My initial interest in censorship was sparked by a third-year module I took as an elective – it was my first exposure to writers like Moore and McGahern in whom I wound up developing a much deeper interest. I found the ‘unwritten’ texts and subtexts very enjoyable to work with, and I think the historical aspect appealed to me as well. I’ve always had an interest in literatures of violence and conflict, and I think there’s a fascinating interplay between the presence of a censorship authority and the culmination of violent tension in works that are operating under such an authority.
Sophie O’Grady, student
01 June 2026
PhD student wins prize for essay on censorship in Irish literature
Sophie O’Grady (English Research PhD) received the British Association for Irish Studies (BAIS) Postgraduate Essay Prize.
Sophie’s essay ‘‘A Conscience Worth the Name’: The Role of Censorship in Constructions of Post-Independence Irish Identity’ explores the challenge of deciding what needed to be censored in Irish literature after the country became independent. This debate influenced the development of Irish identity after colonialism.
She was awarded the prize by Martin Fraser, the Irish Ambassador to Great Britain, at a ceremony on 25 May.
I am delighted that Sophie has won this year’s prize. Her groundbreaking research on censorship in twentieth-century Ireland and the effect this had on literary production promises to be highly influential. As her supervisor I have greatly enjoyed learning from her research. Sophie's success demonstrates the current vitality of Irish Studies at King's and the innovative research it fosters.
Professor Richard Kirkland, Professor of Irish Literature & Cultural Theory
Censorship was a topic of discussion in Ireland before independence but could only be addressed after the nation gained sovereignty. The discussion touched on ideas relating the development of a postcolonial identity, preserving cultural heritage, and religious and nationalist beliefs.
In her essay, Sophie examines the arguments from both politicians and the public – asking whether censorship was required and the morality around it, what materials should be banned, and what counted as “immoral” or “improper”.
In this story
Professor of Irish Literature & Cultural Theory