardaí circular reply, 13 Dec. 1938 (N.A.I., JUS/3/90/98/37).

122 Schweitzer (ed.), Across the Irish Sea, pp 26–7.

123 Summary conclusion to Garda circular replies, 20 Dec. 1938 (N.A.I., JUS/3/90/98/37, p. 4).

124 Conrad Arnsberg, The Irish countryman: an anthropological study (Prospect Heights, 1968), pp 77–84.

125 Connaught Tribune, 12 Jul. 1936; Public dancing licences granted by the courts up to December 1938 (N.A.I., JUS/3/90/98/37, pp 1–16).

126 Arvidsson, Adam, Marketing modernity: Italian advertising from Fascism to postmodernity (London, 2003), p. 27 Google Scholar ; Gaudenzi, Bianca, ‘Press advertising and Fascist dictates’ in Journalism Studies, xiv, no. 5 (2013), pp 676–677 Google Scholar ; Berghoff, Hartmut, ‘Consumption politics and politicized consumption: monarchy, republic, and dictatorship in Germany, 1900–1939’ in Hartmut Berghoff and Uwe Spiekermann (eds), Decoding modern consumer societies (New York, 2012), pp 132–133 CrossRefGoogle Scholar .

127 Pugh, Martin, We danced all night: a social history of Britain between the wars (London, 2009), p. 219 Google Scholar .

128 McCormick, Leanne, Regulating sexuality: women in twentieth-century Northern Ireland (Manchester, 2009), p. 8 CrossRefGoogle Scholar ; d’Alton, Ian, ‘A vestigial population? Perspectives on southern Irish Protestants in the twentieth century’ in Éire-Ireland, xliv, nos 3–4 (2009), p. 33 Google Scholar. Research for this article was supported by an Irish Research Council Postgraduate Scholar award.