The philosophy of the Gaelic League

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The Philosophy of the Gaelic League THE philosophy of such an association as the Gaelic League means no more than the body of thought by which it lives, the reasons it goes upon. One who is anything but a philosopher may attempt at least a sketch of these. In general the philosophy of the Gaelic League is nothing else than that of Irish Ireland, of the National Ideal, of Ireland a Nation, of Irish Nationality. Irish mind restored, living, in action, is the vital principle of each. Of the existence of a national mind the Gaelic League is assured, assured even of its having continuously existed for something like two thousand years. Irish history of itself is firm enough basis for that belief. Irish literature of itself is confirmative of the history, at least for half-way back. To dwell upon either, or both, is to be aware of a homogeneous community dwelling in its own island-country for a vast number of years, a community sensitively aware of itself as a historic entity, and endowed with character enough either to absorb invading forces or finally to eject them, if their will is, not to be absorbed. Only nationality can be the cohering principle where history can be summarised in such terms. The National Mind. Yes, but the world, even before that two thousand years began, had come to know of frustrated nationhoods. Nations had been led away in captivity, set to make bricks without straw. Others had been made captive within their own confines. Only when an imperial system consists entirely of colonies flung abroad by itself, can it be anything else than a 3