Language, Resistance and Revival

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.

Autorentext

Feargal Mac Ionnrachtaigh is a Belfast-based community activist. He works as a Project Worker with Gaeltacht Quarter Irish Language Development Agency, Forbairt Feirste, and is chairperson of Upper Springfield Irish Language organisation, Glor na Mona. He is the author of Language, Resistance and Revival (Pluto, 2013).

Inhalt

Acknowledgments
Abbreviations
Foreword by Phil Scraton
Introduction

1. Colonialism, Culture and Ideology
2. Irish historical context: The Irish language- Conquest, Suppression and Revival: 1500-1971
3. Imprisonment, the Irish context and the language
4. 'Na Cásanna'- The Cages of Long Kesh 1973-1984
5. 'Ar an Phluid'- The H-Blocks, the 'Blanket Protest' and the Aftermath 1976-1985
6. 'Bringing the language to the people'- Revival
   Conclusion
   Epilogue
   Appendix- Narrator Biographies
   Notes
   Bibliography
   Index