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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 27 December 2018
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.
1 Ken Loach (director), Jimmy’s hall (2014).
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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.
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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.
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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).
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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).
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