The left-wing Irish language group Misneach met for their annual Meitheal (a combined working meeting and Ard Fheis) this past week. An Bun Beag in the Gaeltacht of Gaoth Dobhair in Dongeal was the setting for this year’s event.
In previous years the group have come together in Ráth Chairn, Inis Oírr and Corca Dhuibhne. It is a policy of Misneach’s to attempt to forge links with these minoritized Gaeltachtaí by holding their annual meetings in local community centres, theatres and halls.
On the first evening of the Meitheal a panel discussion was held with local community activists. The conversation focussed on the catastrophic effects state policy had on the Gaeltacht in Gaoth Dobhair. The obsession of the Dublin Government with neoliberal economics was hammered home. As was the devastating impact of partition on Donegal.
Senan Mac Aoidh of Misneach addresses the Meitheal
Parts of Gaoth Dobhair have unemployment and deprivation rates on a par with urban areas like Moyross in Limerick and Darndale in Dublin. The myth that the Gaeltacht is a golden cow full to the brim with cossetted Irish speakers wealthy off state grants is just that – a myth.
Donegal has also suffered particularly badly when it comes to a lack of investment in infrastructure. There county has no motorways, rail lines or connection to the natural gas network. Bus services are irregular and post offices have been closed by An Post at an alarming rate. The journey for the nearest cancer care can take over four hours.
Such an acute lack of services impacts on health, employment opportunities and quality of life. Irish speakers in the region invariably migrate or emigrate when they are young, with many settling in Scotland.
Day two of the Meitheal saw organisational reports and discussions on the development of Misneach.
There was also a talk with members of Misneachd, an organisation based in Scotland working along the same lines as its Irish counterpart. This was followed by a film and discussion with a Gaeltacht volunteer who had spent time in Rojava in Kurdistan. While there he helped to fight ISIS and build the ecological and feminist revolution in the region.
The Rojava revolution discussion
The day’s events closed with a workshop on socialism and its relevance to the Irish language community. In the evening there was music and poetry in Teach Hiúdaí Bheag.
On the final day, a workshop on house building, with both a technical and practical element, was held near Rann na Feirste. Misneach hope to build autonomous cooperatives in the Gaeltachtaí in the future around issues such as housing. The workshop held over the weekend of the Meitheal signals the beginning of that process.
Misneach have big plans for the year ahead. Mar sin, coimeád súil amach!