The Ardfheis
An Craoibhin has declined to allow his name to be sent forward for the presidency. For the first time since its inception the Ardfheis will miss his presence: Eoin Mac Neill, our oldest Vice-president, will also be missed. Many other well-known workers in the Gaelic League will be absent. The brave and self-sacrificing O Rathghaille will be missed, for however ardent he was in any cause, he was always a fear laghach who was popular with all. The example of his earnestness and the gay hopefulness of his spirit will not be forgotten.
Policies championed by An Piarsach raised storms at more than one Ardfheis. He had a way of meeting his critics with a grand calmness, but the Ardfheis will not see him again. Eamonn Ceannt was another who had contributed much to the success of the Oireachtas.
Seaghan Mac Diarmuda was an earnest student of Irish and was elected on the Coiste Gnotha last year. Tomas Mac Donnchadha was seldom seen at Gaelic League meetings of late years, but his literary work has helped thousands to a truer appreciation of the Irish language and literature.
Peadar O Maicin, who, like O Rathghaille, died of wounds received in fighting, was a type of Dubliner that is all too rare. He was a tradesman with a fine intellect and a great love of intellectual advancement. He had acquired a fine knowledge of Irish, and his Irish studies he used as a means of interpreting the ideals of the people. Peadar was well known in the Dublin Gaelic League.
Our Runaire will not be with us at next week's gathering, but he is still in the land of the living, and he has not been convicted of offence against any law. Piaras Beaslai and his plays will be missed ; so will Padraic O Maille, Eamonn DeValera, Toirdhealach Mac Suibhne, Liam O Briain, and many others.
The Ardfheis must look beyond the rigid lines of our Language programme. It must recognise the duty that is now thrown upon the Gaelic League of preserving the national spirit and the national ideals of our people, and it must aim directly at giving national purpose to education.
Penal laws against the Irish language there are, and laws of more severity may be enacted, but we are not going back to the meek acceptance of repression. The Gaelic League will need courage; it will need, also, unflagging energy and industry. Our people are no longer blind to the anti-Irish purpose that has always characterised public education.
The Irish people are not without a measure of control in education. The managers of the primary and secondary schools will not be deprived of their control, and they are fully aware of the designs of English politicians on the nationality of their country. They will not, we feel confident, connive at those designs, and they will in future give due care and attention to the teaching of the Irish language and of Irish history.
The nation expects great things of the Gaelic League. The League will not disappoint the nation. Let us not dwell overmuch on the difficulties that lie in our way. Let us rather seek to discover what remains to be done, and let us endeavour to accomplish all that lies in our power to do. This is the day of small nations, of small nations that rely on themselves and remain true to themselves.
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