An Sionnach Fionn, “The White Fox”, was set up on the first of May 2011 as a personal blog where I hoped to express my various interests online. I intended it to record my years of study into Irish and Celtic literature, mythology and folklore. My interlinked passions for history, archaeology, architecture, art, photography, technology, (fast) cars, Science-Fiction, Fantasy Fiction and other aspects of Geek Chic culture were going to fill its posts and pages (did I mention Steampunk?).
That at least was the plan.
However my first proper post on the 15th of May 2011 was devoted to another passion – politics. The old Phoenix Flame simply burned too bright to be ignored. And that pretty much was that. 760 posts, 123 Pages, 1877 Comments, 627 Followers, 4130 Shares, 270,000 views and two years later the politics still dominates.
So a big thank you to everyone who visits, comments, emails, messages, links and shares. I am equally grateful to the old friends and acquaintances who followed me here and the many new friends and acquaintances I have made since. My modest success would never have occurred without you.
And just to clear up a mystery. The title An Sionnach Fionn comes from two sources. One is my Medieval ancestor Tadhgh an Sionnach Fionn Ó Catharnaigh, king of Teathbha of the Cinéal Mhaine of the Uí Néill Theas : the original An Sionnach Fionn. The other is from my childhood hero Fionn mac Cumhaill and the Fianníocht or stories of the Fenian Cycle. Indeed, I am perhaps ideologically more of a Fenian (in the oldest sense of the word) than a Republican. Perhaps a Gaelic Republican?
AN SIONNACH FIONN 
Keep ‘er lit!
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😉
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Reblogged this on seachranaidhe1.
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GRMA! 🙂
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You are my hero, Seamas! Here’s to many more years!
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Thanks, Sharon. Much appreciated. Especially all those Facebook Likes. I think you can claim a fair share for all those views 😉
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Great blog Seamas. Incredible content and very professional layout.
Particularly appreciate links at bottom of page,
All best wishes for even greater success in the future
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Thanks, Anne. I have to say that there are better “themes” or webstyles I could use but they would leave out the RSS feeds to other blogs and websites that so many people appreciate (and make use of). I was told by someone recently that they use the links at the bottom of the blog to navigate to some of their favourite sites on a daily basis 😉
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Keep up the good work
Booise veih’n chree
Alastair (Mannin)
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Gura mie eu! 🙂
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Terrific blog.
If anything your focus on history and the language and your refusal to allow your agenda to be set by those who would prefer to set their own context is great.
You are helping to create a new context by not making the mistakes of the past.
Go raibh maith agat
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Thanks, BD, that is genuinely appreciated. And congrats on your own successes. The articles on your blog are clocking up dozens of Comments with each post which is a sure sign of success. Keep going!
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Séamas – Sorry I don’t comment but I visit your blog daily (usually a couple of times each day to keep up with comments etc). I love the content but most of all the analysis and attention to detail within all your posts. Keep up with your work – it would be sorely missed!
Comhghairdeas agus maith thú, a chara.
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Go raibh maith agat 🙂
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Sionnach: Happy birthday! Outstanding work with the website – a thoroughly reliable source and a counterpoint to the editorialised and all-pervasive Anglophone media – especially now in the lead up to the “commemoration” events. Perhaps your our own site along with many others seem to be juxtaposition to the very few commentaries with a Gaelic-Irish worldview. My only worry is that once a website comes down, there may be no record available or traceable copies of articles referenced elsewhere: considering abysmal history of state institutions to act as custodians of newspapers and periodicals, we unfortunately have to look to the UK to convince policy-makers here of digital archives – see bl.uk/100websites – slán agus beannacht, Peadar
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Thanks for that and the link. That is interesting. I think something similar was done here with the last Presidential election, a number of websites were taken as a snapshot on a particular day or week and preserved. Must look it up. Most were the MSM (to use the American phrase).
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I read all of your articles and am glad so many people appreciate them like me- I was going to send a message to you saying thanks because it is really brilliant work and a much more fitting source of news for people who either speak or want to speak the language of Ireland and actually care about our culture.
Thank you so much for your work again because it really means allot
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Thanks, Jack, that is exactly what I’m trying to achieve. Even if it wasn’t my original intention. Could do with a wee bit more Sci-Fi though! 😉
Thanks for the Comments. Always interesting.
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I would’ve lost my sanity months ago if it wasn’t for this blog. So thank you Séamas. I pray you’ll continue your articles for an eternity…….or as long as you can.
Is rud amhain bígí Éireannach, ach is rud amhain eile bígí Gael.
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Thanks, Pádraig. Writing it is what keeps me sane, especially when I see the insanity around me in our brave new Daorstát Éireann 😉
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Congratulations on your anniversary. I am always impressed by the wide range of subjects you touch on. Keep up the great work.
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Thanks and the same with your good self. The historical posts you put up are always interesting. I have a something of an interest in the United States’ revolutionary and civil war history, as well as the history of the New England region (and over the border to Québec and up to New Foundland). That whole north-east zone in particular has always fascinated me. I think it is partly to do with the Irish connections, the mix of languages, etc. Not to mention Stephen King and his Maine-set novels 😉
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I have an interest in Canada, as well, particularly in Canadian history. I was able to see Rene Levesque, the former leader of the Parti Quebecois, speak while in college, and found him to be a fascinating individual. The entire separatist movement in Quebec is interesting. While I favor self-determination, I think it would really put the nail in the coffin for Atlantic Canada by cutting them off physically from the rest of the county.
I’m not a big horror-genre fan, but I certainly respect Stephen King’s talent and his prolific output. My one connection to him is that we both attended the University of Maine and both worked on the school paper, in the same basement of the same building, and wrote weekly columns, though I was about 20 years behind him.
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There is certainly the possibility that an independent Québec would spur some soul-searching in the Francophone parts of New Brunswick. I could imagine some local communities asking for incorporation into a new Québec republic. And Newfoundland and Labrador has a strong independence streak of its own, albeit more about greater autonomy within the federation than outright independence. Alaska seems to do ok with its semi-detached status from the US so I suppose the Maritime Provinces could survive (though then again Alaska did produce an, er, interesting poltico or two).
I wonder would an independent Québec have any effect on the Francophone culture or identity in northern Maine?
The King connection is impressive, albeit some years apart. Not tempted to follow in his footsteps? 😉
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Alaska residents benefit from big payouts from oil companies and the fact that it’s more or less left alone by Washington. Unfortunately, the Maritimes’ economy has been in the tank for a long time. I can’t see New Brunswick or any other non-Quebec part of Canada giving up territory because no one wants to lose the revenue that goes with that territory (taxes, natural resources, etc.).
Northern Maine is one of the most sparsely populated regions of the US. It encompasses huge swathes of land with very few, relatively speaking, towns or people. Most of the people who do live in Northern Maine are farmers or involved in forestry, and aren’t necessarily the sort that would have the time or interest in aligning with an independent Quebec. They’re more concerned with earning a living and trying to keep their children from moving to Portland or Boston.
I’m wise enough to know there’s only one Stephen King.
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All very true. Still it would certainly be interesting to see how things developed politically and culturally along the border and in the Maritime region if Québec gained its independence. Variety and the spice of life, etc. Though a New York friend told me that Americans rarely visit Québec?
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Congratulations man, one of the more better written and fascinating non-aligned republican blogs out there. You’re a refreshing voice in online Irish republicanism.
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Thank you. Your point about being a “non-aligned republican” is the bit I take the most pride in. We need many more independent Republican voices, and voices of all Republican views and parties.
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Congrats Seamas on the cracking site, long may you continue!
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Go raibh maith agat, a chara 🙂
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