A Vision to Realise: Ó Cadhain's Politics

Máirtín Ó Cadhain's political involvement began in the 1920s when he became an active IRA volunteer, rising through the ranks from local leader to significant national figure. He broke with the republican movement while interned during the second world war, and for a short period held out hope...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Canadian journal of Irish studies 2008-04, Vol.34 (1), p.18-27
Main Author: Cathasaigh, Aindrias Ó
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Black people
Emigration
Irish culture
Irish literature
Irish politics
Literary criticism
Political campaigns
Political revolutions
Socialism
Volunteerism
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Summary:Máirtín Ó Cadhain's political involvement began in the 1920s when he became an active IRA volunteer, rising through the ranks from local leader to significant national figure. He broke with the republican movement while interned during the second world war, and for a short period held out hope that certain politicians would advance the cause of the Irish language. After these hopes were dashed, his initial disillusionment gave way to a commitment to militant action to keep Irish alive. In the 1960s he returned to republicanism, and embraced socialism unapologetically in his later years. Academic interest has moved away from this aspect of his works as Ó Cadhain's political stances have come into conflict with contemporary mainstream discourse. Many younger Irish speakers have embraced his politics, however, and his concerns echo many of those articulated by today's activists. /// L'engagement politique de Máirtín Ó Cadhain remonte aux années 1920 lorsqu'il devint un membre actif de l'IRA. De chef local, il devient une personnalité nationale importante. Il rompt tout lien avec le mouvement républicain lors de son internement au cours de la seconde guerre mondiale. Pendant quelque temps, il espère, en vain, que certains politiques soutiennent la cause de la langue irlandaise. Ses espoirs anéantis, la déception initiale fait place à un engagement dans l'action militante pour préserver l'irlandais. Dans les années 1960, il revient au républicanisme et, à la fin de sa vie, embrasse le socialisme avec conviction. Le discours dominant contemporain et les positions politiques d'Ó Cadhain ne sont guère compatibles, ce qui explique le fait que le domaine académique ait délaissé cet aspect de ses ouvrages. Cependant, maints orateurs plus jeunes ont adopté sa politique, et ses préoccupations reflètent celles de nombres activistes actuels.
ISSN:0703-1459
DOI:10.2307/25515701