Heather’s interview tells the story of her coming of age during the 1950s and 1960s in Dublin, Ireland. She talks about her family life, education, and the youth groups she was involved in. Heather discusses the influence of her Protestant upbringing on how she socialised and courted in a predominantly Roman Catholic Ireland. Throughout her interview, Heather provides insightful commentary into the wider societal attitudes of women’s education and post-marital employment.

Heather talks to Steph about censorship in the media…

“Heather: […] There was huge censorship! I mean there's so many books and even Woman's Own I think was banned because it might possibly have told you about contraception or something like that or you know encouraged.

Steph: Giving you ideas.

Heather: [laughing] Yeah exactly! Yes yes! And I’ve em— I have always maintained that it was BBC television that broke us out of our, our little conformities. You know we suddenly saw people, “My God they’re getting into bed with one another and they're not married!” You know, “What's happening here?” and I mean there was no— no sex education or anything like that. And I remember one person I knew who was engaged and she'd sent away to I think it was Woman’s Own or something like that where you could get a leaflet about sex education. So she got the leaflet but she wouldn't share it with the rest of us because none of us were engaged or getting married so she wasn't wasn't going to let us read about it. [laughing] But I mean that you made— the number of books that were banned, films— you would go to a film and you'd say— you’d come out and say, “What’s that about?” because a huge lump had been cut out of the middle of it. So—

Steph: Was, was that a thing then? That, you know, later on you'd go back and watch that film and suddenly realise that there was a whole chunk out of it?

Heather: Yes! Yes, yes, yes, yes, so, “Now I know what it was about!” You know? Now I know.”

For more information on accessing Heather’s full interview or transcript please email faisneis@unaganaguna.org