FROM THE ARCHIVES:
Debate became hot and heavy at a Galway County Library Committee meeting over the neutrality of its books during the second World War, as this report recorded. – JOE JOYCE
A RESOLUTION, proposed by Mr. C. McGuinness, that no further books written by war mongers in the English language which were insulting to the Chancellor of the German Reich be allowed in the library, and that any such books on the shelves at present be immediately removed, was hotly debated for almost two hours by the Galway County Library Committee today.
Proposing the resolution, Mr. McGuinness said that as the country was neutral nothing should be done to show that they had any violent feelings in the present war. It would be very wrong to allow this country to become a clearing house for British Imperialistic propaganda.
The Chairman (Mr. E. Corbett) seconded. Senator Liam Ó Buachalla proposed that for the next twelve months they purchase no books from England, except books on technical matters relating to agriculture and industry. They could use the money this saved in rebinding what they had and in getting out the old Irish classics. As far as Mr. McGuinness’s proposal went, propaganda was so subtle that it was difficult at times to detect it.
Mr. McGuinness said that they knew very well who was publishing the books which were insulting to Herr Hitler.
Mr. P. Kelly said that if they were to remain neutral they would have to have regard also for Mr. Chamberlain.
Mr. McGuinness said that they had no books insulting to Mr. Chamberlain in the library. In fact, Galway Library was the most Imperialistic in the whole country.
Mr. Kelly said at the previous meeting Mr. McGuinness had made a statement that the library was full of anti-Catholic and anti-national books, and now he was accusing the committee of being an Imperialistic body. He thought he should be compelled to withdraw that remark.
Mr. McGuinness – I am 100 per cent. impenitent. They were, he said, representing a Gaelic county and they never spoke a word of Irish at their meetings. Recently, too, they had ordered that anti-partition slogans be pasted on their correspondence, but it was not done.
At this stage several members were on their feet talking together, Senator Ó Buachalla and Mr. McGuinness speaking in Irish. Mr. M. Finerty said that the people they represented with neither pro-British or pro-German, but Mr. McGuinnesss resolution was definitely Hitlerite.
Mr. McGuinness – I am no Hitlerite, let me tell you.
When Senator Ó Buachalla suggested that his proposition was an easier way out of the difficulty, Mr. Kelly said that the children wanted to have new supplies of fairy tales and the latest Buffalo Bills, and if they were to cut out all English supplies of books the stock they had now would soon become stale. Mr. Cunningham said it was not for the committee to dictate to people what they should read.
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