Abortion is currently illegal in the Republic of Ireland as well as Northern Ireland, except in certain cases of rape or protecting the woman's health. It is legal in Great Britain, so women from the north and south may journey to England to carry out the operation, but it is certainly taboo to speak of.
Birth control methods were made legal in Northern Ireland when Great Britain modified its laws in the 1950's and 1960's, but they were illegal in the Republic of Ireland until 1980. A woman would face criminal charges if she imported contraceptives. There is the famous story of the "contraceptive train" in 1971 that would traveled from Belfast to Dublin, with 50+ women aboard who had bought contraceptives, mostly condoms. In 1973 it became legal to import contraceptives for personal use, but not for selling or distributing to other people. Gradually prohibitions from advertising, selling and such were altered, and in 1980 contraceptives became legal.
The Catholic Church officially opposes contraception, instead promoting Natural Family Planning, which is a method that is consistent with the natural design of the body, and reported to be effective when used properly.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
8 comments:
Is this for real??? I can't imagine that this happens in a place like Ireland!!! I mean its not a third world country by any stretch of imagination...its a member of the UK!!!! This just sounds crazy to me...I heard about it so I had to research it for myself. But I live in the USA where we have had condoms since the 1800s and birth control pills since they were invented in the early 1940's or so. And we have had abortion since it was mandated that it be available since 1973. How can women be deprived of even basic birth control like condoms?
Ireland is not in the United Kingdom.
Ireland is not in the UK? Since when? LOL.
Only Northern Ireland is part of the UK, the Republic of Ireland is it's own state
I am truly embarrassed that Steven S. identifies himself as an American who doesn't know that the Republic of Ireland is not part of the United Kingdom. He also states that he "lives in the USA where we have had...birth control pills since they were invented in the early 1940's or so". Oral contraceptives were not invented in the 1940s. He says he researched it for himself, but even the most rudimentary of research into the subject would have informed him that research into effective birth control in the United States did not begin until the 1950s and "the pill" did not receive FDA approval until the 1960s. I apologize to the people of Ireland and would like to assure them that there are Americans who do know that Ireland is not part of the UK. And to "me", who not only states "Ireland is not in the UK? Since when?" but adds the derisive "LOL" which assumes that any idiot would know this, I would implore him not make such statements without at least some knowledge of World Geography. Please don't think that all Americans are so self-agrandizing as these two. Some of us know better. I hope they both realize that they shouldn't make statements about subjects that they are less than informed about.
Do you think that any American knows anything about geography??????
"Abashed"
Dont be embarrased you clown.
The article is on Northern Ireland, not the Republic.
NI is a member of the UK.
So lay off Steven you fools as he is correct.
@ me,
Since 1922.
Post a Comment