Are We on The Verge of a Celtic Renaissance?

This past weekend, I had the opportunity to compete in the Smoky Mountain Highland Games as a heavy athlete. While I had made the mistake of competing in a class beyond my current physical limitations, I couldn’t help but notice the sheer amount of fervor that emanated from its participants and from those who paid money for the experience. It wasn’t too long ago that the COVID-19 pandemic halted all major events due to concern over rising cases. Some had wondered if the pandemic could potentially eliminate such events, potentially being the end of the Highland Games. As society is gradually returning to normal, these concerns are laid to rest.

As I ponder the events of this past weekend, it has given me a moment to consider where Celtic culture once was and where it is now. It wasn’t too long ago where Celtic society was struggling to maintain its culture. Whether it was the systematic annihilation of Celtic languages or the attempt at eliminating the Highland Gaelic way of life, the sociopolitical turmoil of a bygone era gave way to a Celtic Revival that is still felt today. Considering the prevalence of Celticity in modern society, is it possible we are on the verge of a Celtic Renaissance? To answer this question, let’s look at several aspects of Celtic culture alive today.

One of the most important aspects is spoken language. There are six Celtic languages, Irish, Manx, Scots Gaelic, Welsh, Cornish, and Breton. Due to influence from bordering countries, these languages have been driven to being endangered and near extinction. In the past few years, attitudes have changed and now there’s a revival effort for each language. Scots Gaelic, Irish, and Welsh are considered official languages in their respective countries, where Ireland and Wales have made considerable efforts in providing language education in public schools. While this hasn’t been adopted to the extent of their neighbors, Scotland has made their own attempts to revitalize Scots Gaelic through websites like LearnGaelic and SpeakGaelic. The revitalization of Manx has also occurred through media, while Breton and Cornish are still struggling to improve their numbers.

Among the diaspora, there have been a resurgence of interest regarding the Celtic languages. This is especially true for Irish and Scots Gaelic, where it is taught by non-profit organizations and universities. One such organization is the American Scottish Gaelic Society, or An Comunn Gàidhealach Ameireaganach. Founded in 1984, the ACGA offers a variety of tools for those interested in learning Scots Gaelic. They are associated with the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games, where they hold a Gaelic language and song school every week before the event. They also hold the U.S. National Mòd, a series of competitions pertaining to Gaelic song, poetry, and storytelling.

In the 18th century, the Jacobite rising resulted in the attempted elimination of Highland culture by banning men from wearing tartans. The Highland Clearances gave way to the erosion of the Scottish clan system, forcing many to migrate to the colonies. Despite these attempts, the Celtic Revival caused a resurgence in wearing tartans and resulted in the development of specific tartan patterns chosen by Clan Chiefs. While Scottish clans no longer exist as a landlord-tenant relationship, clan societies have emerged as a means for individuals within the diaspora to connect with those from Scotland and provide assistance through scholarships.

Due to the rise of Historical European Martial Arts (HEMA), the martial art traditions of Ireland and Scotland have been revived to compete with interest in traditional Asian martial arts. The Cateran Society is a HEMA organization that specializes in the reconstruction of Scottish martial arts, particularly the Highland Broadsword tradition. Since its inception, the Cateran Society had grown significantly where it is currently taught in schools in seven different countries with students found throughout the world. Irish stick fighting, also known as Bataireacht, has also garnered attention in the martial arts community. Antrim Bata, the style taught by Max Chouinard, has seen a similar resurgence with schools located across North America and Europe.

While this fails to address every rising aspect of Celtic culture, it provides a substantial look into a culture once deemed to be declining. Once deemed as rustic and backwards, Celtic culture is now trending through movies and shows such as Outlander, Brave, and Outlaw King. As those in the diaspora become more aware of their roots, there exists an urge to not only learn about their ancestral past but also find ways to participate. Whether this participation is through language, sports, or even becoming a patron at the local pub, this desire to recapture a lost aspect of themselves that grounds them in a constantly changing world. With the Age of Empires slowly in decline, those still living in these countries are also recapturing lost aspects of their culture with the determination to never let it dissolve into history. I do not think we are on the verge of a Celtic Renaissance; I believe we are already living in it.