When We Fight We Fight For

Protect Our Irish Heritage

Restore Irish Language Lettering

Do you feel politically represented?

Should the GAA return the All Ireland to September?

When We Fight We Fight For—

The Irish Volunteers have stated our objects in the original manifesto. People have professed to find that statement vague and unsatisfactory. If they have mistaken the sense of the statement, the mistake is their own, and not that of the Volunteers. The statement itself is perfectly plain, and meant exactly what it said.

It had put it that the primary object of the Irish Volunteers is to secure and maintain the rights and liberties common to all the people of Ireland.

The first right common to all the people of Ireland is the right to national freedom. When I said at Glasnevin a few months ago that the Irish Volunteers and those who were associated with us in that day’s duty must stand together henceforth for the achievement of Irish freedom, and added that we knew only one definition of freedom, people, I was told, had thrown up their hands in mock horror and said ‘Pearse has let the cat out of the bag. He admits that the Irish Volunteers are out for Separation.’

As far as I am concerned, the cat has never been in a bag. I and the majority of them have been Separatists before we were Volunteers. Is it to be pretended that in becoming Volunteers we had become something less than Separatists? Personally, I have avowed my object at and ever since the very first meeting.

True, I have been willing to co-operate with those who do not go as far as I, hoping that the Separatists and the others might travel the same road as far as the others could go. I now fear that this has been a vain hope, that the roads have been divergent from the beginning.

There is nothing in common between those who hold the sovereignty of the Irish nation as the first article of their political creed and those who accept as ‘a final settlement’ an act which expressly denies that sovereignty. If ever the Irish Volunteers went into action it would go into action for Irish freedom. It would be wrong for me to say that you might soon be called into action. We have contemplated the possibility of action from the first day.

One thing that I can and will say is that a Volunteer should always be prepared for action. The need for the completion of our equipment is obvious. The time has come when every Irish Volunteer and every friend of the Irish Volunteers shall place everything that they can spare from the needs of those dependent upon them at the disposal of the Irish Volunteers.

Pádraig Pearse

From The Irish Volunteer. Speaking at the concert held for the benefit of the Equipment Fund of ‘G’ Coy., 2nd Batt., Dublin Brigade, at 41 Parnell Square, on 6th February.

Article originally published on: Saturday 19th February 1916

If you'd like to help with producing further articles, please sign up here!
More articles can be found 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!

Statue of Michael Collins to Replace the Spike

Revive the Feiseanna

Do you feel politically represented?

When Will Ireland Be United?

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?