Celtic Students Podcast

This episode of the Celtic Students Podcast was mainly recorded at the Celtic Students Conference 2023, which took place between March 30 and April 1 at the University of Glasgow. It features a number of interviews carried out by Alexandra Philbin and Nina Cnockaert-Guillou with Conference attendees and organisers. The participants all speak about how much they enjoyed the Conference and what the highlight was for them. The episode also contains short clips from the paper that Alexandra and Nina delivered at the Conference, titled ‘10,000 plays and counting: challenges and opportunities for the Celtic Students Podcast’. In this paper, they reflected on the success of the podcast to date and how this can be continued in the years ahead.

This episode was recorded in April 2023. 

Hosts: Alexandra Philbin and Nina Cnockaert-Guillou

Guests: 

Máire McCafferty

Pól Ó Sniadhaigh

Colin McGarry

Matthew Needham

Mylene Berkhout

Allard Nieuwesteeg

Seumas Dòmhnallach

Dara de Poire

Piero Andrés Fagandini Elorrieta

Emmet Taylor

Erin McNulty

Languages: English, Irish and Spanish

Music: “Kesh Jig, Leitrim Fancy” by Sláinte, CC BY-SA 3.0 US (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/us/), available from freemusicarchive.org.

In this episode, Alexandra Philbin talks to Stiofán Ó Briain (Teaching Fellow and PhD Student, University College Dublin) and Erin McNulty (PhD Student, University of Glasgow) about the Association of Celtic Students’ annual conference. Stiofán, who was Conference Chair for the Celtic Students Conference in 2020 and 2021, reflects on his experiences of the conference as an attendee and then as Chair. Erin, Conference Chair for the 2023 Celtic Students Conference, tells us about what we can expect at the upcoming conference, which will take place at the University of Glasgow and online between March 30 and April 1, 2023. Both encourage students and recent graduates to apply to present a paper at the Conference. This can be done by clicking on the following link and submitting an abstract by November 1, 2022:  https://linktr.ee/celticstudentsconference. For those who would like to submit a poster for the 2023 Conference, please email the Conference team at [email protected].

This episode was recorded in September 2022.

Host: Alexandra Philbin

Guests: Stiofán Ó Briain and Erin McNulty

Language: English

Music: “Kesh Jig, Leitrim Fancy” by Sláinte, CC BY-SA 3.0 US (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/us/), available from freemusicarchive.org

Links to initiatives, organisations and people mentioned in the episode:

Call for Papers and Abstract Submission

UCD School of Irish, Celtic Studies and Folklore

University of Glasgow 

Proceedings of the Association of Celtic Students of Ireland and Britain: Vol. VII (Edinburgh, 2019)

An Comunn Oiseanach

Committee Roles of the Association of Celtic Students

Celtic Students Conference Schedule 2020

Celtic Students Conference Schedule 2021

Wonder

If you would like to submit a poster for the 2023 Conference or have any questions about the Conference, please contact the Association at [email protected]

In this episode, Nina Cnockaert-Guillou talks to Llewelyn Hopwood, a DPhil student at the University of Oxford, about his doctoral research, which focuses on ‘Sound and Control’ in medieval Welsh poetry during the Beirdd yr Uchelwyr period (c. 1300–1600). Llewelyn first explains how he got the idea for such an innovative research project and talks about Celtic Studies in Oxford. He then discusses sound studies and his own research in more detail, and treats us with a few readings from medieval Welsh poems!

This episode was recorded in August 2022.

Host: Nina Cnockaert-Guillou

Guest: Llewelyn Hopwood

Languages: English, with poetry readings in Welsh

Music: “Kesh Jig, Leitrim Fancy” by Sláinte, CC BY-SA 3.0 US (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/us/), available from freemusicarchive.org

Poems, songs and films referenced by Llewelyn:

Dafydd ap Gwilym ‘Trafferth Mewn Tafarn’ ll. 31–46, ed. and trans. Dafydd Johnston

Lewys Glyn Cothi, ‘Marwnad Phelpod ap Rhys’ ll. 1–2, 49–52, ed. Dafydd Johnston, trans. Llewelyn Hopwood

Ieuan ap Rhydderch, ‘Awdl i Fair’ ll. 65–68, ed. R. Iestyn Daniel, trans. Llewelyn Hopwood

Iolo Goch, ‘Dychan i’r Gwyddelyn’ ll. 91, 32, 86, ed. and trans. Dafydd Johnston

For the translations of the above extracts, please visit our blog 

Blackkklansman (2018)

Sorry to bother you (2018)

Alvin Lucier, I Am Sitting in a Room (1969)

Carwyn Ellis & Rio 18, Joia! (2019)

Voicing the Verse / Y Gerdd ar Gân (2010)

Content Warning: This episode contains long discussions of fascism, white supremacy, racism, antisemitism, and hate speech, with brief references to sexual assault, harassment within the field, and harassment within the academy more broadly. Listener discretion is advised.

In this episode, Emmet Taylor speaks with Adam Bierstedt about the relationship between fascism and white supremacy and Celtic Studies, focusing on the 'Celtic Films' situation which garnered brief international media attention in the summer of 2021. Adam provides insights and suggestions from his field of Norse Studies to how Celtic Studies can best approach these situations in the future. This episode is in English.

This episode was recorded in June 2022.

Host: Emmet Taylor, University College Cork

Guest: Adam Bierstedt

Language: English

Music: “Kesh Jig, Leitrim Fancy” by Sláinte, CC BY-SA 3.0 US (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/us/), available from freemusicarchive.org.

Links to Adam's works and to scholars discussed in the episode:

@sagathain on Twitter

ludohistory on Twitch

Ludohistory on YouTube

Adam's playthrough of Gods Will Fall, a game 'based' on Celtic history and archeology

Dr. Mary Rambaran-Olm (Dr. MRO)

Dr. Erik Wade

In this episode, Nina Cnockaert-Guillou talks to Seosamh Mac Cárthaigh (Joseph McCarthy), a PhD student at the Department of Anglo-Saxon, Norse and Celtic of the University of Cambridge. On top of his fascinating PhD research, Seosamh completed a 3-month internship at the British Library in London in 2021, during which he updated the online catalogue for pre-1600 Irish manuscripts. Seosamh discusses the internship work, what he enjoyed and the challenges he faced. He also describes the amazing treasures found in medieval Irish manuscripts, from scribes writing notes complaining when others take their pens to spinning wheels of vellum. This episode provides great insights into the world of medieval Irish scribes and of the British Library.

This episode was recorded in June 2022.

Host: Nina Cnockaert-Guillou

Guest: Seosamh Mac Cárthaigh

Language: English

Music: “Kesh Jig, Leitrim Fancy” by Sláinte, CC BY-SA 3.0 US (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/us/), available from freemusicarchive.org.

Links to initiatives, organisations and texts mentioned in the episode:

An Chuallacht

An Cumann Drámaíochta

DIAS, School of Celtic Studies

[Note: Seosamh mentions that the Irish manuscripts in the British Library go back to the 13th century but there are also two 12th-century manuscripts, Harley 1023 and Harley 1802]

Standish Hayes O’Grady, Robin Flower, and Myles Dillon, Catalogue of Irish manuscripts in the British Museum, 3 vols (London, 1926–1953).

Harley 5280 

Digital Framework for the Medieval Gaelic World 

Egerton 89

eDIL, Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language

British Library catalogue

Egerton 1782

Egerton 1781

Additional 30512

Egerton 92

[Note: When Seosamh talks about Egerton 90 he meant Egerton 88, which is available on ISOS]

Twitter @BLMedieval

Seosamh’s blog posts on the Medieval Manuscripts Blog:

‘Irish voyage tales for the holiday of a lifetime’, 17th March 2021

‘Giant ants, golden apples and a killer cat’, 21st August 2021

‘Afterlives and otherworlds: three ghost stories from medieval Ireland’, 31st October 2021

San eipeasóid seo, labhraíonn Alexandra Philbin le Máire McCafferty, scoláire dochtúireachta i Scoil na Gaeilge, an Léinn Cheiltigh agus an Bhéaloidis, an Coláiste Ollscoile, Baile Átha Cliath. Is cuid den tionscadal ‘Rannpháirtíocht na nÓg i gCaomhnú Teangacha Eorpacha’ é taighde Mháire agus díríonn sí ar stair na gcoláistí samhraidh Gaeilge in Éirinn. Sa chéad chuid den agallamh (i mBéarla), déanann Máire cur síos ar an obair atá ar siúl sa tionscadal i gcoitinne, a bhaineann leis an nGaeilge, an mBreatnais agus an gCatalóinis. Sa dara cuid den agallamh (i nGaeilge), pléann Máire a cuid taighde ar na coláistí samhraidh agus a taithí mar scoláire dochtúireachta.

In this episode, Alexandra Philbin speaks to Máire McCafferty, a PhD student at the School of Irish, Celtic Studies and Folklore, University College Dublin. Máire’s research is part of the project ‘Youth Engagement in European Language Preservation’ and focuses on the history of the Irish-language colleges in Ireland. In the first part of the interview (in English), Máire describes the work going on as part of the overall project relating to Irish, Welsh and Catalan. In the second part (in Irish), Máire discusses her research on Irish-language colleges and her experiences as a PhD student.

This episode was recorded in May 2022.

Host: Alexandra Philbin

Guest: Máire McCafferty

Languages: Irish and English

Music: “Kesh Jig, Leitrim Fancy” by Sláinte, CC BY-SA 3.0 US (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/us/), available from freemusicarchive.org.

Links to initiatives, organisations and people mentioned in the episode:

Scoil na Gaeilge, an Léinn Cheiltigh agus an Bhéaloidis, an Coláiste Ollscoile, Baile Átha Cliath | School of Irish, Celtic Studies and Folklore, University College Dublin

Rannpháirtíocht na nÓg i gCaomhnú Teangacha Eorpacha | Youth Engagement in European Language Preservation

An fhoireann taighde | The research team

Comhdháil ar Rannpháirtíocht na nDéagóirí i Mionteangacha agus i dTeangacha Réigiúnacha (Márta 11-12, 2022) | Conference on Youth Engagement in Minority and Regional Languages (March 11-12, 2022)

S4C

An Claidheamh Soluis

Coiste na bPáistí

Scoil na Leanaí, Coláiste na Rinne

Twitter an tionscadail | The project's Twitter - @LanguagesYouth

In this episode, Nina Cnockaert-Guillou speaks to Dr Nike Stam and Dr Aaron Griffith, two of the organisers of the upcoming XVIIth International Congress of Celtic Studies in Utrecht in 2023. They first talk about the history of Celtic Studies in Utrecht, and the ways one can study Celtic languages there, before discussing the organisation of the Congress (to be held 24–28 July 2023). Aaron and Nike explain how exciting this event is, and strongly encourage students (and other academics and researchers) to come to the Congress and submit abstracts for it (the deadline of the Call for Papers is 1st September 2022, more information here: https://celticstudiescongress.sites.uu.nl/call-for-papers/).

This episode was recorded in June 2022.

Host: Nina Cnockaert-Guillou

Guests: Nike Stam and Aaron Griffith

Language: English

Music: “Kesh Jig, Leitrim Fancy” by Sláinte, CC BY-SA 3.0 US (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/us/), available from freemusicarchive.org.

Links to initiatives and organisations mentioned in the episode:

VLQ 7 OA online

ICCS Website

BA Programme Celtic at UU

RMA Ancient, Medieval, and Renaissance Studies

Various Tracks within the RMA

Van Hamel Foundation for Celtic Studies

Website Celtic (Dutch)

Twitter:

@CelticUU

@ICCS23

@vanhamelst

@vhcodecs

San eipeasóid seo, labhraíonn Alexandra Philbin le John Walsh (Ollscoil na hÉireann, Gaillimh) agus Bernadette O’Rourke (Ollscoil Ghlaschú), údair an leabhair ‘New Speakers of Irish in the Global Context: New Revival?’ (2020). Pléann siad coincheap an nuachainteora in Éirinn agus i gcoitinne, an próiseas taighde agus an leabhar agus tugann siad comhairle do scoláirí a bhfuil suim acu sa tsochtheangeolaíocht agus i dtéama an nuachainteora. Tá an eipeasóid seo dátheangach (Gaeilge agus Béarla). 

In this episode, Alexandra Philbin speaks to John Walsh (NUI Galway) and Bernadette O’Rourke (University of Glasgow), authors of the book ‘New Speakers of Irish in the Global Context: New Revival?’ (2020). They discuss the concept of the new speaker in Ireland and in general, the research process and the book and they give advice to students who are interested in sociolinguistics and new speakers. This episode is bilingual (Irish and English). 

This episode was recorded in April 2022.

Host: Alexandra Philbin 

Guests: John Walsh and Bernadette O’Rourke 

Languages: Irish and English 

Music: “Kesh Jig, Leitrim Fancy” by Sláinte, CC BY-SA 3.0 US (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/us/), available from freemusicarchive.org. 

Links to initiatives, organisations and people mentioned in the episode: 

John Walsh

Bernadette O’Rourke 

Bernadette and John’s book ‘New Speakers of Irish in the Global Context: New Revival?’ (2020)

Bernadette’s book on Irish and Galician ‘Galician and Irish in the European Context: Attitudes Towards Weak and Strong Minority Languages’ (2011)

COST Action IS1306 on New Speakers 

Muda lingüística - Joan Pujolar’s ‘Linguistic mudes: An exploration over the linguistic constitution of subjects’ (2019)  

Eoin Mc Evoy - Seo Mo Spás 

Article by John on ‘National identity and belonging among gay ‘new speakers’ of Irish’ (2019)  

John’s book ‘One Hundred Years of Irish Language Policy, 1922-2022’ (2022) 

Pádraig Ó Duibhir’s book ‘Immersion Education: Lessons from a Minority Language Context’ (2018)

Justin McCubbin’s PhD thesis ‘Inimircigh agus an Ghaeilge: Idé-eolaíocht agus Cleachtas Teanga Lucht Inimirce na Gaeilge in Éirinn’ (2011) 

Erin McNulty’s research on Manx

Anik Nandi’s research

CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains discussions of the experiences of women in the traditional music industry, and includes mentions of SA and harassment (starting at 32:02 and ending at 41:17). Listener discretion is advised.

In this episode, Erin McNulty talks with Isla Callister, a Manx speaker and fiddle player now based in Scotland. They discuss traditional and contemporary Manx music, the link between music and language, teaching history lessons through the medium of traditional music, as well as the role of women in the traditional music scene and the challenges they face. This episode is in a mixture of Manx and English.

Ayns yn episode shoh, ta Erin McNulty loayrt rish Isla Callister, Gaelgeyr as fidleyr Manninagh ta cummal ayns Nalbin. T’ad loayrt mychione kiaull Manninagh tradishoonagh as noa-emshiragh, yn kiangley eddyr kiaull as çhengey, gynsaghey lessoonyn shennaghys trooid kiaull tradishoonagh, as yn paart ta mraane cloie ayns y çhynskyl kiaull tradishoonagh as ny doilleeidyn ta çheet nyn whaiyl neesht. Shoh episode daa-hengagh ayns Gaelg as Baarle.

This episode was recorded in April 2022.

Host: Erin McNulty

Guest: Isla Callister

Languages: Manx and English

Music: “Kesh Jig, Leitrim Fancy” by Sláinte, CC BY-SA 3.0 US (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/us/), available from freemusicarchive.org.

Links to initiatives, organisations and people mentioned in the episode:

manxmusic.com – A place to start exploring Manx music!

Manx musicians:

https://www.islacallister.com/ - Isla Callister

https://www.trip-music.com/ - TRIP

https://www.meclir.com/ - Mec Lir

https://www.barruletrio.com/ - Barrule

https://www.ruthkeggin.com/ - Ruth Keggin

https://www.rachelhair.com/ - Rachel Hair

https://www.manxmusic.com/performer_465018.html  - Scran

Gender equality in traditional music:

https://www.thebitcollective.co.uk/ - The BIT Collective

https://www.fairple.com/ - FairPlé

In this episode (in English), Thyra van Veen interviews fellow alumni of Celtic Studies at Utrecht University, Britt van Asselt and Pierre Faure. Britt and Pierre recently completed their master’s research, focusing on Early Ireland and Middle Breton respectively. Here, they discuss their experience of researching for their final thesis project, including the research process, the challenges involved and their findings.

Content note: This episode includes some reference to violence against women (41:00-42:00).

This episode was recorded in February 2022.

Host: Thyra van Veen

Guests: Britt van Asselt and Pierre Faure

Language: English

Music: “Kesh Jig, Leitrim Fancy” by Sláinte, CC BY-SA 3.0 US (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/us/), available from freemusicarchive.org. 

Links to initiatives, organisations and people mentioned in the episode:

Master’s Programme in Ancient, Medieval and Renaissance Studies at Utrecht University

FileMaker 

Aaron Griffith’s Milan Glosses Database

Python

Utrecht University Theses Repository

Britt van Asselt’s master’s thesis - Privacy in Early Ireland: An Overview and Analysis of Occurrences of Privacy in the Táin Bó Cúailnge and Early Irish laws 

Pierre Faure’s master’s thesis - The initial mutation of Old French v-initial loanwords in Middle Breton: a corpus study