Irish Literary Renaissance - Building a National Identity

Written by Ben Kesp 

The Irish political landscape was certainly changing towards the latter part of the 19th century and so was the culture of a nation that had lost its identity for so many centuries. It longed for its history, its culture and to rediscover its own roots. What we have towards the end of the 19th and early 20th century is an explosion of Irish playwrights, novelists, dramatists and poets, each eager to explore and express everything that was Irish, including the culture and language, with many becoming involved in the Irish nationalist movement. 

Standish O'Grady 

It could be stated that it all began with Irish historical novelist and literary historian, Standish O’Grady (1846 – 1928) born in Castletown, Co. Cork in 1846. It was from his writing of the “History of Ireland”, containing four novels that would have a huge influence on many young writers, like W.B. Yeats, snowballing a movement that would change the Irish literary landscape to come and begin what would become known as the Irish Literary Renaissance, establishing such groups as the Gaelic League (Conradh na Gaeilge), The Irish National Theatre Society and Inghinidhe na hÉireann (Daughters of Ireland). 

O'Grady went on to write many historical novels reintroducing Irish Legends like “Finn and his Companions” (1891), “The Chain of Gold” (1895), “Ulrick the Ready” (1896), “Flight of the Eagle” (1897) and “The Departure of Dermot” (1913), “The Coming of Cu Chulainn” in 1894 was the first part of a trilogy which was followed by “In the Gates of the North” (1901) and “The triumph and Passing of Cu Chulainn” (1920). O’Grady’s work over his life time has earned him the title of “Father of the Celtic Revival”. 

W.B. Yeats

William Butler Yeats (W.B.) (1865 – 1939) born in Dublin, went on to become a very major figure in the Irish writing movement, influencing many writers to the Irish cause and history. Like O’Grady, Yeats had a huge interest in Irish mythology and in addition an interest in Irish nationalism, occultism and spiritualism. A major influence and a romantic interest for Yeats was a woman by the name of Maud Gonne, born in 1886 of Anglo-Irish descent. Maud was an Irish Republican revolutionary, suffragette, and actress who gravitated towards the Irish nationalism and supported Irish home rule. It was during her time working with the Irish White Cross, Gonne, moved in higher social circles and met with Mrs. Charlotte Despard, a cousin of the de Freyne’s family, an Irish novelist and Sinn Féin activist who spent much of her life at Frenchpark House in Co. Roscommon. During the War of Independence, Mrs. Despard, joined with Gonne and formed the Prisoner’s Defence League to support republican prisoners.

Maud Gonne

J.M. Synge

Yeats would go on to touch the lives of many other writers like, John Millington Synge (J.M.), born in 1871, Dublin. Synge studied languages at Trinity College, Dublin and following this he moved to Germany and onto Italy before finding himself in Paris to study languages and it was here that he met with Yeats who convinced him to get to know Ireland and its culture. Following this, Synge spent much of his time on the Aran Islands studying the Irish language and folklore. One of his greatest plays was “The Playboy of the Western World”. 

Eva & Constance Gore-Booth

Eva Goore-Booth (1870 – 1926) was born into the grandeur of Lissadell House in Co. Sligo, the daughter of Sir Henry Gore-Booth and his wife, Georgina Mary. Her sister, Constance Gore-Booth who would later become known as Countess Markievicz, was a major influence on Eva which would see Eva become heavily involved in the Suffragette movement. Like other writers of her time she had an avid interest in mysticism and spirituality which was often explored in her writing. When Eva was starting out with her writing career she met with Yeats who was hoping she would take up his cause of writing Irish tales but instead, Eva places an emphasis on the female characters within Irish folklore, with many of her books reflecting her interest in social change and sexual liberation. 

Lady Gregory 

With Yeats looking to grow the movement of the Irish cause, its history and culture, Lady Gregory (1852 – 1932) is certainly remembered for her work behind the Irish Literary Revival. With an Anglo Irish heritage she turned towards the Irish cause and her home at Coole Park in Co. Galway became a meeting place for writers and especially for leading writers for the Irish Revival. Lady Gregory went on to write many books of retelling stories from Irish mythology. 

George Moore

Writer, George Moore (1852 – 1933) from Moore Hall in Co. Mayo, often regarded as the first modern Irish novelist whose original publications were not centred on the Irish literary cause. His writing influenced James Joyce and as a child, Moore was friendly with Oscar Wilde. After spending some time in Europe, he returned to Ireland in 1901 and became involved in Ireland’s culture and literary movement through his cousin and writer, Edward Martyn. It was through working with Martyn that Moore became more involved in the Irish movement and built strong connections with Yeats and Lady Gregory that they went on to establish the Irish Literary Theatre. 

Yeats along with Lady Gregory, George Russell, Edward Martyn and J.M. Synge founded the Irish National Theatre Society. The Inghinidhe na hÉireann (Daughters of Ireland) was founded by Yeats and Maud Gonne and would include such writers/poets as Alice Furlong, Annie Egan, Ethna Carbery and Sinéad O’Flanagan (Wife of Éamon de Valera – President of Ireland). 

These are but a mention of some of the many Irish writers, playwrights and poets that were involved in this connected web in the interest of the Irish cause, its language, culture and literary revival. Of course, the Gaelic League cannot be omitted which was founded in 1893, a social and culture organisation to promote the Irish language and culture worldwide, however in the earlier days many of its members became involved in Irish nationalism. It was founded by Douglas Hyde (1st President of Ireland), Eugene O’Growney and Eoin MacNeill. 

The organisation is still strong today, known as Conradh na Gaeilge. It has had a major influential role on the Irish landscape concerning the Irish language and culture, in areas like the creation of RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta - Irish Radio Station in 1972, Údarás na Gaeltachta – regional state agency for development of Irish language regions in 1980 and TG4 – an Irish TV Channel in 1996. Conradh na Gaeilge was also one of the main agencies involved in co-ordinating the successful campaign to have Irish an official language of the European Union. 

What a journey it has been from the “History of Ireland” written by Standish O’Grady that ignited the passion for Irish literary movement in a multitude of writers, poets and playwrights. Fused with the ever changing political landscape and the fight for Irish nationalism, it certainly was an era that the power of words surged over the country and its people, helping to develop a national identity, build a nation’s root system and igniting the imagination that all things were possible.