Dublin Castle scandal

Dublin Castle in the 1880s

The Dublin Castle scandal was a controversy involving the administration of British rule in Ireland in 1884. Irish nationalists, including William O'Brien (via United Ireland),[1] alleged homosexual orgies among the staff at Dublin Castle, the seat of the British government's administration in Ireland until 1922.[2][3][4][5] Following a failed libel action, several members of the administration were convicted of participating in male homosexual acts.[6]

Allegations and libel action

In 1884, William O'Brien accused Gustavus (George) C. Cornwall,[7] head of the General Post Office (GPO) in Ireland, of being a homosexual.[8] In a subsequent five-day libel action, witnesses detailed Cornwall's homosexual relationships with soldiers, in areas including the Botanical Gardens, and his "duchess" nickname.[7][8] O'Brien won the case, triggering both celebration amongst Irish Nationalists in Dublin and across the country, and a crackdown on homosexual activity by the Royal Irish Constabulary.[8]

Criminal cases

Amongst those charged with conspiracy to commit gross indecency was Martin Oranmore Kirwan (1847–1904), a captain in the Royal Irish Fusiliers who was the son of a County Galway Anglo-Irish landlord,[7][9][10] following testimony from prostitute John Saul.[11][12] Kirwan, nicknamed "Lizzie" amongst the men involved,[7] was acquitted on the grounds that the Crown did not produce sufficient evidence, but resigned his commission.[13][14] Cornwall, who had fled to family in Scotland following his leave of absence from the GPO,[8] was acquitted of buggery charges, but was relieved of his position.[6]

Grocery and wine merchant James Pillar, known as 'Pa' or 'Papa',[7] pleaded guilty to buggery, and was sentenced to 20 years' imprisonment, the judge noting that Pillar was named in the trials of all the other men.[7] He was released on licence on grounds of ill health in 1894.[7]

Legacy

The scandal unearthed a thriving gay subculture in the city.[15][16]

Southern Illinois University Carbondale's Kevin Dettmar has stated that the scandal "paved the way" for the Labouchere Amendment, which made "gross indecency" a crime in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.[17][4]

Talks on the scandal have been hosted by Heritage Ireland at the Castle.[18]

References

  1. ^ Davis, Michael F. (2016). "A Little Cloud of Queer Suspicion". Joyce Studies Annual: 235. JSTOR 26288846. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
  2. ^ Cocks, H.G. (2003). Nameless Offences: Homosexual Desire in the 19th Century. I.B. Tauris. p. 140.
  3. ^ O'Riordan, Tomás (Winter 2001). "The Theft of the Irish Crown Jewels". History Ireland.
  4. ^ a b Gillespie, Patrick Michael, ed. (18 October 2021). James Joyce and the Fabrication of an Irish Identity. Netherlands: Rodopi. pp. 136–138. ISBN 9789004488243.
  5. ^ Earls, Averill (2020). "Solicitor Brown and His Boy: Love, Sex, and Scandal in Twentieth-Century Ireland". Historical Reflections / Réflexions Historiques. 46 (1): 84. JSTOR 48729161. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
  6. ^ a b Walshe, Éibhear (2005). "The First Gay Irishman? Ireland and the Wilde Trials". Éire-Ireland. 40 (3–4 (fall-winter)): 38–57. doi:10.1353/eir.2005.0032. Archived from the original on 12 May 2008. Retrieved 11 November 2014.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g "Behind the Scenes: 'We've seen the Pillars tumble' – The fall of James Pillar". National Archives of Ireland.
  8. ^ a b c d Lacey, Brian (2008). Terrible Queer Creatures – Homosexuality in Irish History. Wordwell. pp. 135–150. ISBN 9781905569236.
  9. ^ "Earl Euston's Libel Action". Northampton Mercury. No. 8826. 18 January 1890. p. 3.
  10. ^ "The Cornwall Fiasco". Freeman's Journal. Sydney, Australia. 13 December 1884. p. 5 – via Trove.
  11. ^ "The Dublin Scandals". The Weekly Mail. Cardiff. 23 August 1884.
  12. ^ Kaplan, Morris (2005). Sodom on the Thames. Cornell University Press. p. 201. ISBN 9780801436789.
  13. ^ "The Dublin Scandals". North Australian. Darwin, Australia. 13 February 1885. p. 5 – via Trove.
  14. ^ "Trial of Cornwall and Kirwan". Freeman's Journal and Daily Commercial Advertiser. Dublin, Ireland. 29 October 1884.
  15. ^ Dugan, Keiran (29 April 2024). "The Dublin Castle Scandal of 1884". editions.covecollective.org.
  16. ^ "Trial of Oscar Wilde". Certified Proud.
  17. ^ Backus, Margot Gayle (2008). "'Odd Jobs': James Joyce, Oscar Wilde, and the Scandal Fragment". Joyce Studies Annual: 109. JSTOR 26288723. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
  18. ^ "Pride at Dublin Castle: History Talk on the Scandals of 1884 | Heritage Ireland". HeritageIreland.ie. 2024.