Deadly Irish History: The CeltsISBN 978-1-78849-130-3 John Farrelly Teaching Guide By Peter Heaney RATIONALE & THEMES relevant to the requirements of the history maturity. elements in both the SESE & WAU curricula. The Celts were a diverse people who Young men who were without land roamed emerged in Central Europe in the mists of The structure and presentation of the in bands (Fianna) outside the society and ancient time, migrating to populate Ireland material suggests that a group activity-based had to fend for themselves either by foraging about 2,700 years ago. approach would be the more effective. or joining as mercenaries to support one tribe fighting against another. In their wake, they left behind a cultural The guide is divided into three sections to trace that has shaped Ireland as a Celtic reflect and complement the development of Fighting and stealing from neighbouring nation. their story. tribes was endemic and sagas would be written to exaggerate and praise the deeds This book charts their legacy throwing a (Teachers are reminded that current good of the warriors involved. light on their way of life in a lively and practice when directing children to Internet entertaining way. research, requires that the site be viewed Their way of life was entirely pastoral and approved by the teacher beforehand and with small tribes living in small farming The themes included are: that close supervision is maintained during settlements that depended for survival on The origins of the Celts and who they the searches.) husbandry and agriculture. were. Their culture and practices. DISCUSSION POINTS Their influence and legacy. Section 1 (Read p12): The Celts were a people Their beliefs, gods and heroes. Who were the Celts who delighted in fighting and then telling How they lived and governed themselves. Pages 6 - 37 exaggerated tales in their sagas. Why was SUMMARY fighting so attractive for them and why SUMMARY did they like to exaggerate? Is modern We learn how the Celts arrived and stamped The Celts inhabited a wonderfully rich inter-county sport a substitute for this their settlement patterns on Ireland. and imaginative world, first appearing as a necessity to fight and then boast about it? We learn that they were not a cohesive powerful influence in Central Europe about (Read pp17-26): Not everyone in Celtic people but rather a disparate range of smaller 2700 years ago, before migrating West to society enjoyed equal privileges. Today family groups who generally struggled to live inhabit Ireland. in our society, we offer privilege to some harmoniously with their neighbours. and not to others. Why are some people The Celts introduced the Iron Age to Ireland seen as being more worthwhile? Is it easy Raid and counter raid were a common as well as dividing the country into provinces to move between the classes in society? preoccupation and these actions were then and constructing a functioning road network How could you manage it? raised to heroic status by story and legend. of five great roads to link the provinces. (Read p25): The Celts depended on We learn of their family structures and how Celtic society was hierarchical; each tribe slaves. Was this fair treatment? How they sought to govern themselves by Brehon ruled by a king with the strata decreasing in should these types of workers be treated? Law, a code of instruction and guidance rank to the slaves who held no rights and Is there still slavery in the modern world? designed to establish accord among tribes. were simply drudges. How would you feel if you discovered We learn about their society, the harmony Druids were important to the Celts and held that something you used or wore had they sought with their environment and their significant power to advise and administer been produced by a slave? vision of who they were, outlined in their the law. irishtimes.com/opinion/modern- sagas and beliefs. slavery-is-going-on-right-under-our- There were no schools and children were noses-1.4081743 Finally, we learn of their legacy and influence educated at home into skills that were rte.ie/brainstorm/2018/0613/970641- in creating modern Ireland. appropriate for their rank and gender. does-ireland-have-a-modern-slavery- Fostering was a common practice and very problem/ APPROACH young children were often sent to live with (Read p26): The Celts believed that The topics in the book are particularly other families for years until they reached everyone should be responsible for the Deadly Irish History: The Celts 1 Teaching Guide consequences of their actions. A family and designs. the agricultural sequences of their crops became liable if a member was unable to and animals, with separate traditions and pay. How could this control behaviour? 5. Goosey, Goosey (Read p35) superstitions attached to each season. How would you feel if you were made The roundhouse owner has to display a We learn about the food that they cooked responsible for a brother or sister’s debt? notice to warn everyone about the fierce and some of the games and sports that they (Read p32): There are many interesting guard geese he keeps. used to divert the boredom of Winter nights tourist attraction reconstructions of Celtic Create a suitable one for him that will or entertain themselves during long Summer settlements across the country. Do we scare anyone from trying to burgle the evenings. really need to know how we lived long roundhouse. ago? Do they tell us anything useful Storytelling was central to their culture and they created a mythology of exaggerated about living today or is it simply curiosity? 6. Easy as Pie (Read p37) craggaunowen.ie adventures and heroes. To build a model roundhouse, the author Appearance was important to the Celts and suggests that the length of the wall will be ACTIVITIES this was reflected in the attention paid to three times the diameter of the roof. How their clothes and jewellery. 1. Who do they think they are? could he possibly know this? Their weapons were fierce and since they (Read p14) In groups collect some different sized had learned the skills of iron working, they circle shapes and containers. Measure their When the Celts invaded Ireland, there were were also superior to the bronze weapons of diameters and then the distances around the already natives living here. the natives who lived in Ireland before they outside (Circumference). What do you think they thought of these came. Can you find an approximate relationship swaggering newcomers with their fancy iron Raiding, stealing and battle were a way of life between these two dimensions? Is the weapons and gelled hair styles? for them and they liked to collect trophies to relationship the same for every shape? Using illustrations and speech bubbles, demonstrate their claims for hero status. Can you find the name that the ancient create a dialogue between two of them in Swagger was an integral part of how they Greeks had for this relationship? the same comic style the author has used presented themselves. It was important as they discuss their impressions of the new 7. Fianna (Read pp28-29) that their prowess was acknowledged and arrivals. banquets could often end in violence if The Fianna were young men who lived someone felt slighted by being denied the 2. Tuatha Dé Danann (Read p15) wildly and exaggerated their deeds. Curadhmír (Hero’s portion). The Greeks and Next year is the 3000-year anniversary of the Chose a familiar Fianna story or create an Romans considered them to be barbarians. arrival of those ancient gods to Ireland. Their original and retell it in the style the author The Celts recognized a pantheon of gods disappearance remains a mystery. has used with humour and illustrations. who had transformed from a mystical group To commemorate the anniversary, The irelandsmythsandlegends.com/fionn-and- of earlier settlers, the Tutha Dé Danann, O’Brien Press have organized a poster the-fianna who were renowned for their strength and competition to celebrate their magical magical capabilities. 8. Tara (Read p14) powers. The posters will use comic book text and illustrations. The Hill of Tara is a world-famous heritage DISCUSSION POINTS site with many guides available for tourists Submit an entry. (Read p40): The Celts were close to to read. nature and their survival depended on 3. Know your Place (Read pp17- However, Bord Fáilte likes the way the them having an intimate understanding 25) author has illustrated and explained the Lia of these links. How will future historians Fáil. They think it will appeal particularly to describe our links to and understanding In ancient Celtic society, everyone belonged children. of our natural environments. What will to a particular group and each group had they say about the things we thought In groups create similar explanations and specific roles and privileges. were vital for our survival? Will they find illustrations for the other six features in the In groups can you divide the people in us to have been careful or careless with same comic style and combine them into a modern Ireland into six groups. the world around us? short children’s brochure. (Read p53): Much of what we know Use a pyramid diagram and explain who discoverboynevalley.ie/boyne-valley-drive/ about the Celts comes from stories. How belongs to each group and what benefits heritage-sites/hill-tara reliable is this source of information? How they enjoy. megalithicireland.com/Hill%20of%20Tara. could you decide which information is htm 4. Totem (Read p33) accurate and which sources could be trusted? Today we get our information Celts used carved wooden posts to mark their Section 2 from many sources.