Language, Resistance and Revival , livre ebook

Language, Resistance and Revival
‘This fascinating new study examines an essential part of the story of language revival and political conflict in Ireland. The interviews and analysis undertaken by the author promise to be of great interest to a wide readership.’
Dr Fionntán De Brún, Head of Irish Language and Literature in University of Ulster
‘An important contribution to our understanding of the impact of colonialism on minority languages, and attempts to revive those languages. It also explores a rarely documented aspect of the lives and struggles of political prisoners in Ireland and shows their contribution to the Irish language revival.’
Dr Féilim Ó hAdhmaill, republican ex-prisoner and Lecturer in Sociology and Social Policy at University College, Cork
‘This fascinating and most original study is to be warmly welcomed. We have here a work which should appeal to a wide readership both among the general population and among students of a variety of academic disciplines, including Irish, sociology, sociolinguistics, modern history, education, law, and conflict and peace studies.’
Dr Nollaig Ó Muraíle, Senior Lecturer in Irish, National University of Ireland, Galway
‘An excellent account of cultural colonialism in both its historical and contemporary context. While concentrating his examination on the case of Ireland, the author also places the process in an international context. He has had intimate access to sources beyond the reach of many others. This, along with his acute analytical and observational skills, has resulted in a work of real merit. A genuine treasure.’
Tommy McKearney, Former IRA Hunger Striker, historian and author of The Provsional IRA – From Insurrection to Parliament (Pluto Press)
‘The resistance of politically-motivated republican prisoners during the recent conflict in the north of Ireland has been well documented, but this is the first account which has the language revival as its central focus. That alone makes this a valuable contribution to knowledge. The story is a fascinating and politically instructive one which has not been told before.’
Professor Bill Rolston, Director of Transitional Justice Institute, University of Ulster
‘This book provides the perfect synthesis of insider knowledge and serious academic reflection. It benefits from extraordinary access to the ex-prisoner community, and the author shows a unique capacity to understand the historical and political complexities of their accounts. It will have an enormous impact on research seeking to understand grassroots resistance movements throughout the world.’
Professor Kristin Bumiller, Department of Political Science, Amherst College, MA, USA
‘An original and thought-provoking work. The combination of an author engagé and a rich body of primary evidence has produced a study that challenges many conventional features of ethnographic research.’
Prof Gearóid Ó Tuathaigh, Historian and former Emeritus Professor of History in National University of Ireland, Galway and Member of Council of State for President of Ireland, Michael D. O’Higgins
‘Profoundly personal and captivating ... Meticulously researched, eloquently and powerfully written, Mac Ionnrachtaigh’s treatise is a triumph.’
Dr Bree Carlton, Senior Lecturer Criminology, School of Political and Social Inquiry, Monash University, Australia
‘As a trade union, human rights and women’s activist, what resonates most strongly with me in this book is the understanding of how the power of imagination sparks the self-belief that is required, within those living in the most marginalised of spaces, to challenge invisibility. The test of healthy democratic practice is how it embraces, not excludes, such challenge and change.’
Inez McCormack, world renowned Trade Union, Women’s and Human Rights Activist
‘A passionate and rigorous work of importance to those interested in cultural, political and social liberation in Ireland and worldwide.’
Fergus Ó hÍr, Former Civil Rights activist, founding principal of Meánscoil Feirste and current Manager of Irish Language community Radio Station, Raidió Fáilte
‘At a time when the depoliticisation of culture is high on the political agenda, this work clearly illustrates the link between politics and language in a colonised land. The author’s impressive research gives unique access to a significant part of recent Irish history and, by detailing the achievements of the past, gives inspiration for the future. The book’s message is as relevant today as ever.’
Tomaí Ó Conghaile, Irish language activist, editor of Irish language magazine nós * and television/radio presenter

First published 2013 by Pluto Press 345 Archway Road, London N6 5AA
www.plutobooks.com
Distributed in the United States of America exclusively by Palgrave Macmillan, a division of St. Martin’s Press LLC, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010
Copyright © Feargal Mac Ionnrachtaigh 2013
The right of Feargal Mac Ionnrachtaigh to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
ISBN 978 0 7453 3227 7 Hardback ISBN 978 0 7453 3226 0 Paperback ISBN 978 1 8496 4845 5 PDF eBook ISBN 978 1 8496 4847 9 Kindle eBook ISBN 978 1 8496 4846 2 EPUB eBook
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data applied for
This book is printed on paper suitable for recycling and made from fully managed and sustained forest sources. Logging, pulping and manufacturing processes are expected to conform to the environmental standards of the country of origin.
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Designed and produced for Pluto Press by Chase Publishing Services Ltd Typeset from disk by Stanford DTP Services, Northampton, England Simultaneously printed digitally by CPI Antony Rowe, Chippenham, UK and Edwards Bros in the United States of America
For Terry óg (1969–1998)

a thugann spreagadh agus misneach dom i dtólamh
Contents


Acknowledgements
Abbreviations
Foreword by Phil Scraton

Introduction
1 Colonialism, Culture and Ideology
2 The Irish Language: Conquest, Suppression and Revival, 1169–1920
3 ‘Promoting Sedition’: The Irish Language and the ‘Orange State’, 1922–72
4 Imprisonment, the Irish Context and the Language
5 ‘Na Cásanna’: The Cages of Long Kesh, 1973–84
6 ‘Ar an Phluid’: The H-Blocks, the ‘Blanket Protest’ and the Aftermath, 1976–85
7 ‘Bringing the Language to the People’: Revival
Conclusion
Epilogue

Notes
References
Narrator Biographies
Appendix
Index
Acknowledgements
Ba mhaith liom buíochas ó chroí a ghabháil leis an iliomad daoine éagsúla a chuidigh leis an tioncsnamh seo ón tús; murach an cuidiú, an chomhairle agus an spreagadh s’agaibh, is cinnte nach mbeadh an leabhar seo indhéanta. Firstly, I want to thank all those narrators, three of whom, Willie-John McCorry, Billy Kelly and Eddie Keenan, are sadly no longer with us, who kindly gave up their time to speak about their experiences. This book is primarily based on your story and would not exist without your valuable contributions. I want to thank all those who helped me during my time researching at Queen’s University Belfast, most notably an t-Ollamh Dónall P. Ó Baoill who gave me kind help and guidance stretching over several years.
In addition, I must mention a number of others whose advice guided me along the way: Dr Nollaig Ó Muraíle, and Professors Kieran McEvoy, Bill Rolston, Gearóid Ó Tuathaigh and Mike Tomlinson. I’m particularly indebted to my friend Phil Scraton, who not only gave up his time to write a wonderful foreword, but also helped shape my intellectual journey and cajoled me to pursue this research to publication. A number of friends helpfully read drafts of this book, including my brother Niall, Ciarán Mac Giolla Bhéin, Seán Mac Bradaigh, Brian Kelly, Féilim Ó hAdhmaill and Nicola Rooney; Liam Barr gave invaluable help with compiling the manuscript. Fergal Mac Blaoscaidh was especially generous with his time and incredibly sharp analysis. My appreciation also extends to Ciarán Ó Brolcháin, who not only compiled a comprehensive index, but has also been on hand to help me with countless thankless tasks over many years. Go raibh maith agaibh a chairde.
Also, I’m eternally grateful to a number of friends and comrades who have given me invaluable practical help, not only with this book project, but also in a plethora of tasks and projects in an often hectic schedule – especially Michael McCann, Séanna Breathnach, Jake Mac Siacais, Seamas Mac Seáin, Déaglán Ó Mochain, Tarlach Ó Brannagáin, Colma McKee, Pádraig Mac Cathail, Barry Fegan, Rónán Ó Scolláin, Dónal Bairclaigh, Jim Turner, Séamas Ó Donnghaile, Breandán Ó Fiaich, Fergus Ó hÍr, Seán Mistéil, Pilib Ó Ruanaí, Orliath Nic Siacais, Conchur Ó Muadaigh, Séan Ó Corráin, Seamas Ó Tuama, Diarmuid Ua Bruadair, Cáitlín Ní Chathail, Micky Culbert, Pól Deeds, Máirtín Ó Dochartaigh (RIP), Fionnuala Nic Thom, Cormac Ó Briain, Gráinne Nic Fhearraigh, Liam Ó Maolchluiche, Pádraic Mac Oitir, Rab Mac Siacais, Francesca Ryan, Tomaí Ó Conghaile, Ursula Ní Shionainn, Eoin Ó Broin, Tommy McKearney, Lawrence McKeown, Fionntán De Brún, Denis O’Hearn and all those from within my own community and the language movement who have shown me great solidarity and comradeship over the years – there are simply too many to mention. Most importantly, I also want to thank my entire family, for raising me, inspiring me, tolerating me, listening to me and loving me these past 30 years. Most notably my parents, Mary and Terry, who have shaped my journey; and likewise my brothers Terry (RIP), Liam and Niall and their beautiful families, and my wife Maura whose patience, understanding, support and love always kept me grounded in reality! Is grá liom sibh uilig. Go raibh míle maith agaibh, tá mé thar a bheith buíoch.
Abbreviations
AN

Anders