Venereal Disease in Independent Ireland 1922-1953
Researcher: Dr Susannah RiordanIndependent Ireland inherited a scheme for the diagnosis and treatment of venereal diseases but the full implementation of this system of free clinics was prevented by civil unrest, the unwillingness of local authorities to participate and the parsimony of independent governments. In consequence venereal infection among the rural poor remained largely undiagnosed, untreated and under-recorded until the Emergency gave rise to increased rates of infection, rumours and localised venereal panics. Controlling venereal disease now became a priority for the newly reorganised health service but the decision to pursue moral rather than medical solutions was to prove futile. This work, based on extensive archival research, traces the evolution of venereal disease policy at national and local levels and the degree to which this was informed by discourses of class, gender and religion as well as by interest group politics. Two articles resulting from this research will appear in 2007, and will be followed by a monograph.
