Hidden Ulster, Protestants and the Irish language explained

Hidden Ulster, Protestants and the Irish Language is a book by Pádraig Ó Snodaigh published in 1973; revised editions appeared in 1977 and 1995.

The book's thesis was to confirm the cultural—that is, Gaelic—unity between the Irish Catholic natives of Ulster, in northern Ireland, and the Scottish Protestant settlers of the Ulster Plantation. Ó Snodaigh argued there had been a strong tradition of Gaelic-speaking among the Ulster Protestant planters in the 16th and 17th centuries.^[1] Ó Snodaigh hoped a shared linguistic heritage would thus improve relations between Northern Ireland's antagonistic sects during "the Troubles".^[2]

Reception

The book was strongly criticised by the British and Irish Communist Organisation, which saw it as a Social Democratic and Labour Party-inspired attack on their Two nations theory; Ó Snodaigh replied to their criticisms in subsequent editions.^{[3] [4]} The book was also criticised by the Democratic Unionist Party, but praised by Fortnight Magazine and some members of both the Orange Order and the Ulster Volunteer Force.^{[5] [6] [7]}

References

1. http://www.hartford-hwp.com/archives/61/297.html Book review
2. "Mr. Ó Snodaigh said it was his hope that the Protestant people of the North would regain an interest in the Irish language and thus come to recognise the common roots and bonds which existed with the Catholic community". "Protestants and the Language", Irish Press, January 18, 1973, p. 4
3. "Gaelic Ulster Theory Attack by Stalinists", Irish Times,May 15, 1973.
4. Hidden Ulster Explored, by the British and Irish Communist Organisation,1973.
5. "Hidden Ulster Revisited", O Snodaigh,The Crane Bag magazine, Vol. 5, No. 2, (1981), pp. 45-47.
6. [Risteárd Ó Glaisne]
7. The Politics of Language in Ireland, 1366-1922, Tony Crowley, Routledge, 2000, p. 8.

Further reading

• Writers and Protestants in the North of Ireland, Barry Sloan, 2000.
• In Search of Ireland, Brian Graham, 1997.
• Presbyterians and the Irish Language, Roger Blaney, 1996.
• Last of the Celts Marcus Tanner, 2004.