Social Issues Explored in Their Relation to Ireland (Regan)

Issue of land seizure

• Politics behind land seizure in Ireland
• The farmers made up most of the population that owned the land.
• They were to become the capitalist class in Ireland
• Until the Great Famine the land was divided among the men in the family as they got married
• Land issues persisted from the early 1900s to the time of the play since the issue was on such a large scale, it merged with other issues that ultimately left the country in turmoil

Societal views of women

• In the 1990s Ireland was considered one of the most sexually repressed countries in Europe
• The Catholic church ruled with complete control until the time of the play when Ireland was going through drastic political changes. 
• Women were viewed as second class citizens with little to no rights of their own 
• Nuns made up the working class of women all the way up to the 1970s
• The ideals linked to women and the idea of them being second class citizens caused an even further delay in resistance. 

Being that the church and state had such a close connection thus far in the underdeveloped country made it difficult for resistance. By the Bog of Cats is considered a response to the social issues taking place in Ireland throughout the 1900s.

Citation:
pubs.socialistreviewindex.org.uk/isj91/horgan.htm.
Land and Politics in Independent Ireland by Terence Dooley