About
An Claíomh Solais, or as it was sometimes spelled, An Claidheamh Soluis, was originally an Irish and English language nationalist newspaper published in Ireland from around 1899 to 1932, although there were several years where it wasn't published at all, or it was published under the name Misneach or Fáinne an Lae.
Its name means "The Sword of Light", a reference to a magical sword wielded by Lugh, an important figure in Irish mythology.
The powerful romantic symbolism of the name calls to mind the incredible folklore, traditional culture and mythohistorical roots of the people of Ireland, who by the start of the twentieth century had suffered under foreign occupation for so long that they had all but lost their own identity and language.
An Claíomh Solais was originally published by Conradh na Gaeilge, or the Gaelic League. Eoin MacNeill was its first editor until 1901. Then Pádraig Pearse, the teacher and barrister who later became a key figure in the Easter Rising in 1916, took it over until 1909. Under his guiding hand the paper played a prominent role in the Irish Literary Revival, publishing original literary works in both Irish and English and devoting considerable space to talking about Irish culture.
Reading back over the old archives of this publication we glimpse the motivations and hopes of those who founded the Irish state and gave the people of Ireland their freedom from foreign tyranny, to pursue their own destiny as the people of Ireland. We read about their dreams, their amibitions, what they believed, and we may find their vision is as dramatic and compelling today as it was over a century ago!
The modern Claíomh Solais, the publication you are reading right now, is intended to revive the spirit of the fathers and mothers of Irish liberty, to refresh the interest of the public in their beliefs, and to strike anew the spark of Irish culture, to breathe fresh life into our beautiful traditions and language, slumbering deep in the ashes of a century of poor management with barely an ember remaining.
The intention of this publication is to reprint articles from the newspaper archives, translating old Irish language articles into English - unfortunately neccessary for the time being since most of them were written in cló Gaelach, or the old Irish font, which many people today are unaware even exists, let alone have learned in school.
We will also publish contemporary articles from other publications like the Irish Penny Journal and the Ossianic Society, new articles, poetry, stories, folklore and opinion pieces of cultural interest. It is further intended, where possible, to display the Irish versions alongside the English versions and so inspire greater interest in our beautiful native tongue.
The lawyers have sat in council, the men with the keen long faces,
said, "This man is a fool," and others have said, "He blasphemeth;"
And the wise have pitied the fool that hath striven to give a life
In the world of time and space amongst the bulks of actual things,
To a dream that was dreamed in the heart, and that only the heart could hold.
Oh, wise men, riddle me this:
What if the dream come true?
PH Pearse
If you would like to join this project and help rekindle Irish culture, following in the footsteps of MacNeill and Pearse, please get in touch here.
The project will follow in their footsteps along the path laid down by Hyde, O'Conaire, MacNeill, Cusack and many others through sharing news, ideas, articles of Irish cultural interest and more, as well as helping to support Irish language and cultural initiatives. You can find out more about An Claíomh Solais by clicking on the buttons below, or join our team as we begin the great Gaelic restoration!
An interview with Rob Carry
Good afternoon! As part of our ongoing series on rising nationalist stars and voices in Ireland, we're delighted to be able to introduce local community activist, businessman and politician, Rob Carry!
We've been talking about his amazing work for and with his community, as well as his aspirations and plans for the future.
ACS: Can you tell us a little about yourself, your background, and where you're coming from?
RC: Sure. So I’m a small business owner (I run a commercial gym, a martial arts club
Read more...
An Interview with Gavin from Offgrid Ireland
Good morning and welcome to another in our series of interviews with prominent figures and rising stars in modern Irish nationalism!
Today we're talking to Gavin from a prominent and influential online discussion group, the X SPACES Éire Community. This very active group has at one time or another hosted many well-known nationalist names and continues to grow in both size and influence.
ACS: Can you share with our readers some of your background and a little about who you are?
OI: I am an Offaly man, born and bred, now in my la
Read more...
A New Voice For Ireland
We are pleased to introduce a new rising star among Irish nationalists - although she needs no introduction for many of you who have attended Irish Ireland protests recently - Ciara Ní Mhainnín! Her uncompromising voice offers a clear challenge to the establishment and a great example for us all to follow.
Ciara very kindly took the time to join us in an online interview, which we are delighted to publish here.
ACS: What made you decide to get involved with the Irish Ireland cause, was there one particular event or was it more of a process?
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The last address of Thomas MacDonagh
There is not much left to say. The Proclamation of the Irish Republic has been adduced in evidence against me as one of the Signatories. I adhere to every statement in the Proclamation. You think it already a dead and buried letter, but it lives, it lives. From minds alight with Ireland’s vivid intellect it sprang; in hearts aflame with Ireland’s mighty love it was conceived. Such documents do not die.
The British occupation of Ireland has never for more than one hundred years been compelled to confront in the field of fight a Rising so formidable as that which overwhe
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From A Hermitage - DECEMBER 1913
I was once stranded on a desert island with a single companion. When two people are stranded on a desert island they naturally converse. We conversed. We sat on a stony beach and talked for hours. When we had exhausted all the unimportant subjects either of us could think of, we commenced to talk about important subjects. (I have observed that even on a desert island it is not considered good form to talk of important things while unimportant things remain to be discussed.)
We had very different points of views, and very different temperaments. I was a boy; my companion was
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On Emigration
From An Claidheamh Soluis, July 18, 1903.
In a letter to the Freeman’s Journal of Friday last, the Hon. Secretary of the Anti-Emigration Society directs attention to the grim figures revealed by the latest emigration returns issued by the Board of Trade.
‘They show,’ she writes, ‘that 23,401 Irish emigrants left the United Kingdom in the first six months of the current year as against 20,610 in the corresponding period of 1902, and that the outflow has therefore increased by 2,791 for the half year. Over two thousand of this incr
Read more...
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