Language, resistance and revival : Republican prisoners and the Irish language in the north of Ireland.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Mac Ionnrachtaigh, Feargal.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Irish language--Political aspects--Northern Ireland.

Irish language.

Irish language--Social aspects--Northern Ireland.

Protest movements--Northern Ireland--History.

Protest movements.

Prisoners--Northern Ireland.

Prisoners.

Language and culture--Northern Ireland.

Language and culture.

Political prisoners--Northern Ireland.

Political prisoners.

History.

Irish language--Social aspects.

Irish language--Political aspects.

Northern Ireland.

Physical Description:

xix, 257 pages : illustration ; 22 cm

Place of Publication:

London : Pluto Press, 2013.

Summary:

This is the untold story of the truly groundbreaking linguistic and educational developments that took place among Republican prisoners in Long Kesh prison from 1972-2000.During a period of bitter struggle between Republican prisoners and the British state, the Irish language was taught and spoken as a form of resistance during incarceration. Based on unprecedented interviews, Feargal Mac Ionnrachtaigh explores the undertakings of veteran prisoners from the 1940s and 50's, Bobby Sands and the Blanket protesters and the female prisoners at Armagh and Maghaberry, revealing not only the impact of colonialism on minority languages, but the rejuvenating impact this reclamation of the native tongue had on cultural revival in the nationalist community within and beyond the prison walls.

Contents:

1 Colonialism, Culture and Ideology 20

2 The Irish Language: Conquest, Suppression and Revival, 1169-1920 57

3 'Promoting Sedition': The Irish Language and the 'Orange State', 1922-72 79

4 Imprisonment, the Irish Context and the Language 93

5 'Na Cásanna': The Cages of Long Kesh, 1973-84 113

6 'Ar an Phluid': The H-Blocks, the 'Blanket Protest' and the Aftermath, 1976-85 134

7 'Bringing the Language to the People': Revival 156.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 232-241) and index.

ISBN:

9780745332260

0745332269

9780745332277

0745332277

OCLC:

841393638