If you were to look through the digitized journals from Long Kesh, now being curated by the University of Galway, you might see them as the naïve hopes of idealistic young men. There’s some truth in that, but they tell us more.
They show creativity under constraint. These were young men who used their time to create illustrated journals, to write poety, essays, drawing and commentary.
They also show the determination among republican prisoners of the day to educate themselves. The nature of republicanism, Ireland’s history, its culture and its resistance over centuries.
In this cultural and political development the lie is given to those who were – and are – eager to dismiss these prisoners as blood-drenched killers who deserve no mercy.
Looking through the journals, the tone reflects tje optimism of youth. But since they were young that makes sense. Over the decades their thinking was deepened and broadened. That couldn’ t have happened if the foundation of comradeship and open-minded exploration of culture and history hadn’t happened first.
Above all, the journals show the comradeship and courage of these young men, most of them in their twenties. Ask yourself : what did I spend my 20s doing? The answer might help you – and me – appreciate the self-sacrifice and idealism of these young republicanism.
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