The Irish Censorship of Publications Board was established in 1929 by the newly-formed Irish Free State (boy, isn’t that a contradiction in terms) to examine and restrict ‘obscene’ publications. Liam O’Flaherty’s The House of Gold had coincidentally been released that same year and enjoyed a brief time in print before becoming the first novel to succumb to the censors’ will in 1930 for allegedly being indecent- greed, priestly lust, alcoholism, sexual frustration, and murder are among the themes in the novel.

Many of the authors whose novels were banned during this period, such as Aldous Huxley, had their work restored upon later appeals or the censorship orders have long-since expired.

However, the 2013 release of The House of Gold will mark the first time this book has been freely available in Ireland in more than 83 years.

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http://bbark.deepforestproductions.com/column/2013/06/22/banned-books-awareness-the-house-of-gold/