You don't get to betray us and smile

You don’t get to lecture us on our blood and our past,
Famine headstones paving a road any can pass.
Our villages hollow, our young forced to flee,
While newcomers are housed and our people come last —
that’s your “compassionate” decree.

We remember the coffin ships, the millions who died,
Under cold British rules and indifferent pride.
That horror was on us by foreign command —
Not a blank cheque for every stranger to claim our land.

We emigrated through hardship, built lives far away,
Learned tongues, kept our heads down, earned our own way.
We never demanded old nations bow at our knee,
Or screamed “racist” till the host country ceased to be.

You sing of the martyrs of 1916’s flame,
Pearse and Connolly who fought for an Irish name.
They rose for our nation, our people, our soil —
Not to watch Ireland drown while you smile.

“More Blacks. More Dogs. More Irish” — that sign,
But it flew over Britain, not our emerald isle.
We know prejudice, yet we stand unashamed:
Ireland owes no debt to the world unclaimed.

Our music, our heroes, our poets in the yard,
Blindfolded and waiting for the English firing squad —
Those songs are for us, for our dead, for our own,
Not global anthems for whoever wanders up the road.

Our colour is pale, our hands hard as stone,
Laying foundations the world claims as its own.
But this is our island, our laws, our birthright —
Not a moral experiment or guilt-ridden flight.

You boast of “new Éire,” progressive and bright,
Rainbow votes and fresh gold in a false neon light.
Yet our working poor rot and our culture grows thin,
Towns changed overnight with no say from our kin.

We are not racist for wanting what all others claim:
A homeland that stays ours in culture and name.
The Japanese guard Japan, Nigerians guard theirs —
Only we Irish are shamed for such natural cares.

Our land, our laws, our people come first.
We’ll decide who enters — that right’s not reversed.
We remember our suffering, clear as day,
We won’t let it burn our nation away.

Ireland for the Irish — for the Irish alone,
Not a flophouse for every creed, colour, and tone.
We honour our dead. We honour our kin.
Our home is ours — 
Let our history begin.

Article originally published on: Wednesday 3rd June 2026

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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!

You don't get to betray us and smile

You don’t get to lecture us on our blood and our past,
Famine headstones paving a road any can pass.
Our villages hollow, our young forced to flee,
While newcomers are housed and our people come last —
that’s your “compassionate” decree.

We remember the coffin ships, the millions who died,
Under cold British rules and indifferent pride.
That horror was on us by foreign command —
Not a blank cheque for every stranger to claim our land.

We emigrated through hardship, built lives far a
Read more...

Ode to John Devoy, a Forgotten Hero

A forgotten hero it has been said
Was born in Kill at a time many tears in this country were shed
Just before the Great Hunger this child did arrive
And lucky for us Irish he was one who would survive

An immense gra for Irish freedom he held in his heart
And it was when he was young that he first made a start
In his quest to release us Irish from beneath British rule
He was beaten for not singing “God Save the Queen” in his school

Involved in three wars he was one of a few
To take part in all conflicts and see
Read more...

An Interview with Patrick Quinlan from the National Party

Welcome to another in our series of interviews with prominent figures and rising stars in contemporary Irish nationalism!

Today we're talking to Patrick Quinlan from the National Party, a rapidly growing and influential political organisation in Ireland, one of the few if not the only such group with actual elected representatives. Read on to learn about engaging with the system, winning hearts and minds, and the political future for Irish nationalism!

Perhaps you could tell us a little bit about yourself to begin with?

I'm Patrick Quin
Read more...

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?


Read more...

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