Scottish and Irish Identity
I have always had an interest in this topic. I studied gaelic in secondary school for around 6 years in my irish class and learned about the connections genetically as well as culturally between Alba and Eire. To what extent is Scotland and Ireland linked, apart from the Anglicised parts of Scotland. Here is what I already know from school and my own personal research.
Gaelic was brought to Scotland by colonists from Ireland towards the end of the Roman Empire in Britain. By 500 A.D. these Gaels had established their Kingdom of Dàl Riada, centered on what is now Argyll in southwest Scotland; in Gaelic, Earra Ghàidheal, "the coastland of the Gael." To Roman writers they were Scotti -- Scotia at this time denoted Ireland -- although these names cannot be traced with certainty to an origin in Gaelic itself. But from these Latin forms came the name Scotland. In Gaelic, however, the country is Alba, as in Irish Gaelic, and Alban in Welsh.
These colonists that went to Scotland came from Northern Ireland mostly. Their kingdome was known as Dal Riada or Dal Riata.
By the eleventh century, Gaelic was at its highest point in Scotland and known to some degree virtually throughout the country. A Gaelic-speaking court, supported by the Columban church, gave patronage to makers of literature at the highest levels of society.
From what I have seen and heard, Scots Gaelic as a language is very similar to Irish gaelic. i mean, I can understand what they are saying and they can understand what I am saying( on a good day).
Many Scottish names come from original irish gaelic itself, "Mac" translated into " Son of", "Campbell" or in Irish gaelic Caimbeil or Caithmhuil, meaning either " crooked mouth ( angry)" or " Battle Chief"
"Muir" meaning river in Irish 2 "Muire".
In modern use "Scottish people" or "Scots" refers to anyone born in Scotland. In another sense, it applies to people who are descended from the Scots and who identify ethnically as Scots. While the Latin word Scoti originally applied to a particular, 5th century,Gaelic tribe that inhabited Ireland and later in history became confused with the Gaelic language until the 15th century Today the term Scots is used to describe all Scottish people. The term Scotch has also been incorrectly used for the Scottish people, but this use has been primarily by people outside of Scotland.
So what happened to the Picts? did they vanish? Or did they blend into Gaelic society?
i know if the picts did dissapear they, along with their language, did not disappear suddenly. The process of Gaelicisation, which may have begun generations earlier, continued under Caustantín and his successors. When the last inhabitants of Alba were fully Gaelicised, becoming Scots, probably during the 11th century, the Picts were soon forgotten.Later they would reappear in myth and legend.
And what of the bagpipe? I heard from a Scottish guy once that they came to Scotland in the form of "Oileain" pipes or war pipes in English from Ireland itself.
"The bagpipes were introduced to Scotland from Ireland. The Scots added a third drone (see below) and applied their own tartans to the bags. Village musicians may have first used the bagpipes and drums to entertain; the pipes were also played at funerals."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Early_Scots
http://www.worsleyschool.net/sociala...ipes/page.html
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Re: Scottish and Irish Identity
Originally Posted by Eire_Emerald
