A Republican Perspective on Contemporary Irish Politics

In Ireland, there is no legitimate movement not only willing to do what needs to be done, but which has the ability to carry it out. While some organisations come close, Ireland lacks an extant group which can both offer ideas that can be acted upon in the modern world and which can answer the question of national unity.

There is only one ideology which can serve the Irish people, which can solve the problems our island faces. And that is the view of the heroes and martyrs of our nation: Irish Republicanism.

This ideology has been torn, manipulated, and twisted by bad actors on all sides of the "political spectrum", which itself is another tool of division. No group truly can claim to be the standard bearer of these views, for they have been co-opted, infiltrated, and in some cases willingly abandoned their principles in the name of "forgiveness", "moving forward", and "wokeness".

The actions of these groups have led to not only the stagnation of Republicanism as an ideology, but the muddying of its name in the eyes of good Irish patriots.

The co-option of Republicanism by socially progressive elements of the left has dirtied its name, by pushing divisive, and in some cases insane and unreasonable opinions on topics such as abortion, sexuality, and immigration. Alongside twisted versions of traditional republican talking points, it has alienated not only "conservative" patriots, but also a majority of the Irish working class.

But, do not be deluded. Padraig Pearse, James Connolly, Liam Mellows and Thomas MacDonagh, only to name a few, would not approve of their names being tarnished by those who say social progressivism and Irish Republicanism are intrinsically linked. We must separate them and their legacy from this twisted version of Republicanism, and recognise the relevance of their worldview to core questions intrinsic to our national identity and to the creation of a united, Gaelic, Irish Republic.

In the modern day, some groups which claim to follow the beliefs of these men and women in fact could not be further from it. They will preach the necessity of empowering the working class, but push narratives regarding immigration which do not benefit the working class, and which in fact serve the interests of their capitalist and elitist puppet masters.

"The right of the people of Ireland to the ownership of Ireland, and the unfettered control of Irish destinies".

Modern "Republican" groups will parrot this line, and the rest of the proclamation, yet insist that their policies which are detrimental to the ability of the Irish people to control their own destinies and their own nation are Republican, and can go alongside the views set out in that document.

The key principles of Irish Republicanism require the rejection of the institutions of partition, not only Stormont, the PSNI/RUC, and the other vassals of British imperialism in Ireland, but also the southern state, which itself is a product of partition, and if you reject that notion, then surely you will agree that the policies of its political institutions are dictated by the foreign, capitalist, and imperialist European Union. Making any hope to legitimise, or recognise it as legitimate is in vain.

They require the creation of a state, controlled by the Irish people, the Irish workers, for the benefit of the Irish people. Based on the principles laid out by the proclamation of independence in Liam Mellow's proposed 10 point programme of 1922, alongside other Republican theory from more recent times. A state in which the national spirit of the Irish people is free and whole, in which we may be free from the grasps of foreign influences which seek to subvert our culture and milk our nation dry of its economic resources.

Some people might reject this belief — they might say the traditional Republican way of thinking, that is, to work outside of the mainstream institutions, to create a new state, is outdated and idealist. But how is it possible for any movement to put in place our own system through the very system which we seek to replace? The political system is designed to make it impossible to effect real national change.

Only traditional Republicanism can provide real and tangible methods to create our own truly Irish state. Which of course means a Gaelic state in which the primary language is Irish. Which must be accomplished through opposition to the English language in Ireland and the promotion of the Irish language.

The movement of Irish patriots is shattered; the only path forward is a united front of those who share the same core patriotic principles, which are Republican principles. Ireland needs a broad front comprised of nationalists and traditional republicans who have been pitted on opposite sides of the political spectrum by those who seek to control us. This divide must be overcome, so the Irish people can move forward, together, to the creation of a legitimate Irish state.