Celtic History??

[macwilkin]

I decided to post this here because the original topic applies, and this way it will pop up for all thsoe who are subscribed.


I have decided that once I am done with my under graduate degree, I would like to pitch to my current college an idea for a "Celtic" history course that could either be a 1 semester, or preferably, split into two semesters. Here is my issue, I would definitely pursue a graduate degree in the field, but for developing the curriculum I wondered what you all think I should include: dates, events, people, etc. I am interested to hear what you all think! Considering it is 2:30am as I write this, if I wasn’t very clear on an aspect please feel free to ask for more info…

Slainte,

Zach

Not to be a "kill-joy", but generally in the world of academia, if you don't have the graduate credits, you don't teach the course, especially in this day of accreditation. You'd do better to approach a local community college and see if they offer a sophomore seminar/capstone course, but again, you'll either need the MA with courses in the field, or an instructor willing to do so.

It's a great idea, but be prepared for disappointment.

T.

[tripleblessed]

I don't recall your mentioning the name of your school, but I seem to recall
your mentioning your pursuit of a degree in biblical studies. The Celtic Christian
tradition supposedly goes back to Joseph of Arimathea, and successfully
coexisted with the mystery schools around Glastonbury until the 5th century or
so, when Rome began to exert its influence. In Wales, Ireland, and Scotland,
the Celtic traditions had influence for centuries later. The conflict between
the attitudes and teachings of the Celtic lay and independent abbots is what led to the Pope "giving" Ireland to Henry II in exchange for his promise to go over there and make them do what he (the Pope) said. This is the root of
the Irish "problem". The combination of a drive to power with the greed of Henry and Pope and their inherent lack of respect for individual freedom of choice has produced hundreds of years of conflict. Most history programs and professors have no wish to delve into this, but it's definitely church history,
Celtic history, and relevant in today's world. It might be the basis of an argument for such a course.

[Slowburn]

[did you know that an Irish soldier-of-fortune, Hugh Oconor (originally O'Connor) was the first Commander of the Presidio at Tucson?.[/QUOTE]

I thought the Oconor surname had its origin in the "O'conor don" line of family names of Irish nobility and was in no way related to Oconnor.

[macwilkin]

[did you know that an Irish soldier-of-fortune, Hugh Oconor (originally O'Connor) was the first Commander of the Presidio at Tucson?.

I thought the Oconor surname had its origin in the "O'conor don" line of family names of Irish nobility and was in no way related to Oconnor.[/QUOTE]

If you have a source, I'd love to see it. I'm only going by what the official state historian of Arizona, Marshall Trimble, has published in several of his histories of the state.

Regardless of the spelling, Irish soldiers-of-forturne were quite common in the service of the Spanish Empire.

T.

[Slowburn]

Because even American history doesn't get the attention it deserves -- as a per-course history instructor at a local community college, we barely can cover basic American history. A four-year university is more likely to have a course on Irish or Scottish history, but even then, there's no guarantee. My alma mater didn't offer a basic Canadian history course.

Personally, while the ancient Celts are more "romantic", I think more people relate to the Irish & Scottish immigrants and their contribution to the US, Canada, Australia, etc. I've been preaching for sometime now that Scottish organizations shouldn't wait for a "Braveheart" to make all things Scottish "cool"; instead we should be looking for the local contributions of Scottish immigrants to our communities.

For starters -- did you know that an Irish soldier-of-fortune, Hugh Oconor (originally O'Connor) was the first Commander of the Presidio at Tucson? Or that a half-Scot, half-Indian scout named Archie McIntosh helped General Crook bring in Geronimo? Or that Arizona's most famous son, William O. "Buckey" O'Neill, was the son of an Irish immigrant?

My dad is from Prescott, btw, and I spent a good deal of my childhood in North PHX.

T.

I might be wrong in saying this but, I think the "don" part of the name refers only to the chief but just the same. I aknowledge the point you were making. I am vaiguly familiar with The O'conor name as it is in my direct family lineage and my great grand mother was adamant that she was not an O'connor.

[macwilkin]

I might be wrong in saying this but, I think the "don" part of the name refers only to the chief but just the same. I aknowledge the point you were making. I am vaiguly familiar with The O'conor name as it is in my direct family lineage and my great grand mother was adamant that she was not an O'connor.

Perhaps our Rathdown will weigh in, given his immense knowledge of Irish nobility...

T.

[Bugbear]

Hmmm, that jarred my memory. I recall a teacher in a Spanish language college course discussing a small community of Irish descendants in Mexico with whom she had contact, something about an Irish festival... It's been seventeen or eighteen years ago, so hard to remember any details.

[Woot22]

Hmmm, that jarred my memory. I recall a teacher in a Spanish language college course discussing a small community of Irish descendants in Mexico with whom she had contact, something about an Irish festival... It's been seventeen or eighteen years ago, so hard to remember any details.

I wonder if that has anything to do with the "San Patricios". The Irish immigrants who fled the US Army service and ended up fighting along side the Mexican Army. I do not have any real knowledge on the matter only what I read on the inside of the CD cover for the Chieftains album of the same name. Anybody have any good info on the matter perhaps a good book on the subject.

[macwilkin]

I wonder if that has anything to do with the "San Patricios". The Irish immigrants who fled the US Army service and ended up fighting along side the Mexican Army. I do not have any real knowledge on the matter only what I read on the inside of the CD cover for the Chieftains album of the same name. Anybody have any good info on the matter perhaps a good book on the subject.

Miller, Robert R. Shamrock & Sword: the Saint Patrick's Battalion in the U.S.-Mexican War from the University of Oklahoma Press. Miller debunks many of the myths surrounding the San Patricios, the largest one being that they were all Irish -- there were a number of nationalities in their ranks, many of them from the various expatriate communities in Mexico, and not all deserters from the US Army. Miller's book is by far the best on the subject.

T.

[Woot22]

Miller, Robert R. Shamrock & Sword: the Saint Patrick's Battalion in the U.S.-Mexican War from the University of Oklahoma Press. Miller debunks many of the myths surrounding the San Patricios, the largest one being that they were all Irish -- there were a number of nationalities in their ranks, many of them from the various expatriate communities in Mexico, and not all deserters from the US Army. Miller's book is by far the best on the subject.

T.

Thanks, that is going on my Amazon wish list now.