Meon Gaelach: Translating the Proclamation of the 1969 Gaelic Revolution
The Gluaiseacht Chearta Sibhialta na Gaeltachta was Gaelicism in practice.
The Proclamation of the Gaelic Revolution
In the third edition of Meon Gaelach, I have decided to translate and publish 1969 Iarchonnacht movement’s proclamation, a leaflet handed around to masses in Cárna, Conemara at their meetings.
As I've discussed before, the Gaelic Revolution of the late 1960s, spearheaded by Desmond Fennell's Iarchonnacht 1985 movement, is an essential guide for what Gaelic radicalism looks like in practice. Fennell’s name does not feature on this document — it is written by a native of the Gaeltacht, Seosamh Ó Cuaig, and activist Séamas Ó Síocháin. However, his rhetoric and philosophy of ethnic autonomy runs all through the text: Is mian linn go mbeidh pobal larchonnacht mar phobal eithneach agus mar bhuntaca de phobal Gaelach in Éirinn uile amach anseo — táimid dáirire faoin ‘Athbheocham’ (We desire the community of West Connacht to be an ethnic community and the basis of the Gaelic community in all of Ireland in the future — we are serious about the ‘Renaissance’).
West Connacht 1985
On the weekend of the 31st of May to the 1st of June around 70 people gathered who had interest in the scheme called “Israel in West Connacht” or “Plantation Connacht” in Kilkieran. We came from every part of the country. We founded “West Connacht 1985.” We put out a statement which said that it is the:
“aim of ‘West Connacht 1985’ to put folk life at the forefront in this era in West Connacht through cooperation between the region’s community and Irish-speakers that will settle there.”
That means new towns. It means an economy based on highly skilled manufacturing, shipping and fishing — that is, taking the economy of West Connacht from 100 years ago but in the forms and methods of the twentieth century, borrowing from the example of Switzerland and Norway. It means a local authority for the region, a national Irish-language newspaper there, a radio station, an airport to transport fish to the Continent. It means cinemas and films in Irish, a direct hospital, women’s hairdressers, butchers, publishers, laundries, tailors, cafes, etc. It means a large increase in the population of West Connacht.
We believe that it is sensible to strive for all of this as opposed to aiming for anything less. We believe that it is sensible because there is an abundance of intelligence in West Connacht and because West Connacht is situated in the middle of the west coast of Europe on the edge of the Atlantic and it faces toward the wise outside world.
There is an urgency to this work but the skills necessary for it are not yet available in abundance. They are to be found among Irish-speakers living in Ireland and Britain, and it is a good thing that they are; because we want Irish to be maintained and strengthened as a widely spoken language in West Connacht. We desire the community of West Connacht to be an ethnic community and the basis of the Gaelic community in all of Ireland in the future — we are serious about the ‘Renaissance.’ Therefore, the Irish speakers who have the skills must be found and immigration offices established to steer them to the West.
We are asking the main organizations and the main Irish language publications to recognize this opportunity and move their headquarters to West Connacht. We are asking the parishes of West Connacht — to the extent that they have not already done so — to elect parish councils and to establish a joint council. These councils would provide useful information about locations for new houses, factories, etc., and about the training required. They would take an active part in the work. But there is also a lot of information to collect all over the world, a lot to learn, a lot of research to do.
We have one committee in Dublin and a temporary committee in West Connacht which will become an elected committee when we have enough members registered there. We have a central committee that will meet from time to time in Portumna or West Connacht.
In one word: we want to provide a modern expedition for the Irish public and the youth in particular. If you would like to join us in this work in any way, please send a £5 annual donation to:
SEOSAMH Ó CUAIG, Kilkieran, or
SEAMAS Ó SÍOCHÁIN, St. Stephen's Green, Dublin.
Iarchonnachta 1985
Deireadh seachtaine an 31 Bealtaine go dtí 1 Meitheamh chruinnigh tuairim is 70 duine a raibh suim acu sa scéim ar a dtugaí “Iosrael in larchonnachta” nó “Plandáil Chonnacht” i gCill Chiaráin. Thángamar ann as gach cuid den tír. Bhunaíomar “larchonnachta 1985.” Chuireamar ráiteas amach a dúirt gurb é:
“cuspóir ‘larchonnachta 1985’ pobal agus saol ar thús cadhnaíochta na haimsire seo a thógáil in larchonnachta trí chomhoibriú idir muintir an réigiúin agus cainteoirí Gaeilge a chuirfidh fúthu ann.”
Ciallaíonn sé sin bailte nua. Ciallaíonn sé eacnamaíocht atá bunaithe ar dhéantús ardsciliúil, ar loingeas agus ar iascaireacht — is é sin, eacnamaíocht larchonnacht 100 bliain ó shin ach í i bhfoirmeacha agus ar mhodhanna an fichiú haois, ag glacadh sampla ón Eilvéis agus ón Ioruaidh. Ciallaíonn sé údarás áitiúil don réigiún, nuachtán náisiúnta Gaeilge ann, stáisiún raidió, aerfort chun iasc a sheachadh chun na Mór-roinne. Ciallaionn sé pictiúrlanna agus scannáin i nGaeilge, ospidéal ceantair, gruagairi ban, búistéiri, clódóirí, tithe níocháin, táilliúiri, caiféanna, srl. Ciallaíonn sé méadú mór ar dhaonra larchonnacht.
Creidimid go bhfuil sé ciallmhar é seo go léir a bheith mar aidhm againn agus nach fiú aidhm níos lú a bheith againn. Creidimid go bhfuil sé ciallmhar toisc go bhfuil éirim aigne flúirseach in larchonnachta agus toisc go bhfuil larchonnachta suite i lár chósta thiar na hEorpa ar imeall an Atlantaigh agus ar aghaidh an domhain mhóir amach.
Tå práinn leis an obair seo ach níl na scileanna atá riachtanach chuige ar fáil go flúirseach fós in larchonnachta. Tá siad ar fáil i measc chainteoirí Gaeilge na hÉireann agus na Breataine, agus is maith an rud go bhfuil; mar is mian linn go gcoinneofaí agus go neartófaí an Ghaeilge mar theanga labhartha larchonnacht. Is mian linn go mbeidh pobal larchonnacht mar phobal eithneach agus mar bhuntaca de phobal Gaelach in Éirinn uile amach anseo — táimid dáirire faoin 'Athbheocham'. Mar sin ní mór na cainteoiri Gaeilge a bhfuil na scileanna acu a aimsiú agus oifigí imirce a bhunú chun iad a threorú siar.
Táimid ag iarraidh ar na príomheagrais agus ar na príomhfhoilseacháin Ghaeilge an seans seo a aithint agus a gceanncheathrúna a aistriú go hlarchonnachta. Tåimid ag iarraidh ar pharóistí larchonnacht — sa mhéid nach bhfuil sé déanta cheana acu — comhairlí paróiste a thoghadh agus comhchomhairle a bhunú. Chuirfeadh na comhairlí seo eolas úsáideach ar fáil dtaobh láithreacha do thithe nua, do mhonarchana, srl., agus i dtaobh oiliüna atå ag teaståil. Ghlacfaidís páirt ghníomhac san obair. Ach tá mórán eolais le bailiú freisin ar fud an domhain, mórán le foghlaim, mórán taighde le déanamh.
Tá coiste againn i mBaile Atha Cliath agus coiste sealadach in larchonnacht a bheas ina choiste tofa nuair a bheas go leor ball cláraithe againn ann. Tá lárchoiste againn a thiocfaidh le chéile ó am go ham i bPort Omna nó in larchonnachta.
I bhfocal amháin: is mian linn eachtra nua-aoiseach a chur ar fáil do phobal na hÉireann agus don óige go sonrach. Más mian leat a bheith páirteach linn san obair seo ar bhealach ar bith, cuir sintiús bliana £5 chuig:
SEOSAMH Ó CUAIG, Cill Chiaråin, nó
SEAMAS Ó SÍOCHÁIN, Faiche Stiabhna, Baile Átha Cliath.
