Past events
A curated selection of past events involving Celtic and Scottish Studies.
Celtic and Scottish Studies Seminar Series
Each semester, we welcome a fantastic range of guest speakers and colleagues in Celtic and Scottish Studies to present a lunchtime seminar on their work.
As the longest established department of its kind in Scotland, Celtic and Scottish Studies at Edinburgh is a major international hub for research, teaching and learning.
Please note that speaker titles and universities, as listed, date from the time of the event and may have changed.
Please note that speaker titles and universities, as listed, date from the time of the event and may have changed.
| Date | Title | Speaker(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 7 May 2021 | Creative Collaboration in Words and Music, a Fulbright Foundation Project | Dr Margaret McAllister & Aonghas MacNeacail |
| 23 April 2021 | Professor West Looks Back | Professor Gary West |
| 9 April 2021 | Norman Kennedy: The Warp and Weft of Tradition | Professor Margaret Bennett |
| 26 March 2021 | Highland tourism – the realm of Myth | Dr Coinneach Maclean |
| 12 March 2021 | The School of Scottish Studies @ 50: Struth an Eòlais, a collaboration with BBC Radio nan Gàidheal | Jo MacDonald |
| 26 February 2021 | "It’s ma job tae work and it’s yours tae mak it go roon": Women’s Lives in a Shipbuilding Community | Dr Hugh Hagan |
| 12 February 2021 | "They Soon had us Singing in their Language": The Macaronic Songs of Gaelic-Speaking Herring Gutters | Meg Hyland |
| 29 January 2021 | Robert Burns and the Discovery and Re-Creation of Scottish Song | Dr Emily Lyle and Dr Katherine Campbell |
| 15 January 2021 | The almost “medieval” world of Tomás O´Criomhthain | Professor Mairéad Nic Craith |
| 4 December 2020 | Donald Archie MacDonald: Gaelic Ethnologist and Fieldworker | Dr John Shaw (University of Edinburgh) |
| 27 November 2020 | ‘The most fascinating sort of work’: The island of Scarp and early collecting by the School of Scottish Studies | Dr Hugh Dan MacLennan (Historian/Broadcaster) and Gillies Campbell (Retired HMI: Art & Design) |
| 13 November 2020 | John Lorne Campbell and Margaret Fay Shaw: 20th century pioneers in collecting the oral tradition of Scotland | Professor Hugh Cheape (University of the Highlands and Islands) |
| 12 November 2020 | Gaelic in Scotland: Policies, Movements, Ideologies | Wilson McLeod |
| 30 October 2020 | A Honeymoon in January 1934 and the School of Scottish Studies | Dr Margaret A Mackay (University of Edinburgh) |
| 16 October 2020 | From Field to Archive: The Realisation of the Irish Folklore Commission | Professor Emeritus Ríonach uí Ógáin (University College Dublin) |
| 28 February 2020 | eDIL 2019: Who changed what and why? | Dr Sharon Arbuthnot (QUB/eDIL project) |
| 14 February 2020 | "What’s love got to do (got to do) with it?" Depicting romance in medieval Gaelic literature | Robbie Anndra MacLeòid (University of Glasgow) |
| 7 February 2020 | A Composer’s Journey: From Sorley MacLean to Aonghas MacNeacail | Dr Margaret McAllister (Fulbright-Scotland Visiting Professor) |
| 31 January 2020 | Travellers in Kintyre c. 1930 to 1950: the Lantern Slides of Dugald Semple (1884-1964) | Dr Steven Sutcliffe (University of Edinburgh) |
| 24 January 2020 | 'Dis Quiet' film screening and Q&A | Bruce Eunson (Education Scotland) |
| 17 January 2020 | Two Alexanders: Macbain and Littlejohn: Gaelic intelligentsia meets philanthropy through shinty in unique collaboration | Dr Hugh Dan MacLennan (Academy of Sport, University of Edinburgh) |
| 22 November 2019 | Wales in England 1914-1945: Recovering dual identifications in wartime | Dr Wendy Ugolini (University of Edinburgh) |
| 15 November 2019 | Four Pillars and In the Wake of Neil Gunn | Mike Vass (School of Scottish Studies Archives Traditional Artist in Residence) |
| 8 November 2019 | Librettos, graphic novels and TED talks: NLS Scots Scriever | Dr Michael Dempster (Creative Scotland's Scots Scriever, National Library of Scotland) |
| 1 November 2019 | ‘It’s a part of me and I’m a part of it’: Ecological Thinking in Contemporary Scottish Folk Music | Rowan Hawitt (Trinity College, Cambridge) |
| 25 October 2019 | ‘Á, ní tu an Conall athá mis’ a reá i n-ao’chor!’: the formation of the hero in the Conall Gulban story in Ireland and Scotland | Dr Síle de Cléir (University of Limerick) |
| 18 October 2019 | The Faclair na Gàidhlig Manuscript Corpus | Dr Martina Maher and Dr Eystein Thanisch (Faclair na Gàidhlig/ Dictionary of the Scottish Gaelic Language) |
| 11 October 2019 | No arms for Atalanta? Translating women in the Middle Irish Thebaid | Dr Mariamne Briggs (University of Edinburgh) |
| 4 October 2019 | Personal narratives and verbal performance in the foreign language classroom | Dr Licia Masoni (University of Bologna) |
| 27 September 2019 | Grimm Ripples: The Role of the Grimms’ Deutsche Sagen in the Collection and Creation of National Folk Narratives in Northern Europe | Professor Terry Gunnell (University of Iceland) |
| 29 March 2019 | “Simply the best, better than all the rest”: Islanders and their Gaelic dialects | Charles Wilson (University of Edinburgh) |
| 8 March 2019 | Celebrating the life and work of Professor Catherine Kerrigan in poetry and song on International Women's Day 2019 | Professor Meg Bateman, Gerda Stevenson, Christine De Luca, Valerie Gillies and Dr Katherine Campbell |
| 1 March 2019 | John Murdoch, Gaels and the Left in Scotland, 1870-1890 | Calum Cameron White (University of Glasgow) |
| 15 February 2019 | The Celtic Revival and Modern Spiritualism in Scotland: fairies, witches and haunted landscape | Dr Michelle Foot (University of Edinburgh) |
| 8 February 2019 | Dà dhàn “ùr” o Dhùthaich MhicAoidh, 1608, 1614 | Dr Aonghas MacCoinnich (University of Glasgow) |
| 30 January 2019 | Ideological Shifts in Soviet Translations of Robert Burns’s poetry | Dr Natalia Vid (University of Maribor) |
| 25 January 2019 | John MacLean, Bàrd Thighearna Chola: print and the oral tradition | Professor Rob Dunbar (University of Edinburgh) |
| 18 January 2019 | 'Tha Thu Air Aigeann M’ Inntinn' film screening and discussion | Catrìona Black |
| 7 December 2018 | 'Ding Dong Dollar' - Then and Now | Stewart Black |
| 23 November 2018 | Aig an Iasgach: sustainability, language and heritage in Hebridean fishing | Dr Magnus Course |
| 16 November 2018 | Untitled | Gordon Cameron (University of the Highlands and Islands) |
| 9 November 2018 | Óðinn – One God or Many? | Professor Jens Peter Schjødt (Aarhus University) |
| 2 November 2018 | Untitled | Colleen Paton (University of Arizona) |
| 26 October 2018 | European voices in Edinburgh | Lin Li |
| 19 October 2018 | The Rob Donn Trail, the Rob Donn Songbook, and expanding the audience for Celtic scholarship | Dr Ellen Beard |
| 12 October 2018 | Public service reform and Irish language policy - tensions between "new public management" and language revitalisation efforts post-2008 | Ben Ceallaigh (University of Edinburgh) |
| 5 October 2018 | Re-imagining and re-writing Finn mac Cumaill's death in an Early Modern Irish manuscript | Dr Martina Maher (Faclair na Gàidhlig) |
| 28 September 2018 | F. C. Diack (1865-1939): collector of Gaelic place-names and dialects from the North East Highlands’ | Dr Jake King (Ainmean-àite na h-Alba) |
| 6 April 2018 | MSc Student Conference: Part Two | Students from our MSc programme in Celtic and Scottish Studies |
| 30 March 2018 | MSc Student Conference: Part One | Students from our MSc programme in Celtic and Scottish Studies |
| 23 March 2018 | Dancing with the divine hag: connecting cailleach lore across music, song, story and dance | Dr Lucy MacRae (University of Edinburgh) |
| 16 March 2018 | The value of fieldwork in contemporary ethnology | Dr Svetlana Pogodina (University of Latvia) |
| 9 March 2018 | At the fulcrum: Joe Heaney and the Folk Revival | Dr Virginia Blankenhorn (University of Edinburgh) |
| 16 February 2018 | Gaelic Medium Education choice in Barra: the educational, linguistic and political context | Dr Kirstie McLeod (University of Edinburgh) |
| 9 February 2018 | Heritage, motivation and cultural identity among new Gaelic speakers in New Scotland | Dr Stuart Dunmore (University of Edinburgh) |
| 2 February 2018 | Celtic Revivals and Reappropriations | Professor Murdo Macdonald (University of Dundee) |
| 1 December 2017 | Craobhscáoileadh coibhniusa: An Introduction and Progress Report on the IrishGen Project (Early Irish Genealogies as a Graph Database) | Dr Eystein Thanisch (University of the Highlands and Islands) and Dr Chris Yocum |
| 24 November 2017 | Revisiting ‘Mary O'Hara's Scotland’: a deferred moment in the early folk music revival | Dr Stuart Eydmann (University of Edinburgh) |
| 17 November 2017 | ’s na cnàmhan gu bhith ris/a-nis: ways of reading contemporary Gaelic poetry | Dr Peter Mackay (University of St Andrews) |
| 10 November 2017 | Ways of Reading - themes and approaches in Conceiving a Nation | Gilbert Márkus (University of Glasgow) |
| 3 November 2017 | The Regional Ethnologies of Europe Project: Dumfries and Galloway | Caroline Milligan (University of Edinburgh), Mark Mulhern (University of Edinburgh) and Professor Gary West (University of Edinburgh) |
| 27 October 2017 | Hungarian Heritage House – Keeping the folklore alive | Boglarka Szabad (Hungarian Heritage House) |
| 20 October 2017 | Trends in the ‘new speaker’ discourse in the context of the Celtic languages: problems and suggestions | Christopher Lewin (University of Edinburgh) |
| 13 October 2017 | Orpheus Caledonius: Bringing William Thomson's 1725 Collection to Life | Žak Ozmo (Artistic Director of L'Avventura, London) |
| 6 October 2017 | My high heart is a knot of blood, my soul is tearing from my body: Bodies, emotions, and fosterage in medieval Irish literature | Thomas O’Donnell (University College London) |
| 29 September 2017 | Traditionalist and Moderniser | Professor Rob Dunbar (University of Edinburgh) |
| 7 April 2017 | Autoethnography in Dumfries and Galloway: Reflections on the Recent Work of the European Ethnological Research Centre | Caroline Milligan, Mark Mulhern, Dr Kenneth Veitch and Professor Gary West (University of Edinburgh) |
| 31 March 2017 | The Cult of Saints Kentigern and Cuthbert in Relation to Politics and National/Regional Identity in Scotland | Dr Greta-Mary Hair (University of Edinburgh) and Alan Henderson |
| 24 March 2017 | Fabric and Fashion in Gaelic Poetry | Dr Anja Gunderloch (University of Edinburgh) |
| 17 March 2017 | Chieftains and great men: The Rev. James McLagan's Gaelic collection and the Scottish Enlightenment | Dr Sìm Innes (University of Glasgow) |
| 10 March 2017 | Research with minority language practitioners in bilingual education: a trio of studies investigating Gaelic medium education | Dr Sarah MacQuarrie (University of Manchester) |
| 3 March 2017 | Last (wo)man standing: NLS MS 72.1.40 and the internal chronology of Ulster Cycle death tales | Abigail Burnyeat (University of Edinburgh) |
| 1 March 2017 |
New speakers of Gaelic: perspectives from Scotia and Nova Scotia |
Professor Rob Dunbar (University of Edinburgh) and Dr Stuart Dunmore (University of Edinburgh) |
| 24 February 2017 | Presenting the history of oral culture three-dimensionally in actual and virtual museums | Dr Emily Lyle (University of Edinburgh) |
| 17 February 2017 | Screening of ‘The Last Storyteller’ (2002) and panel discussion | Professor Desmond Bell (National College of Art and Design) |
| 10 February 2017 | Folklore, History and the Appin Murder | Ronald Black (University of Edinburgh) |
| 3 February 2017 | Death, Landscape and Water | Fañch Bihan-Gallic (University of Aberdeen) |
| 27 January 2017 | An Irishman, a Scotsman and the search for safe harbour in eighteenth-century Gaeldom | Dr Peadar Ó Muircheartaigh (University of Aberystwyth) |
| 2 December 2016 | Early Irish migrations to Scotland - Difficulties, Debates and DNA | Dr Catherine Swift (University of Limerick) |
| 25 November 2016 | Confessions of a Reformed Folk Singer | Bob Pegg |
| 18 November 2016 | Fionn mac Cumhaill in Gaelic Folklore | Dr Natasha Sumner (University of Harvard) |
| 11 November 2016 | Evenings of Wonder – Circus Stories from the Isle of Man in the Nineteenth Century | Sue King |
| 4 November 2016 | ‘爱尔兰 & Seiria, from ‘the Island of Love’ to ‘the Land of Silk’: issues in translating Kuno Meyer's Selections from Ancient Irish Poetry into Chinese | He Qianwei (University of Edinburgh) |
| 28 October 2016 | The Humour of the Bard!: Dòmhnall Ruadh Mac an t-Saoir’s great satirical masterpiece “MacPhàil is MacThòmais” | Bill Innes |
| 21 October 2016 | The Patersons of Beauly: centenary reflections on rifles, romance, shinty and World War One | Dr Hugh Dan Maclennan and Dr Maggie Mackay (University of Edinburgh) |
| 14 October 2016 | Not the hearing way: defining ‘traditional’ in British Sign Language storytelling traditions | Dr Ella Leith (University of Edinburgh) |
| 7 October 2016 | "S e ’m fèileadh beag bu docha leam”: Trevor-Roper and the little kilt | Dr Coinneach Maclean (University of Glasgow) |
| 30 September 2016 | Authoritarian managerialism in medieval Gaelic educational institutions |
Dr Eystein Thanisch (University of Edinburgh) |
Researchers in Celtic and Scottish Studies at the University of Edinburgh are highly active in the area of future language planning and maintenance, particularly for Scottish Gaelic.
In spring 2019, we held a series of public seminars on language policy, with an emphasis on language in Scotland.
Please note that speaker titles and universities, as listed, date from the time of the event and may have changed.
| Date | Title | Speakers |
|---|---|---|
| 2 May 2019 | A truthful reconciliation? Bill C-91, the Indigenous Languages Act and Canada's duty to its indigenous peoples | Professor Rob Dunbar (University of Edinburgh) |
| 25 April 2019 | Comasan Labhairt ann an Gàidhlig: developing a research-based resource for Gaelic learning and teaching |
Dr Nicola Carty (University of Glasgow) |
| 28 March 2019 | The Scots language in superdiverse educational spaces: a critical discourse analysis of policy into practice' | Dr Karen Lowing (University of Stirling) |
| 21 March 2019 | Gaelic spaces, Gaelic in space: an approach to informal practice and learning of Scottish Gaelic | Fañch Bihan-Gallic (University of Aberdeen) |
| 14 March 2019 | Language provision and inclusion in Scottish mainstream education | Róisín McKelvey (University of Edinburgh) |
| 7 March 2019 | Leasachadh eacanomaigeach agus a' Ghàidhlig: o shealladh an latha an-diugh chun a-màireach | Iain Caimbeul (The University of the Highlands and Islands) |
| 28 February 2019 | The early days of a signing nation? Reflections upon the British Sign Language (Scotland) Act 2015 | Professor Graham Turner (Heriot-Watt University) |
The Soillse Seminar series ran from spring 2016 to spring 2017. Lectures focused on minority language policy and sociolinguistics.
Please note that speaker titles and universities, as listed, date from the time of the event and may have changed.
| Date | Title | Speakers |
|---|---|---|
| 26 April 2017 | A triple minority? Gay new speakers of Irish – legitimacy and identity | Dr John Walsh (National University of Ireland) |
| 5 April 2017 | Language as gatekeeper at the UK Border | Róisín McKelvey (University of Edinburgh) and Professor Rob Dunbar (University of Edinburgh) |
| 29 March 2017 | Language shift and neoliberalism – the Irish language in the wake of Ireland’s recent recession | Ben Ó Ceallaigh (University of Edinburgh) |
| 22 March 2017 | Becoming a (new) speaker of a minority language | Professor Bernadette O’Rourke (Heriot-Watt University) |
| 15 March 2017 | Promoting the Scots language as the National Library of Scotland’s Scots Scriever | Hamish MacDonald (Scots Scriever, National Library of Scotland). |
| 10 March 2017 | Research with minority language practitioners in bilingual education: a trio of studies investigating Gaelic-medium education | Dr Sarah MacQuarrie (University of Manchester) |
| 8 March 2017 | Minority languages and cultural representation: lessons from the Basque Country and Scotland | Dr Miren Manias (University of the Basque Country/University of Edinburgh) |
| 1 March 2017 | New speakers of Gaelic: perspectives from Scotia and Nova Scotia | Professor Rob Dunbar (University of Edinburgh) and Dr Stuart Dunmore (University of Edinburgh) |
| 20 April 2016 | The evolution of Canada's language rights regime | Stéphanie Chouinard (Université de Montréal) |
| 30 March 2016 | The accent in modern Scottish Gaelic spelling | Susan Ross (University of Glasgow) |
| 23 March 2017 | Telebhisean, cothroman cànain agus an dachaigh | Catrìona NicNèill (Sabhal Mòr Ostaig) |
| 17 March 2016 | Provision for a reviving language: the case of Cornish | Professor Kenneth MacKinnon (University of Aberdeen) |
| 9 March 2016 | New times, ‘new speakers’ of Faroese and multilingual ‘native’ speakers | Elisabeth Holm (University of the Faroe Islands) |
| 2 March 2016 | Accent aim and phonetic variation in new Gaelic speakers | Dr Claire Nance (Lancaster University) |
| 24 February 2016 | Money talks, but it might not speak Irish | Sara Brennan (Heriot-Watt University) |
Conferences and symposia
Thinking About Mythology in the 21st Century
An annual conference jointly organised by the departments of Celtic and Scottish Studies and Scandinavian Studies at the University of Edinburgh.
Each year, the conference has a different theme related to Celtic and Old Norse mythology - previous themes include Myth and History, Boundaries, and Similarities and Differences.
Typically, the conference runs over two or three days and comprises a mix of panel sessions, keynote plenaries, workshops and networking opportunities.
Please note that speaker titles and universities, as listed, date from the time of the event and may have changed.
| Dates | Theme | Venue | Keynote speakers |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19 and 20 October 2019 | Myth and History | 50 George Square | Professor Joseph Nagy (Harvard University); Dr Emily Lyle (University of Edinburgh); Professor John Carey (University College Cork); Professor Jonas Wellendorf (University of California at Berkeley) |
| 10 and 11 November 2018 | Boundaries | 50 George Square | Professor Ruairi Ó hUiginn (Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies); Professor Jens Peter Schjodt (Aarhus University); Dr Kevin Murray (University College Cork) |
| 10 and 11 November 2017 | Similarities and differences | 50 George Square; David Hume Tower | Professor Stephen A. Mitchell (Harvard University); Professor Gregory Toner (Queen’s University, Belfast); Professor Jonathan Wooding (University of Sydney); Professor Jonas Wellendorf (University of California at Berkeley) |
| 19 and 20 November 2016 | 50 George Square | ||
| 24 and 25 November 2015 | 50 George Square | Professor Daniel Melia (University of California at Berkeley) | |
| 8 and 9 November 2014 | Recent developments in Celtic Studies, particularly myth and oral culture | 50 George Square |
Rannsachadh na Gàidhlig
Rannsachadh na Gàidhlig is a biennial academic conference series established in 2000 to promote research through the medium of Gaelic and on any topic related to Gaelic.
Typically, the conference runs over three or four days and comprises a mix of panel sessions, keynote plenaries, poster sessions, workshops and networking opportunities such as visits to the School of Scottish Studies Archives, book launches and evening entertainment.
Please note that speaker titles and universities, as listed, date from the time of the event and may have changed.
| Dates | Venue | Keynote speakers |
|---|---|---|
| 28 to 30 August 2018 | Informatics Forum; Appleton Tower; 50 George Square | |
| 23 to 26 June 2014 | Informatics Forum; Appleton Tower | Professor Richard Sharpe (Oxford University); Professor Hugh Cheape (Sabhal Mòr Ostaig UHI); Dr Moray Watson (University of Aberdeen); Dr Meg Bateman (Sabhal Mòr Ostaig UHI); Dr John Purser (Sabhal Mòr Ostaig UHI) |
More conferences and symposia
Dates: 13 to 16 April 2023
Venues: Alison House, Edinburgh College of Art; Reid Concert Hall
Keynote speaker: Professor Ama Oforiwaa Aduonum (Illinois State University)
In brief: Hosted by the Celtic & Scottish Studies department, this annual conference centred around the theme of Music and Movement. The conference ran over four days and comprised themed panel sessions, roundtable discussions, performances, and a keynote lecture by Professor Ama Oforiwaa Aduonum entitled 'Sankofa: Sonic Time Travel and Performative Journeyings in Walking with My Ancestors'.
Find more information and browse the full programme on the conference blog
Date: 6 December 2019
Venue: The Queen's Hall, Edinburgh
Keynote speaker: Professor Ríonach uí Ógáin (University College Dublin)
In brief: A symposium to mark the centenary celebrations for Hamish Henderson. Events included the first Im Thurn Lecture given by Professor Ríonach uí Ógáin, titled 'Hamish Henderson, Tobar an Dualchais and the Irish Connection', and musical, scholarly and personal presentations on different aspects of Hamish Henderson's work and life. The symposium was followed by an evening concert celebrating Hamish Henderson's work on oral tradition and Scottish culture.
Dates: 16 and 17 October 2019
Venue: Informatics Forum (University of Edinburgh)
Keynote speakers: Rob Dunbar (University of Edinburgh); Josu Amezaga Albizu (University of the Basque Country (UPV / EHU)); Elin Haf Gruffydd Jones (Mercator Media); Alan Esslemont (Director of TG4); Itziar Azpeitia Iruretagoien (Basque Public TV (ETB))
Organisers: Miren Manias-Muñoz (University of Edinburgh / University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU)); Garbiñe Iztueta Goizueta (University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU) / Etxepare Basque Institute)
In brief: Organised jointly by Etxepare Basque Institute and the University of Edinburgh, this two-day conference aimed to encourage knowledge exchange and collaboration between academics and professionals working on minority-language media. The conference was a part of Scotland Goes Basque, a programme of Basque culture promoted by the Etxepare Basque Institute in Scotland in 2019, and comprised speaker sessions, three plenaries, a roundtable discussion, a book launch and a screening of the documentary Mugaminak (2016).
Dates: 13 to 18 June 2018
Venue: Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, Isle of Skye
In brief: A joint meeting of the Ulster Cycle and Finn Cycle Conferences, hosted by the Scottish Celtic departments at Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, and the University of the Highlands and Islands, to encourage Celticists to engage more closely with Ossianic scholarship.
Dates: 2 to 4 March 2018
Venue: 50 George Square, University of Edinburgh; Teviot Row House, University of Edinburgh
Organisers: Students of Celtic Studies at the University of Edinburgh and The Association of Celtic Students of Ireland and Britain
In brief: The Celtic Studies Students' Conference has travelled throughout the Celtic world since 2012, and in March 2018, the conference returned to its original home for the first time since its inception. The conference consisted of 20-minute presentations on any aspect of Celtic Studies, including literature, language, linguistics, history, archaeology, art, music, ethnology and politics, by students of all Celtic languages and periods: ancient, medieval, early modern and contemporary.
Date: 15 March 2016
Venue: Outreach Centre, Holyrood Road, University of Edinburgh
Keynote speakers: Eithne O’Connell (Dublin City University); Professor Elin Haf Gruffydd Jones (Aberystwyth University); Professor Philip Schlesinger (Glasgow University); Representatives of campaigning group Gàidhlig-TV, MG ALBA/BBC ALBA
In brief: Gaelic broadcasting and the media were the focus of a one-day conference organised by the department of Celtic and Scottish Studies where campaign group members, broadcasters, and audience community representatives discussed current issues and potential future developments. The conference was open to any groups or individuals with an interest in the topic.
Lectures and talks
The Rebellious Truth Lecture
As part of the School of Scottish Studies Archives at 70 celebrations, Celtic and Scottish Studies partnered with Edinburgh Tradfest for the first Rebellious Truth Lecture in May 2021.
Through presentation and live performance, the Rebellious Truth Lecture explores the importance of traditional arts and the role of traditional artists of all backgrounds and practices in addressing societal concerns: environment, sustainability, identity, social cohesion, health, understandings of economy, employment, education, and diversity.
Date: 7 May 2023
Venue: Traverse Theatre (in person) or online via live stream
Event series: Rebellious Truth
In brief: The third annual Rebellious Truth lecture was in collaboration with Edinburgh Tradfest and given by Mischa Macpherson, Gaelic singer, composer, researcher and broadcaster. It was titled 'Balance and Belonging: The Unique Creative Life of Traditional Musicians / Cothromachd Agus Buntanas: Am Beatha Cruthachail Sònraichte Aig Luchd-Ciùil Traidiseanta'.
The talk concerned the mental pressures that traditional musicians face, and provided insight into the joys of playing the music you love. As well as the talk, the event included a short performance from Mischa and special set by our Traditional Artist in Residence Fraser Fifield.
Date: 3 May 2022
Venues: Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh; Online (live stream on Edinburgh Tradfest's website)
Event series: Rebellious Truth
Keynote speaker: Dr Úna Monaghan
In brief: The second annual Rebellious Truth talk was given by harper, composer, researcher and sound artist Dr Úna Monaghan and entitled '121 Stories: The impact of gender on participation in Irish traditional music'.
In addition to the talk, the show included a recital by Úna Monaghan, a Q&A with the audience and a panel discussion on the mechanisms and structures favouring the contribution of men within the Irish and Scottish traditional music scene and what the next steps might be. The panel consisted of Catriona Macdonald (University of Newcastle), Christian Gamauf (Fèis Rois) and Martin Green.
| Speaker | Date | Venue | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Karine Polwart | 10 May 2021 | St Cecilia's Hall, Edinburgh; Online (live stream on Edinburgh Tradfest's website) | Folk singer, songwriter and theatre-maker Karine Polwart explored the importance of traditional arts and the role of traditional artists of all backgrounds and practices in addressing societal concerns. The event also featured the premiere of 'The Order of Time' by School of Scottish Studies Traditional Artist in Residence Mike Vass, accompanied by Mairearad Green. |
The O'Donnell Lectures
The O’Donnell Lectures on the Celtic aspect of the archaeology and languages of Britain were established in 1954 in honour of Charles James O’Donnell.
They are given in the universities of Edinburgh, Oxford, Aberystwyth, Bangor, Cardiff, Swansea and Lampeter (Trinity St David). At the University of Edinburgh, the O'Donnell Lecture is hosted annually by Celtic and Scottish Studies.
| Speaker | Date | Venue | Theme |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dr Fiona Edmonds (University of Lancaster) | 9 May 2019 | 50 George Square | Gaelic around the Solway Firth in the medieval period |
| Professor Donald Meek (University of Glasgow) | 31 May 2018 | 50 George Square | The Gaelic Literary Enlightenment: The Making of the Scottish Gaelic New Testament and Associated Books, 1760-1820 |
| Professor William Gillies (University of Edinburgh) | 16 May 2017 | 50 George Square | 'The Mavis of Clan Donald': engaging with John MacCodrum |
John MacLeod Memorial Lecture
Hosted by An Comann Gàidhealach in collaboration with the University of Edinburgh, the annual John MacLeod Memorial Lecture was established in 2019.
Originally from Carloway in Lewis, John MacLeod was a champion of Gaelic language and culture all his life and was actively involved in Gaelic development in Edinburgh. He was a member of the Lothian and Carloway Gaelic Choirs, and was the President of An Comunn Gàidhealach for ten years. In 1996, MacLeod restarted the Edinburgh branch of the Royal National Mòd, and, in 2017, was given the award of "Sàr-Ghàidheal" (Outstanding Gael) at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, Gaelic college on Skye.
| Speaker | Date | Venue | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ruairidh Alastair MacLennan | 26 January 2023 | 50 George Square | A’ togail guth ann an saoghal chruinneil: Ciall-chànain ri linn a lingua franca / Raising a voice in a globalised world: The meaning of language in the age of the lingua franca |
| Iona Whyte | 27 January 2022 | Online via Zoom | Mealladh Uaine is Fionn-Sgeul an Lorg Carbon / Green Washing and the Carbon Footprint Myth |
| Pàdruig Morrison | 28 January 2021 | Online via Zoom | Tìr nan Gàidheal? A’ beachdachadh air òigridh agus na h-eileanan anns an àm ri teachd / Land of the Gael? Considering young people and the islands in the future |
| Dr Alasdair Whyte (University of Glasgow) | 30 January 2020 | 50 George Square | Fèin-aithne is Fèin-mheas nan Gàidheal |
| Kate Forbes MSP | 24 January 2019 | 50 George Square | Dileab Thugainn, Dileab Bhuainn |
More lectures and talks
Date: 12 November 2020
Venue: Online (Zoom)
In brief: Hosted by Professor Rob Dunbar (University of Edinburgh), the event celebrated the launch of 'Gaelic in Scotland: Policies, Movements, Ideologies' by Professor Wilson McLeod (University of Edinburgh), the first comprehensive study of Gaelic in modern Scotland.
Read more about the event
Date: 24 October 2017
Venue: Scottish Storytelling Centre
Speaker: Dr William Lamb (University of Edinburgh)
In brief: This lecture considered what can be learned about the Gaels’ traditional music and dance through their own inter-generational tales, drawing together sundry threads from Dr Alan Bruford’s substantial contribution to Scottish Ethnology, and providing a refreshing angle to a famous facet of Gaelic culture. The Alan Bruford Memorial Lecture is an annual event in memory of scholar and archivist Alan Bruford. The event was part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival and supported by the School of Scottish Studies Archives.
Date: 8 May 2017
Venue: 50 George Square
Speaker: Dr Priscilla Scott (University of Edinburgh)
In brief: Ttitled "‘Suas leis a’ Ghàidhlig!’: The influence of innovative and forward-looking women in the development of the Mòd in the early years of the twentieth century," this lecture focused on the impact of a small group of dynamic ‘new women’ on the development of the Mòd and wider An Comunn Gàidhealach activities, as they sought to implement their own innovative ideas and to encourage a forward-looking and more inclusive organisation in support of Gaelic.
Film screenings, festivals, performances and workshops
Date: 6 August 2023
Venue: Princes Street Gardens
As part of: Edinburgh International Festival
In brief: A set from the thrilling GRIT Orchestra and the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland at the Ross Bandstand. This final performance included an appearance from LLC's Traditional Artist in Residence, Fraser Fifield. Performing their unique blend of Celtic and world music traditions, and including a new world premiere accompanied by over 100 young people, GRIT kicked off the Festival with a truly memorable manifestation of the first week’s theme: community over chaos.
Date: 14 June 2023
Venue: 50 George Square, University of Edinburgh
Performers: Fraser Fifield, Traditional Artist in Residence (saxophone) and Dr Jack Taylor (bagpipes)
In brief: A multimedia event, involving a screening of 'MacCrimmon’s Gold' (Gérard Alle, 2019) which was followed by discussion and musical performance by Fraser Fifield and Dr Jack Taylor, all on the topic of 'Piobaireachd'.
Date: 25 May 2023
Venue: Project Room 1.06, 50 George Square
Organiser: Màrtainn Mac an t-Saoir, Edinburgh University Gaelic Writer in Residence
Performers: Joy Dunlop; musical contributions from Edinburgh University students, including Mòd Gold Medalist, Màiri Callan; three members of Martin MacIntyre's Gaelic Writing Group
In brief: A stimulating bi-lingual event, full of lively discussion, song and music with special guest and well-know Gaelic singer, presenter and animateur, Joy Dunlop. There was also musical contributions from Edinburgh University students, including Mòd Gold Medalist, Màiri Callan. Three members of Martin MacIntyre's Gaelic Writing Group contributed new short pieces.
Date: 26 April 2023
Venue: Project Room 1.06, 50 George Square
In brief: An afternoon celebrating the culture, heritage and history of Scotland’s Traveller communities. It included live performances from community members Jess Smith, Joss Cameron and Sam Donaldson.
This event provided a short overview of Scotland's Traveller communities and showcased some of the cultural traditions they enjoy. Many recordings of the communities’ voices from the past can be found in School of Scottish Studies Archives and online through the Tobar an Dualchais/Kist o Riches resource.
Date: 24 March 2023
Venue: 50 George Square
Organiser: Martin MacIntyre (Gaelic Writer in Residence, University of Edinburgh)
In brief: An evening of music, song, poetry and chat with Marcas Mac an Tuairneir and Rachel Walker. It was a bilingual event in English and Gaelic.
Date: 26 February 2023
Venue: Reid Concert Hall
In brief: An in-depth reinterpretation of the Elizabeth Ross Manuscript, the earliest known manuscript of Highland music, collected on the Isle of Raasay in 1812. In 1954, the collection was secured by the School of Scottish Studies and subsequently published by Musica Scotia. The manuscript was performed by Traditional Artist in Residence Fraser Fifield and pianist Dave Milligan - they re-presented the music in exciting contemporary settings, putting a spin on the music’s ancient roots.
Date: 30 November 2022
Venue: St Cecilia's Hall
In brief: Celebrating St Andrew's Day in music and song at the University of Edinburgh's annual concert, organised in conjunction with Celtic and Scottish Studies and featuring Scots and Gaelic performers. The concert included performances from Fraser Fifield (Traditional Artist in Residence at the University of Edinburgh), Màrtainn Mac an t-Saoir / Martin MacIntyre (Gaelic Writer in Residence at the University of Edinburgh), Dr Lori Watson (Lecturer in Scottish Ethnology), Dave Milligan, Rona Wilkie and Màiri Callan.
Date: 22 August 2020
Venue: Online (YouTube)
In brief: Online festival celebrating the School of Scottish Studies Archives, featuring specially commissioned new work from Scottish musicians Mhairi Hall and Rachel Newton, as well as film screenings and panel discussions, followed by an evening concert of music, storytelling and dance.
Watch the performances on Celtic and Scottish Studies' YouTube channel
Date: 12 November 2017
Venue: 50 George Square, University of Edinburgh
In brief: A free workshop by Dr Emily Lyle (University of Edinburgh) on cosmology and Celtic and Scandinavian mythologies. The workshop consisted of short presentations and group discussions, looking at the claim that Edinburgh model of a Eurasian ten-god cosmology underlies mythologies like those of the Celts and Scandinavians, as studied during the fifth annual colloquium on Thinking About Mythology in the 21st Century in November 2017.
Date: 14 May 2017
Venue: 50 George Square
Organisers: Scottish Poetry Library, supported by the Celtic and Scottish Studies department
In brief: A film screening of "Seachd - The Inaccessible Pinnacle", featuring two of Scotland's leading Gaelic poets, Angus MacNicol and Angus Peter Campbell.
Date: 30 November 2015
Venue: Playfair Library
In brief: Celebrating St Andrew’s Day in music and song at the University of Edinburgh’s annual concert. Performers included: Allan MacDonald (Highland pipes); Katherine Campbell (Scots song); Patsy Seddon (clarsach); Gary West (Lowland pipes); Margaret Callan (Gaelic song); Padruig Morrison (accordion); a folk group of Will Lamb, Fin Moore, and Sarah Hoy (bouzouki, bellows pipes and fiddle).