Y Ddraig Goch yn clywed y delyn Wyddelig: dylanwad cenedlaetholdeb Iwerddon ar Blaid Genedlaethol Cymru, 1925–1936 (The Welsh Dragon hears the Irish Harp: the impact of Irish Nationalism on Plaid Genedlaethol Cymru, 1925–1936)

The Easter Rising 1916 was a cultural trigger point that led to the forming of the Irish Free State in 1921. Also, the uprising was a guiding moment for anti-imperialist nationalist movements globally, including in Wales. This article will look at its impact in Wales by focusing on two of Plaid Genedlaethol Cymru’s main architects – Saunders Lewis and Lewis Valentine. Across the Irish Sea, in Wales, both Saunders and Valentine were inspired by the efforts of Irish nationalism. This article will focus particularly on the Irish influence on the decision of three members of the party to burn the bombing school and sacrifice their freedom. It will be argued that Irish nationalism had a profound effect on Saunders’ and Valentine’s vision of Wales and the methods they would adopt in their nationalist campaign. The particular focus of this article will be how Plaid’s cultural, constitutional and unconstitutional methods were inspired by the Irish nationalists’ example.