A Pocket History of Gaelic Culture

Book excerpt: A lively journey through ancient and modern Irish culture, this book explores the elements that have shaped the music, language, and arts of the Emerald Isle. From the rich native tradition in pre-Christian times to the changes wrought by the arrival of Christianity in the fifth century, from the Golden Age of art and literature to the 19th-century Celtic revival, the rich history of Ireland is abundant in its cultural heritage. Also discussed is the place of Irish writing in the English language and a look at the international popularity of modernized traditional dances, as expressed by the Riverdance craze.