Celtic Culture & heritage

Eisteddfod Genedlaethol Cymru Sir Gâr, 1 - 9 Awst 2014. Mae hanes hir ac amrywiol i’r Eisteddfod Genedlaethol, gyda’r Brifwyl yn dyddio’n ôl i 1176. Cynhaliwyd yr Eisteddfod Genedlaethol gyntaf ar ei ffurf fodern yn 1861 yn Aberdar. Yr Eisteddfod yw un o wyliau celfyddydol mawr y byd, sy’n dod â phobl o bob oed a chefndir ynghyd i ddathlu a mwynhau cymysgedd eclectig o gerddoriaeth, llenyddiaeth, dawns, theatr, celfyddyddau gweledol a llawer iawn mwy.

The first modern Eisteddfod was held in Aberdare (Aberdâr) in 1861. The National Eisteddfod of Wales takes place in Carmarthenshire from 1 - 9 August 2014. It is one of the three major Eisteddfodau held in the summer months. The others are the Urdd being held in Meirionnydd 26 - 31 May 2014 and the International Eisteddfod at Llangollen 8 - 13 July 2014. They are all important events being held over the summer months. However, summer is not the only time of year that such festivals are held and the Winter Eisteddfod is also a feature in parts of Wales. Indeed the first Eisteddfod was held over Christmas in 1176 and was known as a bardic tournament.

The event was instigated by Rhys ap Gruffydd (1132 - 28 April 1197). He was the ruler of the Deheubarth realms of south Wales at the time. The event of 1176 was seen as a way of underlining his importance as the country’s most important chieftain. Even at its inception this event of poetry and music was seen as a national celebration, but also encouraged international participation. This international legacy continues today. It is said that the poetry chair was won by a bard from Gwynedd in north Wales and the music prize went to someone from Rhys ap Gruffydd’s own court. When he died in 1197 he had been ruler for over forty years. He was buried in Eglwys Gadeiriol Tyddewi (St Davids Cathedral).

Now recognised as a coastal suburb on the north side of Dublin, the area of Clontarf witnessed a fair amount of change as it became the subject of urbanisation during the nineteenth century, but arguably its greatest claim to fame is the seminal Battle of Clontarf in 1014.

A bloody and vicious affair, the millennium of this influential battle will be celebrated in style throughout 2014 at five Irish locations, with much of the celebrations within Clontarf and Dublin city centre. Events will examine many strands of Irish life at that time, with a special focus on the Battle of Clontarf Millennium Festival in April and the life of one of the main players in the battle, Brian Boru.

But many may not realise the strategic part played by Vikings from the Isle of Man in the battle, which was said to have claimed thousands of lives, or the singular link to the death of one of Ireland’s high kings.

Although he had ruled most of Ireland since 1002, the country was still fragmented and the title of ‘High King’ largely ceremonial, but Brian Boru looked to change this unsatisfactory situation and unite the island of Ireland.

This was invariably a long term project, but in 1012 the King of Leinster, Máel Mórda mac Murchada, rose in revolt, although Brian Boru moved swiftly to thwart this by arranging a series of ‘cross-marriages’; giving his daughter to Sigtrygg Silkbeard (leader of the Dublin Vikings) and marrying Sigtrygg’s mother, Gormflaith, who also happened to be the sister of the troublesome Máel Mórda mac Murchada, himself.

Archibald Knox (09 April 1864 – 22 February 1933) was a Manx artist and designer now associated with the Art Nouveau movement although by all accounts he would not like to have been categorised as such. His designs were more informed by his Celtic roots rather than the spread of art nouveau as expressed on the continent. His inspiration being the landscape and Celtic carvings on the stones and monuments that he had seen on his native Isle of Man (Mannin). However, the art nouveau movement of the late 19th and early 20th centuries was heavily influenced by natural structures and forms. This international movement has different names in various countries; for example in Germany Art Nouveau is more commonly known as Jugendstil, taking its name from the magazine Jugend.  However, it was in the Belgian journal L’Art Moderne during the 1880’s that the term Art Nouveau appeared when describing the work of Les Vingt.

Art Nouveau and was seen as both a style and philosophy that drew inspiration from the natural world rather than looking back into history and recreating historical styles. It was heavily influenced by the Arts and Crafts movement which sought to promote handicraft and skilled workmanship at a time when industrialisation was seen to be debasing the work of skilled artisans through the process of mass production. The Art Nouveau movement encompassed all aspects of art, design and architecture and was developed by a generation of skilled and energetic designers and artists who sought to advance an art form appropriate to the modern age. Those associated with the movement included Charles Rennie Mackintosh Scottish artist, designer and architect. Aubrey Beardsley, illustrator and author. American artist and designer Louis Comfort Tiffany who is particularly known for his work in stained glass. René Jules Lalique, French glass designer. Émile Gallé French artist in wood, glass and ceramics. Flemish designer and designer Victor Horta. Czech painter and decorative artist Alfons Mucha.

The flora and fauna within all of the lands of the Celtic nations is something to be celebrated and cherished. Our environment is an important part of us as a people and needs to be as protected as equally as our language and culture. Our landscape and geographic location has played a pivotal role in our history, beliefs and recognition of ourselves. For our culture tells us that we are part of and completely tied to the lands in which we live or from whence we came.

The ancient Standing Stones, Circles and Cairns within the Celtic nations pay homage to our environment in one form or another. We Celts cannot but be responsible for the protection of nature and the environment. Our ancestors demand it of us and if you delve into your Celtic soul you will hear that deep voice that says ‘Protect the Environment’. Wherever it is in the world in which you live or work. Listen to that voice within yourself because it, as much as anything, ‘Makes you Celtic.’

The Celtic lands of north Western Europe have given rise to exceptional opportunities for rare species to evolve and to act as sanctuaries for bird and marine life to flourish. This is particularly so on more remote islands within our Celtic sphere. In addition to Isle of Man, one of the six Celtic Nations, there are also many islands of various sizes around the coasts of Brittany, Cornwall, Wales, Scotland and Ireland. On some of these islands relative isolation over many centuries resulted in animals unique to these islands developing and being bred as livestock; although in many cases breeding programmes now exist in other parts of the world. Here are just a few examples of those distinct and unique animals native to some of the islands off our Celtic coasts.