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.