IRISH-IN-UK-L Archives

From: "Jean R." <>
Subject: [Irish-in-UK] Ireland and Wales - History
Date: Tue, 24 Apr 2007 11:02:54 -0700

SNIPPET: Ireland and Wales are frequently bracketed together as 'Celtic'
countries, largely on the basis of language. The Irish and Welsh languages
do indeed share similarities of structure, though this fact is outweighed by
the inability of the speakers of the one to comprehend the other. The Irish
are 'Q' Celts (thus ceann is the word for 'head'), whereas the Welsh are 'P'
Celts (their word for 'head' is pen). These linguistic divisions, however,
did not prevent political and cultural ties being forged between
south-eastern Ireland and south Wales during the early Christian centuries.
Clear evidence of Irish links is provided by 40 ogam stones, most of them in
south Wales, testifying to the memory of Irish rulers in that area
(Brycheiniog or Brecon), St. David, whose main associations were also with
south Wales, was mentioned regularly in Irish saints' Lives. There was an
Irish translation of the 'Historia Brittonum.' Christianity itself may also
have reached Ireland from Wales. It was not until the Viking centuries
(800-1000) that the links between the Christian communities across the Irish
Sea were seriously weakened and the Welsh scribes learned to differentiate
between the Viking 'Gentiles' of Dublin (Gynhon Dulyn) and the Irish
(Gwyddl).

During the early Christian period, monasticism in Wales and Ireland seems to
have been organized on similar 'Celtic' lines, with bishops playing a minor
role. In modern times, however, Irish and Welsh have been divided by
religion. Outside Ulster the religious identity of the majority of the Irish
population is Catholic. In contrast Welsh identity since the late 18th
century has been largely shaped by Calvinism. In Wales as in Scotland
(another 'Celtic country) Irish immigrants after the Great Famine were made
to feel unwelcome. The Monmouth militia was termed 'the Pope's Own' because
of the large number of 'papists' in its ranks. In Wales, as in Ulster, many
opposed the Irish home rule bill of 1886 on the grounds that home rule meant
Rome rule. The Irish were also seen as a threat to the survival of the
Welsh language, since they turned more to English than Welsh as a means of
communication. A Catholic Irishman, though a Celt, might feel as unwelcome
in Celtic Wales as in Saxon England.

In broad political and social terms, however, the histories of Wales and
Ireland offer many parallels. In particular both countries have experienced
colonization at the hand of a more populous and powerful neighbour.

-- Hugh Kearney, Amundson Professor of History, University of Pittsburgh.

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• [Irish-in-UK] Ireland and Wales - History by "Jean R." <>