Padraic Pearse: The Collected Works

by Pádraic Pearse

Pádraic Pearse held many titles; academic, teacher, brother, son, and revolutionary, but, before all else, Pearse was an Irishman. Born in 1879, Pearse dedicated his life to Ireland and the liberation of Ireland from British rule. In May 1916, he paid the ultimate price for this dedication. Pearse was martyred for his role in forming The Provisional Government of the Irish Republic and the events surrounding what became known as the Easter Rising.​ The Collected Works of Pádraic Pearse include his essays, speeches, and select poetry, written between the years of 1912 and 1916. His first essay "The Murder Machine" (1912) details his argument that the existing Irish education system is a means of repression and cannot be reformed, only destroyed and replaced. As an educator and academic, Pearse details his experience and proposal for a new system based on the Irish tradition and temperament. ​His next essays include reflections on the failed previous national revolutions of Wolfe Tone and Robert Emmet, a loving graveside oration for his friend and Fenian revolutionary O'Donovan Rossa, and his exhortations to the Irish people detailing the nationalist cause and demanding recruits. Pearse also provides a detailed analysis and comparison of previous Irish nationalists-Theobald Wolfe Tone, Thomas Davis, James Fintan Lalor, and John Mitchel-who he referred to as "ghosts" haunting the spirit of the Irish, begging Pearse and his contemporaries to raise the flag in their stead and overthrow their English lords. ​ Full of poetic interjections in both English and Gaelic throughout the book, The Collected Works concludes with four poems-The Fool, The Rebel, The Mother, and The Wayfarer-indicating that Pearse, though resolute and commanding in his essays and speeches, also held a calm and loving relationship with Irish nationalism.

Genres: Ireland, Politics, Poetry

212 pages, Paperback

Published August 11, 2022

About the author

Pádraig Pearse (born Patrick Henry Pearse) was an Irish teacher, barrister, poet, writer, nationalist and political activist who was one of the leaders of the Easter Rising in 1916. He was declared "President of the Provisional Government" of the Irish Republic in one of the bulletins issued by the Rising's leaders, a status that was however disputed by others associated with the rebellion both then and subsequently. Following the collapse of the Rising and the execution of Pearse, along with his brother (Willie Pearse) and fourteen other leaders, Pearse came to be seen by many as the embodiment of the rebellion.

Reviews

[Nick John]

Excellent book and I feel as though he is underrated in 3P and Nationalist circles. There is many gems in his works that pertain to what we deal with today and what we can learn about our nationalist struggle here in America. An entertainingly beautiful read the whole way through.

[James Dempsey]

Powerful, ideologic speak. Fated, so he was. Creator of his own destiny, and marker of Ireland’s. Figures like these are always more charming to History than to their fellow man. In his day, Pearse was a dredge to many. Only with true ideological intransigence, alongside an unwillingness to compromise and a lively belief in violence as a mode of change, could he carry through his speak. Certainly not wholly isolated in his convictions - Hyde appreciated his love of language but abhorred the wish to politically hijack the Gaelic League - Pearse was certainly one of if not the most radical nationalists on the Island. But he never crumbled, never did he have reason to. His belief was truth, and so did strive to make this truth fact. The danger in changing things through violence however is that then you make violence your modus operandi - this is not a good thing - as still many today have yet to shake this mode. I wonder if Pearse would have made a strong negotiator. I see him as being far more romantic than tactic. As Yeats knew well, he was absolutely set on dying a martyr.

[Lucy]

A fantastic collection of the writings of Pearse. If this was in the hands of the people of Ireland, we would have a whole different nation. Highly, highly recommend this.

[Jonathan]

Reading this is like reading through Irish history, from the perspective of someone who not only lived through it, but made it what it is today. Absolutely beautiful prose in both Irish and English.

[Sean]

Éirinn go Brách