Acts of Resistance

Two things I was reminded of at the RTÉ Folk Awards; the seats in Vicar Street must be the most uncomfortable in Dublin, and language is a powerful act of resistance.

I enjoy the awards every year but this year it felt like there was something powerful in the air. There was a coming together of culture and a cause, music of the people, the Irish language and solidarity with the people of Palestine.

People who speak Irish, particularly those who live in the six counties have been aware of the plight of the Palestinian people for many years. Those of us who haven’t been as aware, have had our eyes opened and our hearts broken by what we have seen mostly online in recent months. I, like many others, have become increasingly despairing and hopeless about what we have witnessed and how we can help.

That feeling of despair dissipated on Tuesday night last, as musicians, singers and activists like Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin, Darragh Lynch, Leon Diop and Rhiannon Giddens spoke about Palestine and about defending and fighting for the Irish language. Rhiannon said:

‘I don’t know any of the stolen languages my ancestors spoke, so hold Irish close and fight for it.’

Speaking as someone who has been holding the language close, for what feels like years and fighting for it, professionally and personally, it gets tiring. In a world which increasingly feels like the only culture we respect is one of money and power, respecting a language and most importantly, those who speak it seems like a stretch.

Recent ‘debates’ on the Irish language, its place in the education system or in any part of Irish life have left us holding the language so closely we risk not allowing it the space it needs to breathe, grow or to evolve. Making space for the language to see where it could go next is preferable to being in defence mode.

Thanks to Kneecap who have paraded the language internationally on our behalf, challenging every narrow-minded assumption of the arts in Irish being twee, outdated, or irrelevant, have given the rest of us a well-needed reminder to get out of our own way.

Speaking Irish, partaking in creative endeavours in a language and culture which can feel sometimes under siege by its own people, is an act of resistance. Holding on, holding firm and standing together is what we do best.  

It was a night of solidarity, croíthe móra and very much worth the very numb arse.