By Jock Mulligan
How can the rigorous moral architecture of the ancient Celts relate to today’s politics? Well, we can learn from folk history; much of it is a blueprint for a disciplined, ethical politics of its time- and let me suggest, the Left, especially in places like Scotland and Ireland, where the ghosts of clan loyalty and communal bonds still stir, can learn a quare lot from it. Look, stay with me on this- there is method in what i’m suggesting- im not just going to tell you a faerie story.
I’m talking about Geis (plural, Geasa).
Geis: The Primacy of Moral Law
In ancient Irish myth and society, the Geis wasn’t a suggestion; it was a sacred prohibition or obligation. Think of it as a powerful, self-imposed taboo, or an absolute moral command tied to a person’s position in the community, its and their honour, destiny, and the health of the entire community. To violate your geis was to court supernatural disaster, to shatter your honour and standing not just in your community, but across the known world, and often, to invite death. It wasn’t enforced by a police force or the equivalent of a capitalist legal system; it was enforced by the collective spiritual and moral weight of the world.
For example, the hero of Ulster Cú Chulainn had several geasa, including one never to refuse a hospitality and another never to eat the flesh of a dog. He was trapped between these geasa—a perfect storm of moral obligations leading to his demise.
[So, for those who don’t know the story, during his final battle, Cú Chulainn was lured by three sorceresses- all of whom may be seen as three aspects of the Morrígan, who offered him a meal of dog meat. To refuse the hospitality would break his Hospitality Geis, which would dishonor him. To eat the meat breaks his Dog Meat Geis, which voids his strength and sanctity.
In the end he attempts to eat it with his shield hand, hoping to minimize the violation, but the breaking of both Geasa immediately saps his strength, leading directly to his still heroic death, standing in battle, strapped to a rock as his guts spilled onto the battlefield (yi’ll have seen the statue in the GPO in Dublin). Irish myth isn’t all kissy kissy and pots of gold (in fact 99.9% of it isnt!)].
An example of the geis of office, Conchobar mac Nessa’s (King of Ulster) Geasa focused heavily on the dignity of his kingship and the maintenance of social order in his capital, Emain Macha. He was never to leave the borders of Ulster after sunset.
The limitation or purpose of this prohibition reinforced his role as the central, stable axis of the province. It literally tied him to his kingdom, ensuring he was present to perform his royal duties, rituals, and justice.
He was never to be without his three companions (a Druid, a Judgement-speaker, and a Steward).
The limitation or purpose of this ensured that the three essential pillars of royal authority (spiritual wisdom, legal justice, and material management) were always present to counsel him, upholding the legitimacy of his rule.
The point is: these were iron laws of personal conduct that prioritized integrity over expediency.
Lessons for the Left: From Mamdani to Maclean
So, what can the modern socialist, whether they are analyzing post-colonialism like Mahmood Mamdani, or fighting council battles like the Scottish Socialist Party (SSP) and the Scottish Greens, or fighting to pull a party to the left, like the SNP Socialists, learn from this powerful concept of binding moral obligation?
1. Moral Clarity Against Pragmatism (The Anti-Bricriu (see my last essay) Principle)
The modern political left—especially movements like the Scottish Greens and the SSP—often get tangled in endless debates over pragmatism and compromise. The right-wing (the Bricrius of today- see my essay HERE) thrive on muddying the waters, shifting goalposts, and lying for immediate gain.
The Geis Lesson is that Socialists need to establish unbreakable Geasa—fundamental, non-negotiable moral laws that cannot be breached for political expediency. A modern socialist geis might be: “We shall not compromise on the principle of universal healthcare,” or “We shall not negotiate with fossil fuel expansion,” or “We shall never support policies that widen wealth inequality.” This provides moral clarity and forces a line in the sand. It tells the electorate: our principles are non-negotiable, and we’ll face political ‘death’ before we breach them. This builds trust and draws a sharp contrast with the opportunistic centre.
2. Disciplined, Collective Obligation (The Fionn Model)
I wrote about the Fianna HERE, and Ill probably mention them again in the future. The geis wasn’t just individual; it held the entire social fabric together. It demanded that individuals behave in ways that upheld the community’s integrity (the Fianna’s Geasa, or Final Vows were an incredible, ancient communist codes of conduct- worth looking up- though their communal geasa were often (and ultimately) shattered by the personal geis of Gráinne. Look, if you haven’t read the tales of the Fianna, or the Tain, fugh sake go buy yourself a copy. Id start with this beauty, Hound– the thing is, it has become a bit of a rarity and collectors piece- because it is beautiful. But at the very least, get the thing from your Library.
The Geis Lesson: Mamdani’s work often touches on how post-colonial states struggle to reconcile modern governance with traditional communal structures. The Left can harness the spirit of geis to demand collective self-discipline within its own ranks. This is the Fionn mac Cumhaill model of leadership—a code of honour that governs the collective. If the geis of the party is solidarity and anti-racism, then any member violating that geis (through careerism or prejudice) must be immediately cast out, ensuring the political body remains trustworthy. This is about discipline for the good of the collective cause, mirroring the high standards of the ancient clans.
3. Defining the Socialist Taboo
The most powerful geasa were prohibitions—things you absolutely must not do. This is critical for defining modern socialist identity against capitalist structures.
The Geis Lesson: The Left needs a few simple, resonant taboos. We often focus on what we will build (equality, better services), but we must also scream about what we will not touch. We will not use private finance initiatives (PFIs). We will not bail out banks without nationalizing them. We will not allow housing to be treated as a purely speculative commodity. These prohibitions—these modern geasa—are clear, simple statements that define the movement not just by its hopes, but by its to capitalist corruption.
By reclaiming the concept of the Geis, the Left can inject a much-needed sense of sacred, unyielding obligation back into politics. It provides a moral compass that survives the cynical games of Westminster and the constant pressures of compromise. It says: we are bound by something older, something higher, than mere quarterly polling—we are bound by Justice and Equality, and to break that bond is to break the socialist spirit itself.
