''The Tailor and Ansty'' is a 1942 book by Eric Cross about the life of the

Irish Irish may refer to: Common meanings * Someone or something of, from, or related to: ** Ireland, an island situated off the north-western coast of continental Europe ***Éire, Irish language name for the isle ** Northern Ireland, a constituent unit ...

tailor A tailor is a person who makes or alters clothing, particularly in men's clothing. The Oxford English Dictionary dates the term to the thirteenth century. History Although clothing construction goes back to prehistory, there is evidence of ...

and storyteller, Timothy Buckley, and his wife Anastasia ("Ansty") Buckley (née McCarthy). The book was banned by the

Censorship of Publications Board In Ireland, the state retains laws that allow for censorship, including specific laws covering films, advertisements, newspapers and magazines, as well as terrorism and pornography. In the early years of the state, censorship was widely enfor ...

because of its depiction of premarital cohabitation, and its sexual frankness. ''The Tailor and Ansty'' was the subject of significant debate in 1942 in

Seanad Éireann Seanad Éireann (, ; "Senate of Ireland") is the upper house of the Oireachtas (the Irish legislature), which also comprises the President of Ireland and Dáil Éireann (the lower house). It is commonly called the Seanad or Senate and its memb ...

, Ireland's

upper house An upper house is one of two chambers of a bicameral legislature, the other chamber being the lower house.''Bicameralism'' (1997) by George Tsebelis The house formally designated as the upper house is usually smaller and often has more restric ...

, in which Buckley was accused of being "sex-obsessed", and his wife of being a "moron". It was said that they were examples of the "sores of moral leprosy" that could "undermine Christianity". Parts of the Seanad debate were struck from the record because they contained quotes from the book made by Sir John Keane, to determine if they were really obscene or not. Keane also made the point that an opponent, Professor Magennis, did not know what

sodomy Sodomy () or buggery (British English) is generally anal or oral sex between people, or sexual activity between a person and a non-human animal ( bestiality), but it may also mean any non- procreative sexual activity. Originally, the term ''sod ...

was. The wider debate concerned the activities of the then "Free State Board of Book Censors", and Keane's motion was defeated on a vote by 34–2. The local clergy arrived at Buckley's home, and forced him to burn his copy of the book. Frank O'Connor, who had become an authority on the issue, said that a boycott had been arranged against the couple. The book was adapted for the stage in 1968 by P. J. O'Connor, with Eamonn Kelly and Brid Lynch playing the Tailor and his wife. In 2004 Ronan Wilmot and Nuala Hayes revived the play with Ronan Wilmot playing the Tailor and Nuala Hayes playing Ansty respectively. In 2004

Cónal Creedon Cónal Creedon is an Irish novelist, dramatist, playwright and documentary filmmaker. Published books Creedon has written a number of novel-length works. * ''Pancho and Lefty Ride Out ''(Collins Press 1995) * ''Passion Play ''(Poolbeg Press 1 ...

wrote a radio adaptation, which was broadcast by Raidió Teilifís Éireann (RTÉ), with a cast of readers headed by Niall Toibin“The Tailer and Ansty”
First broadcast, October 2004; second broadcast, May 2007. ''Raidió Teilifís Éireann''. Retrieved May 9, 2015 The ban on the book remained in place until the 1960s.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tailor and Ansty, The 1942 books Irish books Censored books