An Ghluaiseacht Nua: A Call to Action for 2025
The following first appeared on the Substack ‘Creeve Rua’ and is syndicated with the permission of the author.
The opportunity ahead
‘Of the nation's symbols the most august is her language, and it is a measure of Ireland's degradation that she can endure to see her language derided.’ —From a Hermitage, Pádraig Mac Piarais, 1915.
Heading into an Bhliain Nua, perhaps us dissidents can reevaluate this year’s most recent election results, as well as the current state of Nationalism, (real) Republicanism and anti-establishment Gael activism. If we're being honest, the infrastructure, sophistication — and most importantly — the cultural literacy simply hasn't matured sufficiently for an illiberal government. While there is great potential, and many wonderful individuals and groups beginning to take the lead, there is no coherent, ideologically sound and competent alternative that has taken shape, especially from a socio-cultural standpoint.
To oppose modern Ireland from a petty, trivial and reactionary standpoint simply isn't a worldview, certainly not one to build a movement behind. When it comes down to it, there are many cranks and grifters whose alternative boils down to returning to the Celtic Tiger or Ireland in 2004. To a large extent, opponents do not have an overaching cultural, economic or political platform which can answer the wide array of crisis in modern Ireland. This absolutely understates the challenge ahead of us, as I believe nothing short of a totalising cultural and spiritual revolution is necessary if Gaeldom is to survive to the next century. To have Anglicised patriots elected, and naturally become leaders of counter-cultural Ireland, would arguably set our nation back rather than forward.
The Dereks, regardless of their hypocrisy, are absolutely correct in deriding petty patriots who care nothing for our ár gcultúr, nós agus teanga dúchasach.
From one perspective, the boomer's betrayal of our nation, by voting in another neoliberal FFG government, could turn out to the be the greatest thing that could have ever have happened to those who dream of a Gaelic and Free country — but only if we play our cards right.
Over the next five years, all of us should make it our duty to contribute to establishing an alternative cultural world to modern Anglicised neoliberal Ireland. This does in a sense mean eschewing petty politics, and embracing a Meon Gaelach in one's life, public and private, inner and outer.
The necessity of Gaelicisation
‘Acht foighid go fóill, a thogha na ngaisgideach!, Ní mhairfidh an staid seo dhúinn acht tamall, Óir tiocfaidh spreac’ ’rís i nGaedhealaibh’—Don Phiarsach, Máirtín Ó Direáin, 1941.
To achieve a cultural rebirth of the wider macrocosm of the nation, we need an internal liberation of our own consciousness. If one does not have the mind and spirit of the Gael one will not help establish the world of the Gael. What kind of Finnish Nationalist force would not speak, act and live like a Finn? What kind of Hungarian culturalist would not be Hungarian in every manner that that entails? We would not tolerate or respect such poverty of any foreigner, we should not respect it in ourselves either.
So yes, this does mean you reading must ask yourself this (as well the author, ar ndóigh): are you really doing everything to live and think as a fíorghael? Do you speak Gaeilge everyday—and if you do—are you learning and salvaging more of a rapidly vanishing teanga? Do you play iománaíocht nó peil gaelach?—and if you do—are you contributing to the the Cumann Lúthchleas Gael? Are you taking part in the Church life of the Gael and your local parish? Do you play an instrument of our ceol traidisiúnta?
This can get tedious, but the point is hopefully clear: while our nation is rapidly disintegrating and facing ethnocide, we have to be the custodians of its vitality and culture. We cannot claim to be the leaders or intellectuals of an Éire Nua if we ourselves in our hearts do not know what this new nation is.
And it's important to note: this does not entail LARPing. I am not advocating for dressing up as a Victorian illustration of Fionn mac Cumhail and running to the Sliabh Bladhma mountain range, renacting mythic events. Play acting and dress-up achieves nothing.
Rúin na hAthbhliana
‘Dóibh siúd ar fad a sheas an fód, Tá mé ag seasamh anseo anois le bród.
Is mise Ghaeilge’—Níl mé marbh.
It's not about purity or radicalism, in fact it's about normalising the Gael in modern Irish life. We are not returning to some ancient former time, nor are are we burying our head in the sand pretending we've already established the 2048 Gaelstáit.
While it may seem trite, to envision the future we want we first have to see it and live it within ourselves and in our own lives.
Here are some basic aims all dissident Gaels should be sticking to for the new few years and beyond:
Foghlaim Gaeilge: a necessity is learning the language. A cúpla focal and ‘Is fearr liom Gaeilge bhriste’ is simply not enough. We all must perfect our chuid Gaeilge, lest we become unrecognisable foreigners to our ancient ancestors.
Comhar na gComharsan: Gaelicise your local area. Take part in parish life, your local CLG club, do whatever you can to put Gaels at the heart of your community.
Leabhair í: not only should you be expanding your knowledge and personal life as a Gael, but wear it with pride. Your heritage as a Gael is a shield against the modern world, against decadence and deculterisation, be proud of that. Say Go raibh maith agat on the bus and in public interactions, demand official forms are sent to your as Gaeilge, change your name and second name and support events, art and culture as Gaeilge (particularly financially). A total transformation is required.
If any of this seems daunting, it is because it is exactly the antithesis of the current Anglicised machine we’re dying under. To escape its grasp, and to liberate our province into being a nation once again, one must make himself or herself anew.