CELTIC

Also an Irishman, I’ve never pretended to be Scottish, but I have long been fascinated by the history of the Celts. My interest was first piqued when reading the children’s book, “The Children of Odin,” by Padraic Colum. It offered a romanticized version of the history of the Celts, the mystical Druids, and many heroic tales of brave Celtic warriors.
My Irish fascination with the Celts and Scotland continued with books like Nigel Tranter’s historical “The Bruce Trilogy,” about the fight for Scottish independence from Edward I of England. This was followed by “Ivanhoe,” by Sir Walter Scott, a 19th-century author who did much to romanticize the history of the Celts.
On a welcome visit to Scotland in the 1970s, I was delighted by the beauty of the countryside, the warmth of the people, and the ease with which one could switch from English to Gaelic. I could understand about 50% of what was being said. It seemed my Irish background had also given me a step into understanding the Gaelic language.
The publication of the archaeological book, “The Secret History of the Irish Race,” by George Eogan in 2004, further strengthened my connection to Scotland. In his book, Eogan argues that the Irish are descended from the original inhabitants of Britain, the Celts, who were later pushed west and into Ireland by the invading Anglo-Saxons.
“Celtic” is the word used to describe an ancient European cultural group that flourished during the Iron Age and into the Roman period. The Celts were a diverse group of people who spoke Celtic languages and practiced a common culture, but they were not a single, unified nation. Instead, they were divided into a number of tribes and clans.
The Celts originated in Central Europe and eventually spread across much of Europe, including Britain, Ireland, France, Spain, and parts of Central Europe. They were skilled metalworkers, and their art and culture is still evident in many parts of Europe today.
The Celts were eventually conquered by the Romans, but their culture continued to influence European culture for centuries to come. The Celtic languages are still spoken in some parts of Europe, and Celtic art and culture continue to be popular today.
I feel a kinship with the Celts, perhaps because of similar histories and similar cultures. The Celts were a brave and independent people, and they have left a lasting legacy on European culture.