Celtic Civilisation offers an innovative perspective on early Irish culture and opens a rich world of myth, legend, poetry and tradition, revealing Ireland’s place in early Europe as well as its links with other Celtic regions. As a student of Celtic Civilisation you will learn about the history of the Celtic peoples of Europe; fascinating legends; Ireland’s longstanding contacts with neighbouring traditions; issues of gender and identity in medieval Irish society; and how Ireland assimilated European culture while in turn influencing it.
In the lectures you will follow the Celtic peoples from central Europe to Ireland, and from the early Iron Age into the Middle Ages; you will learn about topics such as Celtic literature, history, mythology, languages, laws and spirituality. The course provides a comprehensive overview of the origins, ideology, society and history of the medieval Celtic peoples, together with their interactions among themselves and their influence farther afield.
Celtic Civilisation offers a broad new perspective on early Irish culture, revealing Ireland’s early European inheritance as well as its links with other Celtic regions. The course requires no previous knowledge or language skills and opens up a rich world of myth, legend, poetry, history and traditions, providing an understanding of the past that will enrich your view of the present. It complements courses in related areas such as archaeology, history, or Irish language. Moreover, it provides you with transferable interdisciplinary and analytical skills.
UCC was the first university to offer a course in Celtic Civilisation and has gained international recognition as a pioneer in the area. The course is run by the Department of Early and Medieval Irish, one of only two such departments in the world. Our academic staff include some of the foremost experts who are currently active in such fields as Celtic mythology, tales of the Irish hero Finn and his companions, saints, the lore of places, the poetic voice, early Irish Christianity and the Arthurian legend. Our Department is also the centre in UCC for the larger subject area of Celtic Studies, including the medieval history and literature of Wales and Scotland, the deeper past of the Celtic-speaking peoples and the origins and interrelationships of the Celtic languages. This places our students at the very heart of Celtic Civilisation studies in all its permutations.
Extensive enrolment by mature and international students adds to the diversity of the learning experience.
If you are passionate about Ireland’s rich cultural heritage, if you are fascinated by history, or if you are gifted with a curious mind and a strong imagination, a love of story, and a willingness to delve into the tales and lore of a many-sided and ancient tradition, then Celtic Civilisation might be the course for you.
Career Opportunities
Celtic Civilisation is an excellent qualification for careers involving familiarity with the Irish past, and with Irish tradition and culture, or as a preparation for further study in this and related fields. Graduates are employed in a range of sectors, including:
archivism
community work
conservation
development
heritage management
journalism
librarianship
public service
research
tourism
teaching/academia