We will always need our guiding lights

Guiding lights are moments of illumination along our pathways, that show us where we are, and where we might go. 

Often, guiding lights are left by people who’ve walked a path before us, or are created by those companions who are on our journey with us. 

When I think about An Phoblacht, what purpose it plays in the hands of activists, and what role it can play into the future, I think it can continue to be road map, a place to educate, connect, and inspire, and bring a lightness to the struggle for a better Ireland. 

One of the things that is hard to reconcile as an activist is that you cannot be an expert in everything. However, that realisation is precisely the moment where you learn gratitude for being a part of a team, a movement of people, each with their own knowledge, skills, and experience to share.

Articles in An Phoblacht, be it historical insights from Mícheál Mac Donncha or a perspective on a United Ireland from the depth of experience of Gerry A, give younger activists like me the language and ideas on a vast range of relevant and important topics.

That political education is everything in a grassroots movement like ours. Every read expands the republican mind and every copy on the bedroom bookshelf adds to an archive for reference for whatever challenge or obstacle is being faced in the moment. I see An Phoblacht needing to continue this role, for as long as our activism exists. 

Of course, journeys of political movements are little without the connections between people. An Phoblacht is a home for our shared experiences, shared history, and shared stories. Those shared tales come together to shine a light on our shared vision for the future, not just a 32 county socialist republic, but a shared goal of what that’ll look like in reality and our goalposts for getting there.

It’s a really lovely feeling to pick up an edition, see an author’s name that you don’t recognise, and read their words that speak directly to your own sense of purpose and perspective on the world. It almost feels like you could go anywhere in Ireland and find a friendly face of someone who’d have a welcome for you, even though you’ve never met. There is little more powerful than that, and I believe An Phoblacht continues to be a living space of such connections. 

That old phrase of “we stand on the shoulders of giants” is true, and you don’t need to look further than the contributors to An Phoblacht to feel that connection either. It feels like being a part of a relay race, where long time activists and powerhouse’s hand over their achievements, lessons, and perspectives for the reader to take and carry forward. That is an essential fabric of connection in a social movement that will continue to be essential into the future. 

Finally, An Phoblacht inspires and energises. A fabulous example that comes to my mind is from the edition that came out after the last general election in the 26 counties earlier this year. Who could deny the power of the faces of some of our newly elected reps under the banner “Championing the Change” in the article where they so passionately laid out their priorities for the term ahead?! 

I know I have gone back to that article several times since, especially on colder and darker nights when a boost of inspiration is needed. And we will always need that boost; for activism is a steady and driven heart, but sometimes the body is tired. It is then when you read the words of somebody who is on the same journey as you that can guide you back to your fullest enthusiasm. An Phoblacht provides this for activists, and I hope it continues to do so, in whatever way, into the future. 

The way we consume media has changed and will continue to change. Change from words to videos, long reads to 30 second attention grabbers, letters to tweets. I think An Phoblacht, as an entity, will need to continue to adapt and grow with society into the future. 

However, my hope and vision would be that this publication continues to educate, connect and inspire the hearts and minds of activists who will deliver on our core mission, and I look forward to the time in the not so distant future, when we can pick up the “United Ireland – Achieved!” edition. Until then, we will rely on it as a guiding light on our republican struggle.