“If we allow one of the finest and the richest languages in Europe, which, fifty years ago, was spoken by nearly four million Irishmen, to die out without a struggle, it will be an everlasting disgrace, and a blighting stigma upon our nationality.”

Warning of the lasting national shame in permitting Irish to vanish · Essay, A Plea for the Irish Language, 1886

• Heritage
• Language
• Nationality

“Ireland is not merely a geographical expression, but a nation with a distinct history and a distinct character.”

Affirming Ireland’s cultural identity and historical continuity · Public speech, as commonly attributed

• Memory
• Truth

“The Irish language is the most important part of our national life.”

Expressing the central place of language in national identity · Speech and writing on the Irish language, as commonly attributed

• Memory
• Truth