Laochra na hÉireann
Now that it’s official, I wanted to upload this short archived article — which very well on Facebook — onto Substack for safeguarding into the one platform, just to keep as a record of this story, a major one in this Odyssey. Congratulations all!
Coolock was a mixture of organisation and chaos. They fought a multi-pronged war against the regime and won. They fought them directly, legally and used non-linear warfare. They also exposed them and forced them out into the open to show their hand to the world when they set the riot squad upon them.
Pepper spraying pensioners is never good PR, the far right thing loses it’s meaning after that. They also showed they weren’t afraid to just burn shit if their demands were not met. That’s the last resort but a lawless regime must be met in the same spirit if they refuse to listen.
The tough people of Coolock showed that there is fight still left in the Gael. They are the people we can rebuild nation from. They looked the dystopian future in the eye and said “Fuck you”! Imagine helping those people truly understand that fire inside them and where it comes from.
Reconnecting them with the language would make them almost impossible to deal with. Teaching each and every one of those kids that their grandparents are the ones who freed Ireland the first time round. The establishment deliberately punch down on them and then the left wing branch of government feeds off them and patronises them. Imagine if they were inspired to look within and never need the state!
This image of the lad on horseback was sent to us from the gods. It’s an enduring iconic image that is symbolic of the Gaelic resurrection. The urban Na Fianna of North Dublin are the hardest people in the land to break.
When I first saw this image I felt something powerful was helping us. Just the raw wildness of it. It was proof for me that despite all the years of relative prosperity, they haven’t fully managed to tame that wildness in all of the Irish. It’s an amazing image and the regime couldn’t break these people after that.
The nation of Ireland owes the people of Coolock an enormous debt, even you middle class snobs who look down your noses at them. Even if you don’t realise it and even if you’ll never admit it. Absolute legends.
Michael Collins: “Give us the future..we’ve had enough of your past..give us back our country to live in—to grow in..to love.”
Padraig Pearse: "You cannot conquer Ireland; you cannot extinguish the Irish passion for freedom. If our deed has not been sufficient to win freedom, then our children will win it by a better deed.”
Great point, they tried to weaponise classism but failed cos of geography too.
The problem was this area is on the periphery of D2 of the northside right ?
That cohort suddenly felt encroached and wanted a citizen army. It wasn’t gonna be *their* kids.
If it could happen in coolock, the shiver hit their spines, it could happen in Clontarf or Howth.
Or these young foreign men without passports could rock up onto their thoroughfares, their malls,
into their gardens.
Was there a tacit endorsement from that too.
Whatever it was this community were an important template and so many businesses did great too putting their head above the parapet to stand with the community.
There was some elements that weren’t great.
Some big speaker going on negatively about gay people (not the messy trans issue) and old fashioned stuff about the church.
“Hey all I’m a lm old school bigot and representing you all.”. It felt really intentional. Really controlled op. Horrible content horrible optics.
Anyways great piece, v thought provoking !