Fiction and research about Brigid, Irish deity, saint, and so much more
Category: Me, myself and I
Here I talk about myself, my unverified personal gnosis (gnoses?), my thoughts, my actions, my learning, or even just some random things that are going through my head!
… do we not bleed? Spiritual freedom is today’s topic and I’m feeling angry.
The full quote from Act III, Scene I, The Merchant of Venice
Shylock’s quote from The Merchant of Venice is oft quoted as speaking to the humanity of Jewish people. I mean, context is a thing here, but I want to explore a few things today that is strongly linked to this.
Brigid’s Path
I speak about helping women find their spiritual path and recover from strict, rigid, patriarchal, religious rules.Usually, I help them find the path that’s right for them. I help them find the spiritual freedom that has eluded them so far. That doesn’t mean abandoning the religion of their youth. Not always.
It can mean deconstructing and re-learning the core truths of that religion, in a way that strips the whole process of the patriarchal bullshit.
It can mean walking away and never engaging with that religion again.
It’s about what’s right for the person I’m working with.
Why am I talking about this?
Bondi Beach
The shootings on Bondi Beach, the murders on Bondi Beach, have the global Jewish community reeling. It’s very soon after the Manchester murders. It’s definitely a sign of rising anti-Semitism across the globe.
But as the article from the Irish Times points out – it’s no better for Muslims right now. Islamophobia is rising as well. (Yes, there are countries – plural – that has Islam as the majority religion, whereas there is only one – singular – where Judaism is the majority religion).
People are often shocked when I won’t decry one religion or the other. I don’t know why – again, I work with (mostly) women to help them find the spiritual freedom they crave!
I will speak to religions I know about – mainly the Irish flavour of Roman Catholicism, and sometimes Christianity more generally. But the faith at the heart of that religion? They all generally come down to the same issues.
Treat people right
Be decent to each other and the land and the animals
Don’t be an asshole
Ok, the technical definition of the above changes according to times and seasons and places, but that doesn’t mean they are wrong, as such.
Spiritual Freedom
I believe, deeply, that we all have the right to spiritual freedom. And by that – I mean, the right to practice our spirituality as long as it doesn’t impact on other people in a serious way.
Because someone told me earlier that lighting a candle in public impacts on other people. Seriously?
90% of my spiritual practice involves lighting candles and you want me to agree it’s wrong?? Go to hell.
Gathering in public doesn’t not, inherently, impinge on your life. Otherwise, people would have limits on how many teenagers are allowed in one place at one time…
Hang on…
It’s not about the religion
It’s about people seeing differences and being uncomfortable.
they dress differently
they speak a different language(s)
attending religious ceremonies on a different day!
eating weird food
I hope it’s obvious where I’m going with this.
It’s not about the religion.
Really, it’s about excuses. Deep down – it’s about not wanting to have to learn.
It’s about discomfort and it being easy to just write people off.
Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.
You see? This is basic shit.
Either we stand for all or we stand for none. In the end, I’m the wrong person to come to, expecting to see me decrying an entire population.
I live in the liminal too often.
I’ve said it before, I will say it again:
This is not about fucking religion.
Control? Sure. Fearmongering? Absolutely. “Othering” folk to make sure that fearmongering keeps strong? Definitely.
So, don’t let them fucking win. Remember – the power is with the people. Vote. Protest. Write. Phone.
Do whatever the hell means you have to remind your friends, neighbours, politicians that these people are just that: people.
Think about it: if people can refer to one group as vermin, who will they come from next?
If there’s a religious group that’s a legitimate target, what happens when they’re all gone?
Very often, we talk about bad apples in organisations. But it’s often in the context of being a “one off” or an unusual event. It seems that people have forgotten about the full phrase and why it is key to root out the bad apples. (Why yes, this is following on from my thoughts last week on people…)
Apparently the phrase goes back to the 16th century, according to Merriam-Webster. (Great article there on the phrase, by the way!) And the full phrase?
One bad apple spoils the whole barrel.
People appear to forget this in the modern usage. The whole point of the phrase is that, given enough time, one piece of rotten fruit will spoil an entire barrel. And given enough time – one rotten person will spoil an entire organisation.
We’ve all seen it. A nice group, focused on a singular goal, working well together. Someone comes in. Starts causing trouble. Not in a positive way, but starts engaging in backbiting, divide-and-conquer tactics to get their own way.
And soon, that’s the way the whole group acts. The original unity of purpose is gone.
I’ve seen it in professional organisations, friend groups, spiritual groups… you name it.
Seriously, though? One Bad Apple?
Yeah, seriously. Y’see, what a person is doing there is moving the Overton Window. They’re moving the band of acceptable behaviour in a group of people.
We’ve seen an example of it in US politics over the last 9 months. Things that were previously thought of as completely anathema, have become normal. OK, I’m not sure that’s down to one, singular bad apple, but the Overton window has certainly moved…
And it works on us, personally as well. Who we spend time with influences our thoughts, our thought patterns, what we consider acceptable and not acceptable in life.
I get it. This feels wrong to be saying, that you shouldn’t hang out with people who you don’t fully agree with on everything. And I don’t think there’s a single person in the world I agree with 100% on everything. But there are lines I draw that make someone ok to spend time with or not.
For example, if I see someone acting in a way I don’t like in a professional setting – being sexist, racist, etc – then that’s not a person I want to spend time with in a social setting. And vice versa. I don’t buy into the idea that business is just that, business. I believe that people show us who they truly where when the repercussions of their behaviour are are minimal.
if someone is a bad apple in a social setting, they are likely to be a bad apple in a professional or spiritual one as well.
What has this got to do with spirituality?
Well, we often speak of community in spiritual circles. And if we’re honest, for many of us, this means virtual community. So it’s not a case of being able to pop round the neighbours for a chat about Samhain rituals. It’s more a case of posting online and seeing who responds.
But sometimes you get so desperate for some face-to-face time with fellow believers that you accept behaviours that are major red flags.
Don’t get me wrong- I’d love to just step outside my door and have a community on my doorstep. But I want it with minimal input from me and to have it ready to go – and life doesn’t work that way. Right now, if I were to take part in that sort of community, I would have to bend some fairly seriously principles of mine…
The bad apple doesn’t always appear as the cartoon villain, y’see.
Cartoon villain?
Yeah – you know, ugly, black cloak, likes to hide in corners?
The bad apple is very often a stalwart member of the community. They’ve created that space for themselves. It can very often be you. Or me.
It can be someone working with the best of intentions, but just not doing the right things. And yes, I agree with this.
What about ourselves as bad apples?
OK, so here’s where we need to consider the bad apple analogy in ourselves.
Because so much of what we do as humans is habit, so entering into good or bad habits can have lasting consequences beyond what we currently see. For example, the first time we skip the gym after a few months of solid work – doesn’t seem to bad. There’s a valid excuse or reason. There’s an injury or car trouble or a big meeting at work.
But then skipping the next time is that bit easier. You’ve already broken your streak after all. it’s not as big a deal.
Pretty so0n, you find yourself back to legging it out of the house in the morning, with nary a thought of the gym in your head.
It works like this for spirituality and morals as well. The first time you break a personal rule, it’s tough. You have to think hard about it. But the second time? So much easier.
So if you meditate every day, skipping one day, doesn’t seem so bad. And to be honest, it probably isn’t.
But the second day? The third day? The tenth day? Those are the days to look out for. Because pretty soon, that time you’d dedicated to spending on your spirituality has disappeared into the ether of work, life and non-spirituality work.
And somehow you find yourself not spending the time you want to spend on your spirituality at all, but you’re doing nothing more with your life either? How do you get back on track?
Well, yeah, I have a few courses that can help with that, but sometimes money isn’t the answer.
Sometimes you have to identify the bad apple
I was at a conference on Friday to do with work – cos why else – and the talk was around self care, twisty careers, mindfulness, little thoughts, all that sort of things. But it struck me – cos I see it all the time with myself – that sometimes we need to identify the bad apples within ourselves.
Now with spirituality, the bad apples show up a bit differently. But it starts with self reflection. It starts with assessing who you are, what you’re doing and what you plan to do. What’s something you want to do, what something you want to stop doing?
What are the habits or practices you’re continuing out of habit, but you know they’re problematic?
Where can you see yourself straying from the path you intend to walk in a negative way?
Some examples would help here, Orlagh
OK fair. Here are some things I had to assess over the last few years:
I stopped going to Mass. It was the response of the Church to virtual mass and the concern re collections going down that tipped me over the edge here. I’m still ok to turn up to weddings, funerals, etc – although I know many people aren’t – but my line is weekly Mass.
I keep track of the authors I’m reading to make sure I’m reading a diverse range, and not just white men and women. This weekend, because of exhaustion, I got through N. K. Jemison’s Dreamblood duology. Really entertaining and promotes a seriously different way of thinking about the world.
I’ve stopped reading and mentioning certain authors who don’t align with my views and who use their platform to support some seriously horrendous thoughts. No, not mentioning them here… but y’know, I bet ye could guess one or two.
I’ve stopped shopping in certain places. Because they don’t support my ideals of fair trade and fair wages. Now, this is one area where I can improve further. Shein still features because of their excellent size ranges and they really have outfits I can’t get in my size elsewhere. But I tend to focus the majority of my money on places like Tempted
I know you’re probably thinking, “what in hell has this got to do with spirituality?” Well, Spirituality isn’t just for specific periods of the week. It’s about how we live our lives. And when we live our lives in line with our ideals, our morals and our practices, it makes life flow better.
My shopping habit at Shien is a bad apple, and one I have to keep an eye on. I have set spending limits to manage this and if I see something I love, I search elsewhere to see if I can find it in my size from a better retailer. Unfortunately, the answer to the first part is nearly always no.
(Those who are about to suggest making my own clothes – I love to do this. But it takes time and plus size patterns, neither of which are in good supply)
Bad apples inside ourselves don’t have to be cut out. They should be addressed, evaluated, checked… and when they start spoiling the whole barrel, eradicated. I don’t think my €20 a month habit on Shein is the worst thing in the world. It’s not the best, but not the worst. The clothes I get are either worn to bits or passed on to people I know will wear them. Most of the time.
We’re not perfect. And while the bad apple terminology can seem like we should be perfect, it’s not the case.
But be wary of those little slips. And make sure, when the bad habits creep in, you’re conscious of it.
Bringing a bit of joy and laughter to people’s lives is part of how I lighten up the dark part of the year, shining with the metaphorical Brigid light. (Also why I used so many candles
Does Brigid approve of laughter?
Laughter brings lightness into our lives. We’ve been discussing this in the Collective this week, the experience of joy in spirituality. It’s amazing how many people don’t experience joy in spirituality at all. Or if they do, it’s a very specific kind of joy – like singing in a group.
But we have loads of early Church examples of how spirituality has to come with joy. This includes warmth, akin to the essence of Brigid light, which fills the spirit with happiness.
But first – whenever I talk about joy, I quote Terry Pratchett:
“That’s my daughter,” said the king. “I ought to feel sad. Why don’t I?”
EMOTIONS GET LEFT BEHIND. IT’S ALL A MATTER OF GLANDS.
“Ah. That would be it, I suppose.”
― Terry Pratchett, Mort
The words in all caps are from Death, it’s a convention Pratchett uses through the books. And if you’re looking for books to raise the spirits through the winter months, you won’t go too far wrong with the Discworld ones!
But back to the primary question, does Brigid approve of laughter.
Key UPG moment here: this is my opinion, rather than based in lore, but in my experience and in my opinion, yes, Brigid is very approving of laughter. She has the Irish approach to the topic – there’s as much laughing as crying at what might be considered a “normal” funeral in Ireland.
And while she gave us keening, she never stopped us laughing.
Brigid is associated with light in many stories. And some of her stories are genuinely funny – well if you have a twisted sense of humour like I do.
Brigid, light and spiritual joy
Here’s four other Catholic saints calling out for joy in spirituality:
“The joy of the Lord is your strength.” – Saint Teresa of Avila
“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!” – Saint Paul the Apostle (Philippians 4:4)
“The soul of one who serves God always swims in joy, always keeps holiday, and is always in the mood for singing.” – Saint John Vianney
St. Augustine of Hippo wrote, “Joy is the net of love by which you can catch souls.”
I particularly enjoy Saint John Vianney there. Always being in the mood for singing tells me he definitely felt joy in his life!
We have in recent centuries become accustomed to religion in particular being dark and dour, rather than light and happy. (All to do with oppression and control to be honest)
Restricting our laughter, our joy, our light, really limits how we can move forward in spirituality. I mean, why would you want to move forward onto a path that is just causing you pain and torment with nothing to lighten things?
Brigid appreciates we’re human and we need the light as much as the darkness. She also understands that there will forever people that will seek to put down and oppress others. We see this all over the world.
But this is where laughter can fight back against that oppression as well.
I read a lot of dystopian fiction
Surprising no one, I’d say. And a lot of the time, I can see a stage in resistance or building to resistance, where things appear so dark, so lonely, so miserable… it’s a wonder anyone can ever consider rebelling.
But then the gleams of lightness and laughter appear. There’s a secret or not-so-secret underground pub or bar. There are songs. There is dancing.
There’s always something.
And so we can use this in our daily lives.
Subvert the expectations. Just because people can impose darkness and oppression, doesn’t mean you can to comply 100% of the time. Brigid brings some light herself, of course. But you can also use her to bring light and bring some on your own as well.
Light the candles. Invite her to join you in watching a favourite film. Or share in a glass of wine, listen to some music, dance…
And the t-shirt, Orlagh? What does that have to do with Brigid and light?
Well that’s simple. People are an entirely different entity than persons. Once you become a person to me – as I said in the Instagram post – things get a lot easier. But people? People? I don’t like people.
Just in general.
The herd mentality is strong in a lot of people, so until people become persons, I distrust them immensely…
I said this in a class, years ago and nearly gave poor Lora a heart attack. Most of the time once I see you face-to-face or talk to you in a class, you move from people to person.
You might say, once I see you in Brigid’s Light, I start looking at you differently!
It’s equinox season, so that means it’s a great time to consider Brigid and balance. Which is a nice lead on from my first post last week. Plus, I have been posting about it over on Instagram. (Why, yes, I do have an Instagram and yes, I do occasionally remember to post there!)
And I know that Brigid isn’t necessarily the first person you think of when you think of “balance”, but I hope to persuade you differently today!
Brigid and balance for me right now
I used to get all caught up in the hype of September being a great time of year to turn over a new leaf, with it being the start of a new school year and all. The joys of not only spending 18years in full time education in Ireland but also, have two teachers as parents. The school year is part of me.
But when I switched to a more cyclical style of living, and started moving through the year as a dreaming, planting, growing and harvesting cycle, things began to change for me. September is no longer a “new year” type vibe, but more of a “check in and take stock” kind of vibe. It tied in with my exploration of Brigid and balance.
And it doesn’t hurt that the evenings are definitely getting longer, the sunset is happening earlier and in general, the weather is getting colder.
So, it makes sense that in noting the equinox, my thoughts turn to balance.
My simplified altar for this season. Although, the Dagda now has a cauldron that’s bigger than he is!
What do I mean by balance?
Well I’ve been moaning over the last few weeks on Instagram – well last week in particular – that work was taking over too much of my time. I’d worked til midnight on one night, necessitating a stay over in a hotel near work cos I was in no fit state to drive home at that point. That had a knock on effect with sleep, eating, husband tending that really lasted til yesterday. So, I took some time. I may have been muttering about Brigid, balance and how my life included neither at that point…
I woke at 4:30am yesterday and couldn’t get back to sleep. Instead of diving into work or working on Brigid’s Forge, I took the time to meditate. In front of this altar. Wrapped in a blankie like one of my ancestors from generations ago. (Although to be fair, given at least 50% of my ancestors came from migrant labourer backgrounds, the blankie might have been a luxury for them!)
All in all, it felt like an “all work and no play” kinda deal. Plus, I started rewatching Buffy from Season 2, which is never really a positive sign in my life…
What am I looking to achieve?
Brigid is a firm believer – to me anyway – that we are made of body, mind and soul. And all three parts need nurturing. We could link these to the Smith, the Healer and the Poet, or Brig Bricciu, Brig Brethach and Brig Ambue. But for me, this balance means I’m taking care of my body, my mind and my soul. My mind usually gets exercised enough through work and study. Seriously, Brigid really doesn’t need to worry about balance there!
But my body and soul need tending as well.
And I may have been getting ever so not subtle hints from Brigid about balance.
Just slight ones.
So, that meditation session the other morning was like coming home. It felt so warm, inviting, relaxing and comforting. Exactly what I needed in fact. Who knew? Well, we know the answer to that… 🤔
I’m reclaiming my body and soul. That’s what I’m doing. I’m looking to work through the latest threats to my balanced life with Brigid, and get back to a place with my body and soul where I feel happy.
Even the gym has fallen by the wayside in recent months. I just didn’t have the energy or time to do it.
What does this look like for me?
Well, it means I’ve been taking estradiol (HRT for those who know) and it has helped my energy, sleep and mood immensely. Sunday night notwithstanding. So I’m back to rebuilding the structure that really works for me: the morning meditation and movement. The prepared meals rather than canteen meals. Making time for the gym. Making time for myself that doesn’t involve either fiddling on the phone or randomly flicking through crap on the telly.
And don’t forget, “balance” doesn’t equal “equal”. There is a difference. So, for the last few months, work had to take centre stage, there’s been a lot going on. But now, it’s time to rebalance and spend a bit of extra time on the things I mention above, rather than work and, well, rebalance.
What could this look like for you?
Well… much the same. Do an assessment of your life. Are you happy with the time your spending on mind, body and soul? Are you happy with finances, housing solutions, relationships? Mind, body and soul might not be the perfect mix for you, but there is something out there that will work to support you in achieving the balance you need.
And if you want to have some focused sessions with me on this, feel free to reach out and book a Brigid Session. But spend some time considering where you’re lacking balance and where you’re asking Brigid to help.
The usual cautions about asking for non-specific help apply though!!
Yeah, I’m jumping on the Charlie Kirk bandwagon. For the record, before we get into the nuance of this situation I want to make a few things clear:
I lean hard left – basic universal income, everyone has a right to human dignity, being human and worthy of rights doesn’t depend on so-called “productivity” type left
I think fewer guns in circulation would solve a lot of US issues
I suppose trade unions, community action, <40 hour working week, working parents/guardians/ carers supports, and a lot more
I’m pro-LGBTQIA+ and think that people should be able to dress what as they want.
I’m also firmly of the opinion that what consenting adults do in private is their own business. As soon as either consent, adults or private is no longer the case, then the law has the right to intervene.
So, with all that said, ye already know this isn’t going to be a ringing endorsement of Charlie Kirk, right?
Who was Charlie Kirk?
I got to be honest here: before this man was murdered, I hadn’t heard of him in a way to take notice of him. And looking back at his career, that makes sense. With the whole global shitshow going on right now, I don’t pay attention to every right wing speaker on college campuses in the States.
Sorry, but that’s just the way life is.
But here we go:
Charlie Kirk was born in Chicago (I think) on 14th October 1993. He was born into what he has described as a “moderate” Republican family. His first taste of fame came when he appeared on Fox Business at age 17, for writing an essay for Breitbart News on the apparent liberal bias in education (according to him…)
This appears to have given him a taste for the limelight. (That sentence right there is pure opinion on my part, by the way.) But seeing as how he went on to fund Turning Point USA the following year, an organisation ostensibly to “advocate for conservative politics on high school, college and university campuses”. No, I’m not linking to the websites for this, I find them troubling, disgusting and creepy.
As part of Turning Point USA, the Professor Watchlist was published. This is a list which outlines and lists academic staff that Turning Point USA deem to “discriminate against conservative students, promote anti-American values and advance leftist propaganda in the classroom.” In the days since Charlie Kirk’s murder, I’ve seen many professors, academics and other people involved in teaching people from primary school to college saying this list has lead to abuse, intimidation and general health and safety concerns for those listed on it.
The debate…
One of the things I have heard about Charlie Kirk is that he was one of the few people still willing to debate issues concerning both the right and left wing in US politics. All I can say is, that having listening to some of the rhetoric he considered debating, I shudder for the state of politics in the US. He browbeat opponents, often people years his junior. He used all sorts of straw man argument. Ad hominem attacks. Devil’s advocate type approaches. A lot of cherry picking of statistics… Listen, go look up the wikipedia article above on straw man arguments. Then look at the “see also” list below it. There’s pretty much a lovely list there that covers a lot of what Charlie Kirk used in his debates.
For example, in the “debate”, during which he was murdered, he was engaging in the following exchange:
ATTENDEE: Do you know how many transgender Americans have been mass shooters over the last 10 years?
KIRK: Too many. [Applause]
ATTENDEE: In America, it’s five. Now, five is a lot, right, I’m going to give you — I’m going to give you some credit. Do you know how many mass shooters there have been in America over the last 10 years?
KIRK: Counting or not counting gang violence?
Now, the fact that Charlie Kirk was anti trans is well established – we’ll get into some of his more horrible quotes later, but Snopes has debunked this theory that in the US, mass shooters are disproportionately transgender. From what I can see, on that page linked above in SNopes and they’re basing their figures on the Violence Prevention Project, 96% of all mass shooters, according to their definition of mass shootings, are cis male.
0.5% (or 1) were transgender.
Charlie Kirk in his own words
Now, I’m taking a lot of the following quotes from the Guardian article on him. Using his own words. Fair warning, we’re looking at racism, sexism, anti-immigration, anti-islamic, very right wing, horrible words below. So, read on at your peril.
On race
If I see a Black pilot, I’m going to be like, boy, I hope he’s qualified.
– The Charlie Kirk Show, 23 January 2024
If you’re a WNBA, pot-smoking, Black lesbian, do you get treated better than a United States marine?
If I’m dealing with somebody in customer service who’s a moronic Black woman, I wonder is she there because of her excellence, or is she there because of affirmative action?
If we would have said that Joy Reid and Michelle Obama and Sheila Jackson Lee and Ketanji Brown Jackson were affirmative action picks, we would have been called racists. Now they’re coming out and they’re saying it for us … You do not have the brain processing power to otherwise be taken really seriously. You had to go steal a white person’s slot to go be taken somewhat seriously.
We record all of it so that we put [it] on the internet so people can see these ideas collide. When people stop talking, that’s when you get violence. That’s when civil war happens, because you start to think the other side is so evil, and they lose their humanity.
– Kirk discussing his work in an undated clip that circulated on X after his killing.
Prove me wrong.
– Kirk’s challenge to students to publicly debate him during the tour of colleges he was on when he was assassinated.
On gender, feminism and reproductive rights
Reject feminism. Submit to your husband, Taylor. You’re not in charge.
– Discussing news of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s engagement on The Charlie Kirk Show, 26 August 2025
The answer is yes, the baby would be delivered.
– Responding to a question about whether he would support his 10-year-old daughter aborting a pregnancy conceived because of rape on the debate show Surrounded, published on 8 September 2024
We need to have a Nuremberg-style trial for every gender-affirming clinic doctor. We need it immediately.
America was at its peak when we halted immigration for 40 years and we dropped our foreign-born percentage to its lowest level ever. We should be unafraid to do that.
The great replacement strategy, which is well under way every single day in our southern border, is a strategy to replace white rural America with something different.
We’ve been warning about the rise of Islam on the show, to great amount of backlash. We don’t care, that’s what we do here. And we said that Islam is not compatible with western civilization.
I think it’s worth it to have a cost of, unfortunately, some gun deaths every single year so that we can have the second amendment to protect our other God-given rights. That is a prudent deal. It is rational.
– Event organized by TPUSA Faith, the religious arm of Kirk’s conservative group Turning Point USA, on 5 April 2023
Why am I writing about this man?
There’s a few reasons. First, it’s a key debate that many of my US based audience are dealing with right now. Second, the truth is rarely black and white. Although in this case, it appears to be reasonably extremely dark grey and extremely light grey. Third, Brigid told me to.
I’ve seen a lot of hatred of this man on social media over the last few days, and a lot of hatred for the hatred if that makes sense. But one comment – made against a friend of mine – stood out.
“In this country [Ireland], we don’t speak ill of the dead.”
Now, traditionally, this has been held to be the “respectable” position. Check here for why I don’t consider respectable a reasonable status most of the time. But that phrase “don’t speak ill of the dead” struck a chord with me. Because, as a rule, in Ireland, it has been the case. People don’t tend to speak ill of someone once they’ve passed. They can no longer defend themselves, after all.
But that approach has been changing, and changing for the better. Not everyone who dies on this island is a saint, and families are ever more able and capable of addressing the dark deeds of the past and not bury them with the dead. “Don’t speak ill of the dead” has been used for generations to silence victims – of rape, of abuse, of torture… And it’s important in our decolonisation as a country, a nation and a people that we speak out now.
So, while it’s acting against everything that’s been taught us, I think it behoves us to act when we see people sanctifying and glorifying someone who espoused evil while they were alive.
His. Own. Words.
I have no problem hanging Charlie Kirk out to dry with his own words. There are plenty of people who support them. I’m not one of those people. This man stood for pretty much everything I see wrong with this world. He stood for fascism in a time when fascism is a very real threat in the world. He sought to silence those who spoke out against his world view.
I mean, he helped enact and supported policies to keep the poor, poor. The downtrodden under the boot. To keep minorities in their place – well, their place as he saw it. And in particular, the LGBQIA+ community. Various parties are actively engaging in conversations to promote him as a bastion of debate. Having tainted my brain with some of his so-called debates – they weren’t debates as I know them. They were attempts to force people to accept his point of view.
And, having now tainted my brain like that, I’m very happy to accept that there are people out there celebrating his death.
Charlie Kirk wasn’t Hitler. But he could have been a very high ranking Nazi, holding the views that he did. I can see him standing right beside the Führer at one of the mass rallies. Because he did organise mass rallies all over the US. And tolerated no dissent from his views.
Celebrate life, not death
Yeah, this one is tough. And it links to “don’t speak ill of the dead” or “if you can’t say something nice, say nothing at all”.
And that’s all fine and dandy, most of the time. But not when basic human rights are being eroded all over the world and a massive swing towards the right, towards the fascist ideologies are coming to the fore.
I can see people reaching back to the Brehon laws, highlighting the ones that lean into that right wing stretch. But I’ve never claimed to want to recreate the Brehon laws in totality. The world has moved on. My worth and my word are not half my husband’s. I’m not my husband’s property, or my father’s for that matter. There are times they are both hugely grateful they can’t be held responsible for my actions.
So, for all the people drawing on that “Brehon laws said…” yeah, they did. But they weren’t perfect. They were built for the communities they supported over 1500 years ago. Not modern society.
We have different understandings of people’s roles in society now. A better understanding of equality under the law.
Anyone who is reaching out and saying we should support Charlie Kirk as Irish people because he held true to ancient laws… They’re full of shit and using bits and bobs of our heritage for their own gain.
What I am and am not interested in
I’m not interested in recreating the Ireland of 1500 years ago, or of 3000 years ago. We developed far more and far better solutions to our issues and governance than our ancestors had. I’m interested in building a better society for all of us.
And I’m tying into Brig Ambue here. Looking for the less well off, the hopeless, the ones that don’t have a future. How do we, as a community, serve those people? I’m not interested in holding people down. I want all people to play an active role in society, as best suits them.
That doesn’t necessarily mean holding to traditional gender roles. I don’t rule it out, but honestly – I don’t do that, so why would I expect anyone else to do that? Look at my linkedin profile if you’re interested in how I can say that. Yeah, there are solid reasons I feel closer to the Smith than the Poet or the Healer.
I don’t think that people who have children out of wedlock are to be damned. Why would I? They’re still human. Neither they nor their offspring deserve to be treated differently. Other than considering what supports they might need in life.
I’m not joining in the celebrations of Charlie Kirk’s death. He just wasn’t important enough in my life for that.
So what am I saying?
I understand the many people who are celebrating this death.
Yeah, I think it’s ironic he died in a shooting incident, given his views on gun control.
I feel sorry for his children, having lost their father. I hope they can grow up in a place of love, not hate. And with a bit of luck, they will not have a path to escape their father’s rigid spirituality.
His wife? No, not overly sorry for her. She supported him. And as far as I can tell, shared his views.
I hope the politicians and commentators who have been besmirching the left over the last few days can come to their sense on key issues now. I don’t hold out much hope. But there’s some hope there.
The young man who killed Charlie Kirk? I hope he gets the treatment he deserves.
To those of you still clinging to the “be nice” side of the coin: I hope you never have to confront a situation where “being nice” serves to cause harm to you or those around you. I don’t live in that space.
Being honest hurts people sometimes. And there are times it’s not necessary. “Charlie Kirk held extreme views on abortion” is not the same as “I hated that casserole”. And yes, I think forcing victims of rape to carry their rapists child is an extreme view. Charlie Kirk said that about his own daughter – that he would force her to carry the child.
He was a horrible obnoxious human being and the world is better off without him. (And yes, that there is another opinion of mine, just to finish off the post).
Let’s name it: the feeling of being small in a patriarchy.
Women feeling small isn’t just a personal struggle against the patriarchy. It’s a systemic strategy. It’s how rigid, patriarchal religions have kept their power for centuries—by convincing women that silence is sacred, that obedience is holy, and that shrinking is spiritual.
But here’s the truth: your soul was never meant to be small.
Many traditional religious structures have taught women to disappear. To be quiet. Serve. Submit. To stay in the background while men lead, speak, decide, and define. And by “traditional”, I mean patriarchal as well…
And it’s not just about roles—it’s about energy. These systems thrive when feminine energy is suppressed. When intuition is dismissed. And softness is mocked. When power is hoarded.
Listen, feeling small isn’t a flaw—it’s a consequence.
Reduce, re-use, recycle applies to online as well!!
The Spiritual Cost of Shrinking
When women shrink, the world loses balance. And by women feeling small, the patriarchy finds its job much, much easier.
We lose the healers, the visionaries, the truth-speakers. Lose the wisdom that comes from cycles, emotion, and deep knowing. We lose the sacred feminine—and with it, the wholeness of spiritual life.
And let’s be clear: this isn’t just about religion. It’s about any system that tells you your voice is too much, your body is a distraction, your leadership is unnatural.
Taking Up Space Is Sacred Work
Taking up space isn’t arrogance. It’s alignment.
It’s saying: My soul is here for a reason. Or saying: I will not apologise for existing. Maybe it’s saying: I trust my voice, my wisdom, my presence.
When you speak up, you disrupt centuries of conditioning. By leading, you rewrite spiritual history. When you take up space, you reclaim the divine feminine.
Resistance Looks Like Radiance
You don’t have to burn down the temple. You just have to stop shrinking inside it.
No need to fight every battle. You just have to stop abandoning yourself.
Being loud isn’t obligatory. You just have to be whole.
This is how we dismantle the old systems—not just with protest, but with presence. With truth. With women who refuse to be small anymore.
Your Space Is Sacred
So speak. Lead. Shine. Take up space in your workplace, your community, your spiritual circles. Take up space in your own life.
Because every time a woman expands, the world shifts. Every time a woman stands tall, the old structures tremble. Every time a woman says, “I am here,” the divine feminine rises.
Feeling small doesn’t always look dramatic. It’s not always tears or breakdowns. Sometimes, it’s quiet. Subtle. It’s the way you shrink in meetings. The way you hesitate to share your ideas. The way you convince yourself that your voice isn’t needed.
But here’s the truth: feeling small is a spiritual wound. It disconnects you from your power, your purpose, and your presence.
Let’s explore how it shows up—and how it holds you back.
Saying “Yes” When Your Soul Screams “No”
You keep saying yes. To tasks. Meetings. The next course. A new book. You do it to be helpful, to be liked, to avoid conflict. Or because you feel like you need this. But it’s not from your soul.
And every yes that isn’t aligned chips away at your energy.
Spiritual cost: You lose touch with your inner compass. You start living for others, not from your truth.
Best cartoon I’ve found for “feeling small” and it’s from Erin Lo’s website.
Hiding Your Light
You stay quiet. Don’t share your insights. You let others take the spotlight—even when you know you have something valuable to offer.
Tell yourself it’s humility, all you want. But really, it’s fear.
Spiritual cost: Your gifts go unused. Your soul feels unseen. You start believing you’re not meant to shine.
Dimming Your Achievements
You downplay your wins. Brush off praise. You tell yourself it’s no big deal. Sure anyone could do it, right? Except…
But your soul knows better. It knows how hard you worked. It knows how much you’ve grown.
Spiritual cost: You disconnect from your own worth. You stop celebrating your journey.
Over-Apologising
You say sorry for existing. For asking questions. For taking up space.
But you were never meant to be small. You were meant to be whole.
Spiritual cost: You reinforce the belief that you’re a burden, not a blessing.
Not Asking for What You Desire
You wait. You hope someone will notice. Hope the universe will deliver without you having to speak.
But manifestation requires clarity. It requires action. It requires you to name your desires.
Spiritual cost: You stay stuck. You live in longing instead of alignment.
Internalising Every Critique
You take feedback as proof of failure. Replay mistakes again and again and again. You let one comment define your worth.
But your soul is resilient. It learns. Evolves. It doesn’t need perfection—it needs compassion.
Spiritual cost: You lose confidence. You stop trusting your own wisdom.
Avoiding Sacred Conflict
Look, we all do this. You let things slide. Stay silent when boundaries are crossed. You avoid discomfort.
But conflict, when conscious, is a path to healing. It’s a way to honour your truth.
Spiritual cost: You betray yourself. You miss the chance to grow and to teach others how to treat you.
Reclaiming Your Soul Space
Feeling small is not your destiny. It’s a pattern. And patterns can be broken.
Start by noticing. Then by choosing differently. Speak your truth. Honour your desires. Celebrate your wins. Set your boundaries.
You don’t need to be loud. You just need to be present.
No one is demanding perfection. You just need to be real.
Forget about permission. You already have it—from your soul.
So step forward. Take up space. Let your energy expand.
Not my usual topics, I know – linking Brigid and Morality. But there’s a broader theme, here, I promise!
For a change, I’m covering something a bit topical in the wider world: The Coldplay Debacle. To be clear, Coldplay has nothing to do with this at all. Well, other than this couple being at one of their concerts.
I’ve got to be honest, my housemate shared with with me the relevant picture, with the words, “Have you heard about the Coldplay scandal?” And I was genuinely shocked. For someone who grew up in a time when Gary Glitter was synonymous with 2rock scandal”, Coldplay is just not in the same league.
And no, I’m not linking to anything mentioning Gary Glitter.
If you like your scandals a bit more manageable, check out the behaviour of the major bands from the 70’s and 80’s. Throwing tellies out the window, drunken debauchery with possible teenagers, random acts of “rockstardom”… seriously. Way back in the depths of Gen X youth, rock stars were rebels. Coldplay? Not so much.
Obligatory picture of Chris Martin from the concert in question.
Extramarital affairs
Now, most of the time, I say what consenting adults do in private is their own business. And I stand by that. No one has any right to be telling any consenting adult what they can and can’t do.
But, as humans, we have obligations to others in our lives. And for me, a major obligation is a life partner to whom you’ve promised fidelity. So, this post isn’t covering polygamous relationships. Not the ones where all parties are fully aware and knowledgeable about the extent of the polygamy and agree to it.
But an affair is different. Very different.
For a start, at least one party to the relationship hasn’t consented to this element of the relationship. I mean, most of us like to know who we’re sleeping with, even by proxy.
Brigid doesn’t dictate morality to us. There are no “10 Commandments” in any pagan spirituality. Even the famous Wiccan Rede is a) applicable to only a small element of paganism and b) not exactly what it says on the tin. Our morality is up to us to define and live up to.
So, why am I writing about extramarital affairs?
Spirituality, Brigid and morality
I said above that Brigid doesn’t give us a list of rules to run our lives by. That’s not the way her morality works. I’ve written before on how she informs my ethics, but that’s just not the same as morality for me. So, how do I look at this?
Morals can be defined as “standards of behaviour” or ” principles of right and wrong”. But there so much nuance involved here. It’s very easy to say “killing people is wrong”.
But then…
Brigid doesn’t ask us to roll over and not defend ourselves. There are few people in the world that would argue against fighting back to save your own life. Or to save the life of an innocent.
We each draw the line where think it’s best placed. Thankfully, I’ve not killed a person in my life. But I know from friends of mine who have served in the armed forces that taking a life leaves a mark.
It’s not necessarily a black mark or an evil mark, but it’s a change. Brigid doesn’t dictate “no killing”. But she has rules around right relationship. And when death is appropriate and when it is not.
If we are to live in line with our morals and with Brigid, how then do we decide what are our morals?
Determining our morals
For me, saying I won’t kill in most circumstances is a fairly easy choice to make. Joining any armed forces was never really a consideration for me. Being in a situation where killing a person was a reality has also not been a consideration for me.
I live a quiet life in many ways.
But just extend that out then. Does Brigid and my own morality limit how I imagine behaving with others? I hope not, because there are times and days that imagining some grievous harm to others is what gets me through the day! I know in reality it’s completely unrealistic and extremely unlikely to happen, but y’know…
Equally, when it comes to extramarital affairs: if both parties in a marriage agree to an open relationship, that to me isn’t an affair and isn’t a moral issue. But when one party decides to cheat and the other party isn’t aware of it – that’s a definite moral issue. Or it is to me.
There are people who view the bonds of marriage differently. For centuries, marriage was a business transaction, not a romantic one. And of course, rich and powerful men (usually men, but sometimes women) have always been able to get away with adultery with few consequences. Ahem. it becomes an issue when one party expects fidelity and the other doesn’t.
So, when looking at walking Brigid’s path and determining your own morality guidelines, what should you consider?
The ultimate test for morality – and Brigid!
For me, the test has never been Brigid, morality or indeed anyone else. For me, the test is whether I can look at myself in the mirror or not. Brigid and morality have little to do with it, but that’s my test as to whether I’m happy with my behaviour or not.
Because while I might agree, in general, that killing people is wrong, if someone threatened my niece? Totally different story. I’d willingly give up my own life and others to save her. (Hopefully this will never be tested, mind)
When you look into yourself, do the inner work, really assess yourself and you’re happy with what you see? Chances are, you’re probably ok.
But if you’re hiding your face from a kiss cam at a concert?
I’ve written before, on several occasions about Brigid, the sea and healing, which is reminiscent of the Brigid sea’s soothing nature.
A picture of me in the sea at Tramore – healing with Brigid
But a few weeks ago, I was reminded why I associate Brigid with the sea and healing so much. Now the history of healing and the sea is long established. Anyone who has ever read Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, Anne Bronte (or indeed her sisters, Charlotte and Emily) will know that “taking the sea air” was considered a remedy in 19th century Britain at least. (And because of colonialism, in Ireland as well – for those that could afford it!)
That was mostly due to the lack of pollution in sea side areas, as well as the fashion for promenading along the sea front and taking some time away from the stresses of modern living, akin to the gentle embrace of the Brigid sea. Personally, I can’t think of much more stressful than having to change outfits 20 times a day and trying to catch a good husband, who I would then go on to live with from the age of <20… (I may be exaggerating the average experience here, but y’know – it’s my blog!)
And I can equally think that getting enough food on the table might be every so slightly stressful for those not in the higher echelons of society. Not to mention, keeping everyone semi-healthy, alive, clothed… Stress was high in previous centuries. It was just a bit more obvious than today’s stress. But either way, I can’t see how the sea doesn’t help with stress!! From the shore anyway.
Brigid’s links with the sea
Alright, being fair about it, the only story I’ve ever come across linking the deity and the sea was the folk tale in Courtney Weber’s book, where Brigid and Bres met on the seashore to mourn Ruadhán. Neither she nor I have been able to find the source for that – but I’ve not given up yet! Such stories connect Brigid and the sea in intriguing ways.
However.
However.
Let’s not give up hope yet. Through the saint, Brigid is closely related to healing wells. And healing wells have water in them. Usually, anyway. As I have said before, you can’t walk more than a few paces on this island before tripping over a healing well, a stream, a pond, whatever-you’re-having-yourself…
We’re a wet country. Comes from all the rain. We have a lot of wells. We have a lot of water in general. (OK, the water authority will declare drought after 20mins without rain, but they’re known for being a bit concerned about things like that!)
And sea water is basically rain water that’s travelled from the fields to the sea. It’s still water. And therefore linked to Brigid. Even without the folk tale.
But the folk tale is an interesting one – particularly when one of the options for Formorians was coming from either over or under the sea. (Seeing as Ireland was an island, well how else would they get here!) So, seeing as how Brigid married into the Formorians through Bres, she has a link at least to the sea.
Aside from the possibility that Brigid herself came from over the sea (I’ll write a blogpost on this another time. It’s linked to the idea that Brigid came to Ireland via the Brigantes from Northern England. Yes, I have feelings about this…)
The sea itself
Now, bathing in sea water is beneficial for all sorts of things.
Skin Health: Seawater is rich in minerals like magnesium, zinc, and potassium, which can help reduce inflammation and soothe skin conditions like psoriasis and eczema.
Respiratory Issues: Saltwater can help with symptoms of hay fever, sinusitis, and asthma.
Immunity: Seawater can help boost a weakened immune system, although more research is needed to confirm this.
Stress Reduction: The relaxing environment of the sea and the minerals in seawater can help lower cortisol levels and promote relaxation.
Pain Relief: Seawater has been used to ease pain associated with musculoskeletal disorders.
Wound Healing: Some believe that seawater can help heal wounds and prevent infections.
In my family, sea water is notorious for helping with ingrown toenails that get infected and athlete’s foot. And I can confirm that definitely my hayfever symptoms improve dramatically from spending time by the sea. (My hayfever symptoms also improve dramatically from spending time in Monart‘s Alpine salt grotto. But driving to Tramore is significantly cheaper. Usually.)
Now, of course, not all of the above might apply to you. But even the salt content in sea water means people can float a lot easier. And it’s so relaxing on a calm day to bob about in the water. Staring into nothing. A great way to let your thoughts and mind calm a little bit.
Just even from a mindfulness point of view, I highly recommend it.
Healing at home
I appreciate not everyone has the ability to pop off to the seaside when the mood takes them. But there are ways you can do it at home.
A salt water bath is the obvious idea. Add some salt – yes, even just normal table salt – to your bathwater and soak a while. If a bath is beyond you, try a foot bath.
I find it a wonderful way to ground myself as well as just feeling good.
If you live in a hot climate, use lukewarm water. If you’re feeling cold, use warmer or hot water. Just remember, the hotter the water, the more salt you can dissolve.
You can of course add in all sorts of other things as well: seaweed is pretty easily available in Ireland these days, I’m not sure about elsewhere. If you’re trying to clear out sinuses, I find Vick’s extremely good. Science says the menthol only tricks your brain into believing your sinuses are clear, but frankly, I feel better after using it and that’s good enough for me. So, a dob of Vick’s and some salt in some boiling water, with a towel over your head helps immensely.
Be careful and you do you
As always – you can take the healing advice with a pinch of salt. I am only a random person on the internet and am filling you in on my family’s habits. These may or may not work for you. I know there are people with skin conditions who find sea water inflames the condition and doesn’t help at all. Dipping yourself in salt water with an open wound stings like hell. It might not be your cup of tea.
That’s ok, you do you.
But if you’re feeling stressed, out of sorts, miserable, up in a heap and can get to the sea… just give it a go. If nothing else, in Ireland at least, there’s usually a sea breeze to clear out the cobwebs!!
And if all else fails, a bit of seawater in a sealed jar for your altar won’t hurt!
A few weeks ago, I wrote a post showing some of the effects of colonisation in Ireland. But this week I want to explore it in more detail. Because, I think some people just don’t get it.
Y’see, to understand colonisation, you have to consider profit and loss. Check out this quote from a Trinity College Dublin post:
One thing is clear, imperialism was – and is – about the acquisition of territory, about settler colonialism, about the exercise of political and economic power, and about violence and coercion. Strategies about how best to turn conquest into profit, to marshal, mobilise and control natural resources, especially land and labour, varied from empire to empire but the often grim reality of everyday life did not change and provoked a wide variety of responses ranging from acceptance, accommodation, assimilation and innovation, to resistance, rebellion and deadly colonial wars.
Imperialism and colonialism are two sides of the same coin in my opinion – although of course there are differences between them. For those of us not running in the academic area in question though, let’s just go with it.
Natural resources
Prior to the colonisation of this island, Ireland was covered in trees. In fact, on the Teagasc history of forests in Ireland, the claim is made:
It was said that a squirrel could travel from one end of Ireland to the other without ever touching the ground as more than 80% of the land was covered by forests.
A common misconception is that the Irish forests were lot due to the need for oak in England. It’s not entirely true. The forests were down to about 20% of the landscape by the time the 16th century came round, but it’s certain the colonisers were more concerned about extracting wealth from their new land than about husbanding resources for future generations. While the move from 80% coverage to 20% coverage took about 5,500 years. The last 20%? Less than 300 years. So it’s not all the Brit’s fault, but y’know – #nevernotatit.
The same with our animals, our land, our food… we covered in the post on the Great Famine about how Ireland was feeding Britain by the 19th century. Starving ourselves, but feeding them. Even today, Great Britain imports 46% of its food. (The numbers for Ireland are much more difficult to figure out, but in 2023, we exported approx €18billion and imported €13billion – but a good €4billion of that import was from Northern Ireland. And y’know… is that really importing?)
But the fact is that while under colonial rule, Ireland got poorer. Or at least the native Irish got poorer. Our landlords weren’t much better, but most admit that was due to mismanagement, lack of care and generally grinding the land to the finest dust to get the most money out of it – through that need to conquer and subjugate, inherent in the whole notion of colonisation (in Ireland and elsewhere).
Language and culture
Colonisation has had a massive effect on Irish culture and language. Anyone from pre-1600 Ireland would be appalled at some of the changes made in our land. Particularly in our language.
Now, it has to be said that the Brits didn’t technically murder anyone for speaking Irish as a law. Nowhere in the Penal Laws was it illegal to speak Irish. in 1737, a law was passed to say Irish couldn’t be spoken in court. But aside from that, the Penal Laws were far more focused on religion rather than language.
However.
And there’s always a however.
To get an education – you pretty much had to speak English.
Any professional job – needed English.
Irish was seen as the backward language of the peasantry, and shameful in “enlightened” quarters.
An extract from the Museum at Home Country Life handout from the National Museum of Ireland
Pádraig Pearse is the person credited with the phrase “tír gan teanga, tír gan anam”. (A country without a lanuguage is a country without a soul). And the Brits did their best to beat the soul out of Ireland in that case. You see, language influences the way we think, as well as the way we speak. Want an example?
Well, in Irish, you say “Tá brón orm” or “sadness is upon me”, rather than “I am sad”. It’s the same for all of the emotions. They are something that comes upon you, not something you inherently are.
Think about that for a minute. Think about how that would affect the way you think about feelings and emotions? I’m not saying the Irish before colonisation were sane, perfectly mentally healthy and all that. But what I am saying, is that colonisation in Ireland has left an indelible mark on the way we think about things.
Not just language
And no, it’s not just language. We would not be so inherently dependent on the spud for so long if it weren’t for colonisation. Ireland might have had a different effect on the global culture without colonisation.
The amount of emigration this country has suffered, we’ve still not recovered the population we had before the Famine. In either the 32 counties or the 26+6, whichever way you look at it, colonisation led to the loss of our people. Ireland has suffered. And ok, there are folks who maintain that emigration was a benefit to Ireland.
I don’t agree with them. Yes, there are benefits to fluency in English – although many from Great Britain would not agree the Irish are necessarily fluent in the language. And there are many influences still evident within the way the Irish speak English, that come directly from Irish. But you can look at Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Finland for places that don’t speak English as a primary language but manage quite well in the world.
You could say that access to the Commonwealth, not to mention the British Army, was a way for Irish emigrants to manage abroad. Except that pre-colonisation, Ireland had contacts all over the place. Particularly in Europe, but further afield as well. And had Ireland remained a sovereign nation, there’s no reason to believe that would have failed.
Ireland and colonisation
It’s only really now, 100 years after the 26 counties gained independence, that Ireland is acknowledging its post-colonial trauma. Really, it’s only in very recent years, we stopped looking to Britain for how we go on in the world.
As a nation, we are reaching deep into ourselves to see how we want things to change and things to be different. The ongoing, regular protests about the housing crisis is one such example. The pressure on the Irish government to do something about boycotts or sanctions on Israeli settlements in Gaza is another.
Our people lean far harder to James Connolly and the concepts in the Proclamation of Independence, than it does to the highly restrictive environment that took over the country in the mid-20th century.
The Irish Republic is entitled to, and hereby claims, the allegiance of every Irishman and Irishwoman. The Republic guarantees religious and civil liberty, equal rights and equal opportunities to all its citizens, and declares its resolve to pursue the happiness and prosperity of the whole nation and of all its parts, cherishing all the children of the nation equally, and oblivious of the differences carefully fostered by an alien Government, which have divided a minority from the majority in the past.
– excerpt from the Proclamation of Independence
We actively look to be open and inclusive. We were the first country in the world to gain marriage equality rights by popular vote. (Thank you, referendum!) While the far right is trying to gain a foothold in our nation, the perpetrators are highlighted as being foreigners, trying to force the Irish into a fascist regime that very few people on the island want. We’ve done our share of colonisation. We’ve started to stand up and acknowledge that whatever the UK and US think – we have minds of our own and we’re willing to go against them when necessary.
Yes, we offer great tax breaks to foreign multinationals willing to base operations in this country. It gives employment to our people. Yes, there are advantages to doing exams in Irish. We want our language to be a living vehicle for our people.
Our housing and healthcare could do with a massive overhaul. Absolutely.
But we’re in charge of our own destiny and we’re no longer looking outside our country for what’s right and wrong. Because we realise that all those centuries of being told we’re dim, stupid, less than, barely human… we’re shaking them off.
