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Pan-Celticism

by
dhopcroft - Author

There is little doubt that the Celtic peoples who inhabited the recognized Celtic nations of today left a great heritage for their descendants. Within those countries there has been a long history of individual struggle for recognition, a struggle which is by no means over for any of the nations.

Pan Celticism is a recognition that, because of their Celtic origins, the Irish, Manx, Welsh, Scottish, Cornish and Bretons share a special relationship. This relationship has been the stimulus for a number of different movements through the ages, which have tended to be linked either to the struggles of people for recognition or to the maintaining and spreading of cultural links. The struggles have produced a number of movements which often reflected the Celtic pride in terms of nationalist or republican movements. In more recent years the movements have been as much concerned with the spread of culture and pleas for a recognition of that special quality which is called Celtic.

The term Celtic has often been defined in linguistic terms by these movements. The languages of Welsh, Manx, Irish and Scottish Gaelic, Breton and Cornish are regarded as Celtic. There are individuals and groups who live outside these regions who speak a Celtic language. The immigrants who set out to create a community in Patagonia, and those who were forced from Scotland and came to settle in Nova Scotia are examples. Wherever Celts have migrated there are interest groups, as far afield as Japan, India, Australia, America and New Zealand. Pan Celtic groups represent the interests of the six countries considered to be Celtic, but they also acknowledge the wider cultural heritage of Celts who no longer live in these countries. Those interests are reflected in a series of Pan Celtic festivals in Ireland, Brittany, Scotland, Anglesey and elsewhere, in the Celtic book fairs, film festivals, art exhibitions, and in the setting up of Celtic studies departments within universities.

History records numerous references to the way in which Celts have felt and shown the special relationship that exists. Celts fought together to try and repel invasions from Saxons and Jutes. Owen Glyndwr sought recognition from Ireland and Scotland. There are examples of the reluctance of Welsh and Scottish soldiers showing sympathy to their Irish friends at times of struggle. The history of Pan Celtic movements was born from recognition of the struggles of Celtic peoples and a strong desire to maintain their culture. The arrival of Pan-Celticism is often said to have been inspired by Charles de Gaulle (uncle of the man who became French President. The earliest attempts to form groups had varying degrees of success, many movements were short-lived. This may have been due to the long periods that Celtic countries had been subject to rule from outside, and partly due to the need for agreement in defining the special relationship. A Celtic League was formed in 1886, a Pan Celtic Society in Dublin in 1888, but both fell by the wayside within a few years. The uncertain start did not mean that interest was minimal, for at the same time there were a number of groups being founded to promote language in Wales, Scotland, Ireland and Brittany, and later in Cornwall and the Isle of Man. These groups are important because the linguistic links were play a part in defining membership of groups and focusing aims.

A Celtic Association formed in 1899 to promote festivals for literature, art and music. In 1900 a Celtic Congress was formed, this congress at first rejected the claims of Cornwall because the language was considered dead. A Celtic Cornish Society was founded to revive the language and by 1904 Cornwall had become a member of the Congress. Although the Congress met regularly the events of the first world war shifted the focus towards nationalist movements. Ireland succeeded in gaining recognition for most of the country as a separate nation, the Scottish Nationalist Party and Plaid Cymru were formed. At times it seemed that Celtic nations might go their separate ways and it was only in 1947 when a fringe meeting of the Celtic Congress set up a Celtic Union that the Pan-Celtic aims for identity were revived, though the Union lasted for only three years. The Union was set up after a meeting held at Trinity College, its first president was Gwynfor Evans who was to become the first Plaid Cymru member to be elected to the parliament at Westminster. The Union did not manage to gain the support of either the Scottish Nationalists or Plaid Cymru, who did not share all the political aims, though they had no objections to individual party members joining the Union.

The Irish government at that time gave much support to cultural links and recognition of languages, De Valera encouraging the Irish Folklore Commission to make recordings of Manx speakers, but appeared to keep its distance from nationalist movements in other Celtic countries. However, it was during this post-war period that the plight of Bretons became a matter of concern, with many members of the Breton movement being accused of being Nazi sympathisers and collaborators. Many were executed or thrown into jail and it was only after the injustice was brought to light by Welsh journalists that sufficient pressure was brought on other allied governments to persuade France to stop these trials. The partition of Ireland raised problems that were political. The about turn by the post-war Labour government, who had promised self- government for Wales and Scotland, fueled the feelings for nationalist movements. Plaid Cymru and Scottish Nationalists were putting up more candidates for elections as sympathy grew and Celts in Wales and Scotland felt a greater call for identity to be recognised.

The Celtic Union failed and a Celtic Alliance was launched in 1952, though its only meeting turned out to be a mass rally at Hyde Park. A number of Inter-Celtic festivals were taking place in the late 1940's, with an emphasis on language, culture and music, but the separation of political and cultural aims would appear to have weakened the cause for recognition of the special relationship.

The first meeting of the modern Celtic League was held in 1961, organised by a Breton living in exile and held during the Eisteddfod week at Llangollen. This movement has survived with a continuing political influence. Its first aims were stated as political, but with the emphasis on co-operation.

Aims: 1. foster co-operation between the national movements in the Celtic countries, particularly in efforts to obtain international recognition of our national rights. 2. share the experience of our national struggles and exchange constructive ideas.

The league grew rapidly in terms of individual membership. Within a year there were branches in all the Celtic countries, in 1963 it launched its journal Celtic News (later replaced by the journal Carn), and by 1966 the annual meeting in Dublin had 150 delegates and the membership was put at almost 5,000.

The league has survived a number of crises. The first, in 1969, occurred when Gwynfor Evans gave an address which was perceived by many as a presentation of Plaid Cymru policy and which seemed to work against the idea of linking national parties. Two points were seen as being very controversial, the speech was seen as making an allegation that the problems of the six counties were sectarian and that Bretons had brought problems upon themselves. The league amended its constitution, Gwynfor Evans resigned and it was left to two people from Bangor University to revive the Welsh branch of the league.

By 1972 the office of president had been removed and Padraig O Conchuir was elected as chairman. The Celtic League redefined its aims to include "encouraging acceptance of the need for a formal association of the Celtic nations once two or more of them have attained independence" and "advocating the use of the natural resources of each Celtic country for the benefit of all its people."

The greatest shift seemed to come as links and ties with national parties were loosened. The constitution was altered and its form was seen as something which many more Celts could identify with and support more easily. It became a single statement of intent.

"The fundamental aim of the Celtic League is to support, through peaceful means, the struggle of the Celtic nations, Brittany, Cornwall, Ireland, Mann, Scotland and Wales, to win or secure the political, cultural, social and economic freedom they need for their survival and development as distinct communities. This includes: a) working towards the restoration of the Celtic languages, which are essential characteristics of nationality for each Celtic country, as ordinary means of communication; b) developing the consciousness of the special relationship existing between the Celtic peoples; c) fostering co-operation and solidarity between them; d) making our national struggles and achievements better known abroad; e) furthering the establishment of organised relations between the Celtic nations, and with the long-term aim of formal associations between them; f) recognising that the Celtic peoples will be free only in a society which will give to all the means to participate actively in the national affairs and the exploitation of national resources for the benefit of all."

The Celtic League recognised that any person born or living in the Celtic countries has a right to participate in efforts to secure conditions where the culture can survive and thrive and the international branch of the League is open to anyone who supports these aims.

This shift away from a single emphasis on nationalism to give more emphasis to elements of culture, language, and the special relationship brought together the two main strands of Pan-Celtic movements. By 1971 the Celtic League had been instrumental in organising the Pan-Celtic Festival at Killarney, and continued with helping set up the festival at Lorient in Brittany.

These popularity of these festivals is reflected in increased interest and awareness in other cultural aspects. Celtic music has flourished with popularity for groups such as the Chieftains, Ossian, Run Rig and Ar Log, and of individuals such as Dafydd Iwan, Glenmor and Brenda Wooton. Celtic art has experienced a similar increase in popularity. The work of George Bain and Courtney Davis deserve mention. In 1979 the Celtic Film and Television Festival was established. Celtic Vision, which promotes art, was established in 1982. Scrif-Celt, a Celtic languages book fair, was established in 1985. New branches to the league were formed in America, Nova Scotia and Australia. Groups as far afield as Argentina and Japan are affiliated to the league.

Whilst this revival has continued and the recent referendum in Scotland and then Wales will lead to a form of Assembly in those countries there are many reasons for not becoming complacent.

The importance of the identity of regions within the European Union offers some hope for the aims of the Celtic League, but whilst Spain has moved towards a recognition of the Catalonians and other groups, the Celtic areas have been less fortunate. Ireland remains a divided country, the assemblies for Scotland and Wales will have limited powers, the recognition of the importance of identity for Brittany and Cornwall has made little progress. Political issues remain and a furtherance of aims requires a strong unity between Celtic peoples.

At other levels there is greater hope, the increase in Inter-Celtic festivals has started to involve more young people, the teaching of Celtic languages is on the increase, the increased awareness of the special relationship between Celtic peoples promises much. The raising of awareness through tourism is obvious in both Ireland and Scotland, though Wales has seemed less adventurous and even reluctant to promote its heritage abroad leaving most effort to individuals and commercial groups. As more people are made aware of the value of a Celtic heritage there will be greater support and this support is often gained by providing happy and long-lasting memories of visits to the Celtic countries.

At the same time it is essential that political and cultural strands do not become separated. The songs which tell of the long struggle in Ireland have political and cultural strands, as do many from other Celtic countries. In Wales the finance poured into maintaining castles used to suppress the Welsh, or to assist in upkeep of homes built by those who made a fortune in slate at the expense of Welsh lives, must be balanced by an equal effort to inform visitors of the history of these buildings. Language Acts must be supported with finance to assist those artists who wish to use a Celtic language for expression. Nationalist parties must be kept aware of the special relationship and not fall into the trap of seeing a nation only through the eyes of economists.

In the past Pan-Celtic movements have struggled, individual countries have suffered whilst the struggle for identity was achieved. If there is a lesson that might be taken on board it is surely that Pan-Celtic aims have a brighter future when Celts put the emphasis on holding hands with each other to symbolise that special relationship.

Source: From: dhopcroft
Newsgroups: soc.culture.scottish
Subject: Pan-Celticism
Date: Fri, 17 Oct 97
Organization: CelticMist

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