Abstract
This paper briefly addresses the similarities of the Breton, Cornish, and Welsh cultures in the areas of language and myths, particularly the dominance of the sea in these cultures' mythologies. They are all Celtic cultures, which makes it easier to draw parallels, particularly as regards linguistic similarities.

Abstract
This paper examines how the Celtic culture is one of Europe's oldest, surviving for thousands of years through several foreign invasions and through settlement in some of Europe's most inhospitable regions. It looks at how even today, Celtic culture thrives in pockets of Wales, Scotland and Ireland, where people continue to speak Celtic-based languages such as Gaelic and Welsh, and honor the free-spirited warrior history of the Celts. Because of the longevity of the Celtic culture, this paper attempts to determine whether it can be considered the most influential culture in European history.

Outline:
The Influence of the Celts
Arguments Against the Celts
The Celts Were not Europe's Most Influential Culture

From the Paper
"There is an argument to be made that the Celts are one of the most resilient cultures in European history. Celtic history stretches back as far as 1,200 B.C., and the Celts, who were essentially a group of loosely affiliated tribes who spoke similar languages and practiced similar customs, once saw their territory stretch from the rocky Atlantic cliffs of Ireland and England to the Black Sea in Eastern Europe (O'Neill). It was a territory one might more readily associate with the Roman Empire, which certainly had a significant influence over European history and development. "

Tags:Christianity, wales, scotland, ireland, warrior

Abstract
This paper focuses on the artwork, writings and symbols most commonly associated with the Christianity that evolved in Celtic culture. Also, the paper explains that although Christianity was distinctly different from the pagan beliefs of pre-Christian Ireland, many of its concepts have roots in pagan spirituality. The author states that Celtic artwork in general is not only an expression of faith but also a representation of a basic teaching of Celtic spirituality, which is that all things are connected and have an element of the divine. The paper goes on to note that the Incarnation of Christ is also part of Celtic spirituality and its presence is seen in all elements of Irish Christianity, from the artwork to the sculptures, from the writings to the books.

From the Paper
"To understand the symbolism of Celtic Christianity, one must first understand its beginnings. It was believed to have spread among the people of the British Isles during the Middle Ages and it was during this time that the theologian Pelagius and his religious ideals came into competition with that of St. Augustine, who was considered the father of Latin Christianity. Palagius had controversial views about the nature of human sin and evil, believing that "man could overcome evil by his own strength and his own will", while St. Augustine believed that temptation could not be overcome simply by the will of man, but only through a man's dedication to the Church (Herm 259). Despite St. Augustine's theological victory over the Palagians the Celtic traditions were able to survive for generations (Squire 402). Despite the introduction of Roman Christianity, Celtic beliefs and traditions would remain in the Celtic British Isles and merge with the newly found faith, creating new beliefs along with the old, with many remnants of Palagius' theology found in the Celtic faith. One of the main foundations of Celtic spirituality is the coming of Christ incarnated as a man, which unified all the people to respond to God's call and eventually experience salvation. Only by God becoming flesh could man's inadequacy be overcome. The idea of incarnation therefore became extremely important to the early Christians of Ireland, because it represented the power of the deity to overcome the flesh (Herm 259-273)."

Tags:religion, spiritual, Irish

Abstract
This paper presents an overview of ancient Celtic culture, focusing on their religion and the role of the fertility god known as Bres. First, the paper describes the Celts, where they lived and their way of life which centered on agriculture and war. The paper then related the story of Bres as a major god who was virile and connected with fertility. Additionally, the paper points out the mythological lore surrounding the life of Bres, and particularly his relationship with Brigid his wife and its importance and influence on many other Celtic/Irish myths. The paper concludes by stating that Bres, and his wife Brigid, were very powerful fertility deities at a time in the ancient past when Ireland was devoid of fertile ground for planting crops.

From the Paper
"Exactly how Bres became the king of the Tuatha De Danann is not clear, but according to prevailing Celtic/Irish mythology, a former king known as Nuada "lost his hand in the first Battle of Magh Tuireadh" (Lindemans, Internet) and was quickly deemed as unfit to rule as king, one reason being his addiction to hard drink. Although Bres' father Elatha was the ruler of the Fomorians, there appears to have been some kind of tension between the Fomorians and the Tuatha De Danann; nonetheless, in an act of "reconciliation, the Tuatha De decided to name Bres as their king" and allowed him to marry Brigid, one of the most important fertility goddesses in Celtic/Irish mythology and folklore (Lindemans, Internet).
"As previously mentioned, Bres turned out to be a very brutal and untrustworthy king for his people. As a ruler, Bres was "tyrannical. . . raised taxes to a near unbearable level" (Lindemans, Internet) and forced many of the Tuatha De Danann to be his personal slaves, "working in his house as unpaid laborers and in the fields from sun-up to sundown" "

Tags:ancient Ireland, warrior gods, Tuatha De Danann, Irish mythology

Abstract
This paper explains that, at the height of their domination in Europe, the Celtics, who were a warrior race in the 9th century B.C.E. that started on the island of Ireland, spread their religion across the British Isles to Turkey; however, they finally were conquered by the Romans and the Germanic tribes. The author points out that Druidism was passed down through an oral tradition typically kept by the bards and the ancient Druids; much of the Druids traditions are still kept because they were later recorded in medieval manuscripts and in oral tradition, folk lore and ritual. The paper concludes that, in the modern world, the Druids are still strong as a cultural fascination and several religious groups have been formed such as the British Druid Order and the Reformed Druids of North America.

Table of Contents
Celtic Paganism: A History
Celtic Traditions and Religions
Druidism and their Different Occupations
Influence of Christianity of the Druids
The Religious Beliefs of the Druids
Devices Used by the Druids
Druid Celebrations and Seasonal Celebrations
The Modern Druidic Movement

From the Paper
"The Druids are known for having many celebrations and ceremonies throughout the year. Some of these celebrations are religious others commemorate special events within their history. The Druids celebrate a series of fire-festivals on the first of each of four months. These festivals would start at sunset and last for three days. When these ceremonies start, great bonfires are built on the hilltops and cattle would be driven between the two great bonfires to assure them fertility. Couples hoping to be married would jump over the bonfire and run between them to encourage fertility as well. These festivities all have special significance within the culture of the Druids. The first is the Samhain, which means the end of the warm season. It takes place on November 1st which marks the combined feast of the dead and the new years day celebration on the Celtic calendar. This is the time when the veil between our reality and the reality of the otherworld can be easily penetrated. Thus, communication with those who have past beyond the veil is possible and many ceremonies attempt to communicate with the dead during this festival. Later the Christians would adopt the fire festival as the All Soul's Eve, and later it would become the secular holiday Halloween."

Tags:bards, ovates, ceremonies, oral, nature

Abstract
This paper explores the reasons for Ireland's flourishing economy and why it has been able to turn its once floundering economy into a prosperous and successful one. The paper describes the geographic, political, and cultural aspects that have contributed to this success and looks at the factors that make the country attractive to large, foreign, high-tech industries. Finally, the paper assesses Ireland's present and future economic outlook and concludes that, while Ireland is experiencing some of the pains of rapid and global growth, it remains an outstanding location for business investment.

From the Paper
"Ireland as often been called the Celtic Tiger over the past decade, and indeed, its economic growth has brought it, in record time, from a third-world status to the most global nation in the world, according to recent reports. It has done this by applying energy and creativity to enticing foreign investment to form a vibrant industrial base. Moreover, it has attracted relatively clean industries, high-tech primarily, which have also put it in an excellent position to begin its current initiative in attracting world-class scientists to work and make available their discoveries for development in Ireland. In addition to the hospitable business climate, the geography and climate of the nation are also attractive. In addition, it has relatively few of the problems associated with industrial societies, although it is beginning to see some negative effects, in addition to the numerous positive ones, from its full entry into the European Union."

Tags:republic, european, eu, science, foundation, globalized, nation, roman, catholic, church

Abstract
This paper examines early Irish art and literature in an effort to gain insight into early Irish heritage and culture. The paper discusses Le Tene art, Celtic art, the emergence of craft centers or workshops, influences on Le Tene art and Le Tene art's influence on other cultures as well as early Christian artifacts, the importance and significance of the Ulster cycle in Irish literature, and how the story "The Tain Bo Cuailgne" represents the rough, common life of the early Irish.

From the Paper
"When attempting to explore early Irish cultures, we can discover much when we observe art and literature in conjunction with historical information. Historical facts only present a portion of the picture, while artifacts and literature fill in the gaps. Art from the Le Tene culture offers incredible insight into early Irish heritage because literacy was not widespread. Symbols and images depicted on pieces discovered at this time represent rituals and beliefs. While most of the population could not write, the literature from the Ulster era helps support what we can learn from artifacts. In addition, when we combine what we see and read from the arts of early Irish cultures, we discover a remarkable connection to historical accounts of these people."

Tags:halstatt, jewelry, warrior, canosa, helmet, agris, kirkburn, sword, Durrnberg, flagon

From the Paper
"The leprechaun of Irish folklore is familiar to all who have ever sat among a green-wearing crowd on St. Patrick's Day. According to this modern-day popular telling of fairy tale, the leprechaun came into being something like this:

In the beginning, before there was humankind in the form even of Adam and Eve, God had created the angels to worship Himself. That all did not do so is well known: The Archangel Lucifer thought himself an equal to Himself and fomented a rebellion amongst the angel legions, arch and otherwise. It was touch and go for a while - not because God was ever in doubt of losing, mind you, but because the Almighty Father wanted to see who among his heavenly creations had faith in Himself - and humility in themselves (jealousy, you see, being the root of Lucifer's failings). The Archangels Michael and Gabriel were, of ..."

Abstract
The Australian Celtic Festival is analyzed from a semiotic framework in this paper, including a number of signs and signifiers evident during the event. The paper provides a semiotic view of culture and details the dance, music and dress.

From the Paper
"Semiotics is the study of signs or a sign system. Semiotic techniques enables the analogy of language as a system to be extended to culture as a whole. Semiotics permits a unifying conceptual framework that encompasses the whole range of signifying practices including gesture, posture, dress, writing, music, speech, photography, film, television and radio. The Australian Celtic Festival offers a unique opportunity to apply semiotic techniques to gain a broader understanding of Celtic representation..."

Tags:Saussure, codes, misreading, meaning, symbols, Celtic culture, music, gestures, dance, flags, interpretation

Abstract
This paper discusses the history of Celtic music and its migration to the Appalachian region of North America. The author points out the cultural memory embedded in the Celtic tradition. The paper examines the impact of Celtic music on musical styles of the modern period.

From the Paper
"The purpose of this research is to examine connections between Celtic music, which originated in Britain, chiefly Scotland and Ireland, and which migrated to the U.S., chiefly to the Appalachian region of North America and the intergenerational aspects of musical heritage with reference to the human-development theories of Erik Erikson. The plan of the research will be to set forth a history of Celtic music from its origins in Britain and the history of migration of the music to the U.S. and then discuss the resonance that such music ..."

Tags:Celtic, Music, Appalachian, music, American, music