A LIVING IRISH LITERATURE

New Zealand Tablet, 28 July 1921, Page 11

A LIVING IRISH LITERATURE

Gaelic literature is still living (writes W. .11. Kent, 0.5. C., in the June Catholic World). . And as the movement of revival gains ground and Irishman, and Scotsman, too, return to their national languages, this literature is likely to become more widely known throughout the world, and has a bright future before it. The success that has already crowned other revivals of the same kind, for example, the Czech movement in Bohemia, may serve to reassure those Gaels who are disposed to"take a less hopeful view of our present situation. But apart from the pessimists who question our prospects of succeeding in this movement of Gaelic revival of restoration, there are others who are disposed to doubt whether such a success is desirable. Some feel that, however much a restoration of Gaelic to its rightful place as the national language of Ireland might gratify popular sentiment!, or patriotic pride, or racial prejudice, the triumph of English culture would really do far more to promote the true interests of Irish literature and Irish education. This view of the matter may well seem plausible to Englishmen or to foreigners who are acquainted with the rich English literature and know little or nothing of the Gaelic. But on further reflection it will be found to be an illusion.

Here, as elsewhere, the true interests of a national literature and the best hopes for the future lie with the native language of the people. And from the foreign language, and the foreign culture, Ireland can only get a literature that would be, at best, but second-rate and provincial. All the arguments that tell in favor of Anglicising Ireland might have been urged with equal plausibility in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, in favor of Gallicising England. For French was then the language of the ruling classes, of court and parliament and schools: and it was also the language of a. rich and flourishing literature. But the French of Stratford-atte-Bowe would never have been a match for the French of Paris in the realms of literature: still less would it be able to vie with the English of Stratford-on-Avon. And the same holds good of Ireland. Here, too. the true sources of poetry, and of all literature in the highest sense, must be sought in the traditions of the people and in the genius of the national language. It is true some good work has been done by Irishmen who write in English. But AngloIrish literature could scarcely bear comparison with that of England itself; nor could anyone who knew them both put it on the same level as the Gaelic literature of lieland. The literature that springs spontaneously from the native sources and faithfully reflects national folklore and legend and carries on the old literary tradition, must needs be written in the olden tongue of Erin.