For all her natural beauty there is a great darkness descending upon this land and we are all just willing to stand by and do nothing. Yet the people who do something are immediately put into one of two camps: firstly the acceptable new left comprised of hardline identity politicos and industrial unions who have long sold out all working class principles and who now defend the censorship of free speech and neoliberal policies while also endorsing any EU-led directive that is implemented by Leinster House; or the second camp comprised of ultra nationalist reactionaries who know little of what they speak other than a handful of Patrick Pearse quotes merged with fascist rhetoric who stand in a sea of Irish tricolors while throwing racist insults and slurs to fellow workers, immigrants and other oppressed peoples who are not so different from themselves. 

Worse still, when both camps decide to protest they are organized enough to protest at the same time, with state forces there solely to keep the peace and to draw the boundaries of no man’s land to prevent a skirmish. I would be extremely interested to know what caliber of people are among the leaders and organizers of these groupings because it is a complete waste of time in terms of political activism and in invoking revolutionary change. Absolutely nothing can be gained from it and the entire charade is inert and falls directly into the hands of the state; invoking ridicule from mainstream media, senior civil servants and the elites. 

Worst of all both sections are predominantly comprised of working class people, who face the same economic hardships and struggles. Divide and conquer as per usual and nothing but the same old story. Both sections fail to appreciate any common ground and they would do very well to do so. To achieve that every mandate and protest must be based solely on facts and on the needs and rights of the Irish people and workers as a whole, regardless of left or right leanings. For it is time for the workers and Irish working class to fight collectively to focus on housing rights, sweeping social reforms, the implementation of a national health service, the revival of the Irish language and the nationalization of industry with a clear and renewed focus on bolstering local business and in improving the rights, pay and working conditions of Irish workers. EU-skepticism should also play a major role as it goes hand in hand with the need for Ireland to control her natural resources. Ireland could be one of the biggest maritime nations in the world if we were allowed to harness our natural resources and fishing industry as we see fit. We must also do away with tax breaks for multi national corporations and in using Irish airfields as landing pads for imperialist war machines. 

This week Taoiseach Martin was whisked off to the USA to spend his time and Irish tax payers money on implementing Irish trade and business deals with capitalists while no doubt engaging in a cúpla focal with some elements of the Irish diaspora. I am sure there was no mention of workers rights, conditions or pay during these engagements with fellow neoliberals. 

Worst of all was the parody and debacle witnessed when Martin was wheeled out for his meeting with President Trump. Yes, Taoiseach Martin played the part of the typical subservient Irish Paddy perfectly. In the face of a tyrannical mad man he bent the knee laughed, cajoled and nodded in agreement. Suddenly, we can spend billions on air defense, yet at the same time Taoiseach Martin emphatically stated to the neofascist autocrat that housing is the most important issue for Ireland. In reality the air defense expenditure planned for Ireland is ludicrous and unnecessary, and it should be spent on housing for all and in the implementation of a national health service to do away with a two-tier health system in a so called Irish Republic. The whole debacle was shameful as Trump and Martin laughed and joked about shamrock socks with the Taoiseach being lauded and praised for doing a ‘great job.’ Well, in the view of any thinking Irish person Trump played Martin for a fool and a half-wit whom he loved-bombed and flattered into submission, akin to a schoolboy fawning over a Bishop.

For all the talk of the ‘fighting Irish’ there was no fighting talk from the Taoiseach in defense of the Irish nation, in our right to self determination and sovereignty, neither on the war crimes of Israel and in our innate right to neutrality.

~ Gamhain MacCionaoith

Na Cealla Beaga, 

mí Marta 2025