An Claíomh Solais, The Sword of Light

Protect Our Irish Heritage

Restore Irish Language Lettering

Do you feel politically represented?

Is Antisocial Behaviour a Problem for You?

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.

An Claíomh Solais means "The Sword of Light", and is named after an Irish newspaper originally published around the beginning of the twentieth century. This project is opening a window to that time, not so long ago, and sharing the hopes, dreams and visions of the men and women who founded the modern Irish Republic.

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!

Protect Our Irish Heritage

Revive the Feiseanna

When Will Ireland Be United?

Do you feel politically represented?

Collapse of the Terror

British Rule's Last Stages

What the Elections Meant

We have seen how in ancient Ireland the people were themselves the guardians of their land, doing all for themselves according to their own laws and customs, as interpreted by the Brehons, which gave them security, prosperity, and national greatness, and how this was upset by the English determination to blot out Irish ways, when came poverty, demoralisation and a false respect for English standards and habits.

The English power to do this rested on military occupation and on econ
Read more...

The Parting of Goll From His Wife

When they are shut up by Fionn on a sea-girt rock, without chance of escape.

A Dialogue

(Goll speaks)
The end is come; upon this narrow rock
To-morrow I must die;
Wife of the ruddy cheeks and hair of flame,
Leave me to-night and fly.
Seek out the camp of Fionn and of his men
Upon the westward side;
Take there, in time to come, another mate.
Here I abide.

(Goll's wife replies)
Which way, O Goll, is my way, and thou perished?
Alas! few friends have I!
Small praise that woman
Read more...

The Great Lamentation of Deirdre for the Sons of Usna

"As to Deirdre, she was a year in the household of Conchobar, after the death of the Sons of Usna. And though it might be a little thing to raise her head or to bring a smile over her lip, never once did she do it through all that space of time.... She took not sufficiency of food or sleep, nor lifted her head from her knee. When people of amusement were sent to her, she would break out into lamentation:—

Splendid in your eyes may be the impetuous champions
Who resort to Emain after a foray;
More brilliant yet was the return
Of Usna's h
Read more...

Coolock and the Union Jack

In recent days there's been an uproar over the appearance of the Irish tricolour, symbol and standard of the Republic, waving alongside the Union Jack during protest marches in Belfast. Outrage has been expressed in the halls of power from Dáíl Éireann to Stormount to Westminster. And in fairness it is quite a picture – not something you'd see every day.

But what do we really see when we look at this picture? Should we take it at face value or should we have a conversation about the cause and context of this undoubtedly historical event? Not a hi
Read more...

The Irish Flag

The Council of the Irish Citizen Army has resolved, after grave and earnest deliberation, to hoist the green flag of Ireland over Liberty Hall, as over a fortress held for Ireland by the arms of Irishmen. This is a momentous decision in the most serious crisis Ireland has witnessed in our day and generation. It will, we are sure, send a thrill through the hearts of every true Irish man and woman, and send the red blood coursing fiercely along the veins of every lover of the race.

It means that in the midst of and despite the treasons and backslidings of leaders and guides, in the
Read more...

Irish War News

THE IRISH REPUBLIC

Vol. 1. No. 1
DUBLIN, TUESDAY, APRIL 25, 19I6.
One Penny

“IF THE GERMANS CONQUERED ENGLAND.”

In the London “New Statesman” for April 1st, an article is published—“If the Germans Conquered England,” which has the appearance of a very clever piece of satire written by an Irishman. The writer draws a picture of England under German rule, almost every detail of which exactly fits the case of Ireland at the present day. Some of the sentences are so exquisitely appropriate that it is impossibl
Read more...