The State of the Nation

The need for a ‘Monster Meeting’

Some of the largest political, public gatherings to ever take place in Ireland happened during the time of Daniel O’Connell, the largest of which took place on the Hill of Tara in 1843, where over half a million people were estimated to be in attendance.  These became known as ‘monster meetings’.

I have my own issues with O’Connell, he was a utilitarian and a pragmatist who saw little value in the restoration of the Gaelic language, unlike his future successors within the Gaelic League who viewed it as essential to distinguish us as a separate people to the English.

Despite being an Irish speaker himself and a devout Catholic and nationalist, he was in some respects a mild globalist who was loyal and respectful to the crown.  His Repeal Movement sought to repeal the Act of Union of 1801 and re-establish the Kingdom of Ireland and pursue Catholic Emancipation.

The motives of many of the prominent Catholic figures in Ireland were not always altruistic.  Ascendancy within the British establishment being the chief goal of some.  O’Connell himself although a beacon for the people, was firmly in favour of working within the parameters of the British parliamentary and legislative systems to secure the results he desired.

So he was certainly not the breed of nationalist who would later emerge in the early 20th Century.  He viewed English as the superior language and the official language of the western world due to the dominance of the British Empire in that period.

Therefore if Ireland was to be successful as a nation, to his pragmatic mind, we needed to adopt English as our first language.  "My body to Ireland, my heart to Rome, my soul to God," was his famous last quote on his deathbed in Genoa in 1847.  His dying wish was granted and his heart remained in Rome, while the rest of his remains are interred in Glasnevin Cemetery in Dublin.  The Round Tower on that site is the location of his tomb.

This betrayed perhaps a greater sense of loyalty towards his religion than his nation.  The year of his death was also the most significant and brutal year of ‘An Gorta Mór’ (The Great Hunger).  The Irish Famine - which has since been more or less proven beyond all doubt to be a genocide - saw the people of Ireland suffer their greatest losses and deaths in the infamous year of Black ‘47.

The Great Liberator from Cahirciveen, Co. Kerry (who was also a barrister and a freemason, as well as a skilled parliamentarian) was not even in the country during the time of Ireland’s greatest need.  He went on a pilgrimage to Rome and died at the age of 71, which was quite a long life for that time.  This for many, will forever leave a question mark upon his legacy.

However all this being said, few men in Irish history could claim to have been a greater unifying force than O’Connell.  He was universally loved.  William Gladstone, the British Prime Minister during the time of Charles Stewart Parnell, even referred to him as, "the greatest popular leader the world has ever seen".

Although he was devoutly Catholic, his movement did not seek to exclude Protestants.  His popularity and appeal lay largely in his ability to use diplomatic means to achieve his aims, championing moral force above physical force.

Such was his skill in applying political pressure through the spoken and written word, he did not approve of, or see the necessity for violent struggle, which he renounced and discouraged within his movement.  The romantic rebellions of earlier figures like Emmet and Wolfe Tone he viewed as reckless and a waste of good men, due to them having little chance of success.

So what can we learn from a figure like O’Connell?  We can learn that there is a historical precedent for Irishmen coming together to achieve their aims through non-violent peaceful means against monumental odds.  If we are to overcome the current incarnation and iteration of oppression on this island, the rising technological global hegemony, then we must try to unify rather than get suckered into the hatred and division.  They want us fighting and killing each other, it plays into their hands.  We need to broaden our imaginations.

I have not been immune to this on occasion myself.  We are all human, but now I fear the hour is so late that we must look in the mirror and deep within ourselves and evaluate where each of us have failed.  We need to try to capture the imagination of the majority of the people if we are to survive as a people.

Instead of trying the same thing over and over again with similar results, why not try something new.  Instead of going to the seat of government in Dublin and begging them to stop (which they won’t), why not ignore them? The way they have used the Gardaí to bully and tyrannise the people of this country means they have already ripped up the social contract and abdicated their moral right to govern us.  We need to garner popular support and we need to do that from outside the system.  It is only us who will save us and we need each other.

The Irish government have a duty and responsibility to the Irish people.  No one else.  They have not only failed spectacularly in that duty, but they have also become a hostile force that is attacking us spiritually and literally.  This country always was, still is and always will be its people.  We are irreplaceable.  Ireland is not Ireland without the Irish.  They do not possess our soul so they have not got the same attachment as we do.  I’m not, nor have I ever been a politician or political activist, I have not the slightest skill or experience in organising large gatherings.

I am however an artist and a writer with the ability to transmit alternative thoughts and ideas, who lives and breathes the soul of this land.  When Ireland hurts so too do I.  I’m currently in agony.  I want to make an appeal to all the prominent figures pushing back against this government and the tyranny they’ve imposed upon us.  We need to do something completely different.  We need to adapt.

If you zoom in on the flag on the right of the picture at the top of this article, you’ll see the current nationalist mantra written upon it - “Ireland for the Irish”.  The more things change the more they stay the same.  This should not be a controversial phrase.  It has been used throughout our history.  Their struggle is now ours.  Instead of getting caught up in civil war politics we need go further back to a time of greater unity.

We need to not only go back to O’Connell but further back again - to our ancestral roots.  Despite being a Catholic, O’Connell saw the symbolic value in Tara, the seat of the high kings.  Maybe adopting his tactics might not be a such a bad idea.  Instead of charging the energy of the Customs House, traditionally the symbol of British commerce in Ireland.  The seat of the theft of our wealth and resources.

Why not go to where the folk spirit resides.  To a place that is ours and not theirs.  This would create a logistical nightmare for the establishment.  Instead of protesting with the ‘Says No’ groups separately, what if they all came together and met at a central point in the early hours of the morning on a Saturday and marched to Tara with all the flags flying.  There is very little parking in the village so it would need to be done this way.

It would be a peaceful demonstration and mobilisation akin to O’Connell’s ‘monster meetings’.  We have every right to do it and Drew Harris and his goons have no business stopping us.  This could even become a regular event for all the groups.  I’m not saying call off your protests, but let’s be honest, they haven’t worked.  This would be a positive statement.  An outpouring of love for our country and our people, that would be impossible to dismiss and demonise.  The tourists who are regularly there will also have something of a miraculous experience to take home with them and convey to others.  The potential ripple effect from such an event would be unquantifiable.

Could you imagine the optics going out across the world of 30,000 plus patriots marching through the countryside of the magical, ancient county of Meath, then upon arrival standing on that ancient sight with a panoramic view of the land all around, all of us there for the sole purpose of reclaiming our motherland?  Not only would that bring a sense of joy to all of us, but the charge that would be created by such an event would be incalculable.  Each and every man, woman and child infused with the life force of Lugh.  Each of us taking turns walking to place our right hand on the Lia Fáil declaring our undying love for this place, in a reciprocal exchange of energy merging past, present and future.

The power of symbolism in this fight is so so important.  They know this more than we do and use it constantly against us.  They engage in black magic all the time when they attack.  Let us return serve with some white magic of our own.  We are in reaction mode constantly, they have placed shame upon us all, when they are who should feel ashamed.  We didn’t change, we stayed the same.  They are the ones who changed and they are trying to force us to also, or else.

Don’t let them.  Let’s forget these quislings and lay down a claim of our own.  Our country is dying.  It’s time to save it.  We can make the first steps by inspiring ourselves and by resurrecting the spirit, power and life force of the ancients.