My direct experience of the English speaking world did not even extend to all of the 26 Counties. And while, on a fine day I could see the Mountains of Mourne from our front door I had never been into the North Eastern parts of my country where a free-wheeling, swinging and debauched culture flourished beyond the strictures of a Papist Archbishop of Dublin.
The Internet had not been established but we had a Wireless set usually tuned to the BBC Home Service or BBC Light Programme and British Forces’ Network in Germany, for Radio Eireann did no come on the air before 5 PM, except for Sunday Worship and GAA games.and on Saturday for Rugby Internationals,. Most Catholics in those days in Ireland attended Morning Mass on a Sunday and were free to kick a football, play hurling, tennis, cricket or golf,
In England and Scotland, where the Monarch was Supreme Governor of two incompatible Reformed Sects, major Soccer and Rugby matches were generally played on a Saturday, with the possible exception of those involving Sheffield.
There was no film industry in Ireland in those days and nearly all the films shown were British or American. The depiction of genocidal attacks on Native Americans was frequent and unremarked but the display or suggestion of female attractions was constantly policed by leagues of decency.
European countries with Catholic traditions (except Ireland) had less hang-ups in this matter.
About 12 years ago I saw “On The Town” on the London Stage. I had seen and enjoyed the Film version starring Gene Kelly and Frank Sinatra in the 1950s – a pale and neutered version of as raunchy a show as I’ve ever seen.
The film was shot in 1949, whereas the show was staged on Broadway in 1944 whilst the World War was raging.
The stage show makes clear that the sailors’ only aim was to get their legs over before they get them and what hung between them blown off. Coney Island and Brooklyn Bridge have no particular attraction for them.
I think it was 1955 when an American aircraft-carrier and supporting destroyers with combined complements of 5,000 men paid a courtesy visit to Dublin. There were sailors everywhere, each with at least one woman on his arms. Not their mothers, sisters, or Irish cousins.
It was said at the time that Glasgow and Liverpool, Manchester, Cork and Belfast played their part in making the visit one for the sailors to remember.
I doubt many of them went to look at the Book of Kells or visit Joyce’s Martello Tower at Sandymount. But I may be wrong.
There was film Censorship in England which at times was stricter than in Ireland.
I saw an uncut edition of “THE WILD ONE” in the Sutton Grand Cinema in Dublin in 1954. I believe it was banned in England.
The reason was that at the time there was little chance of Irish youths acquiring powerful motorbikes and terrorising the settled population.
In England at the time there was full employment in many areas and wages were good. I saw the picture in London in 1964.
I believe it was the first time it was released there, and it was then very, very dated.
These are random memories of the 1950s.
Perhaps my contemporaries will say they are spurious, But I’m not posing as a public intellectual nor hoping for a Chair at Princeton.
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