Association of Celtic Students

 Dear Celtic Students from all around the world, The Master in Celtic Studies of the University of Western Brittany recently opened its own blog ! For some context, our Master's program, entitled ‘Celtic Languages and Cultures in Contact’,  which was founded in 2017, consists of two strands : medieval and modern. The professors offer a variety of approaches to Brittany, Wales, Ireland and Scotland, giving students the opportunity to research literature, history, sociology and linguistics. The Master is affiliated to the Centre for Research in Breton and Celtic and is the only one in Brittany/France to encompass all of the Celtic countries, proposing Welsh, Irish and Breton courses, be it modern or medieval languages. Although one of the graduating classes before ours had already set up the “Celtic Breizh” website for future students, it was unable to be maintained due to the lack of rigorous handover between the different classes. At the end of the first year, we decided to op...

Fanfiction, a genre that reimagines and reinterprets established narratives, offers a unique lens through which historical figures and events are continually re-explored. One of the more compelling subjects of such reinterpretations is King Alfred the Great, a ninth-century Anglo-Saxon monarch who is celebrated not only for his military acumen against the Viking invasions but also for his contributions to education and governance. Recent fanfiction, inspired by popular media - such as the TV shows Vikings and The Last Kingdom and video games like Mount & Blade and Total War: THRONES OF BRITANNIA - often introduces anachronistic elements, blending historical authenticity with fictionalised storytelling. Among these elements, one that stands out is the use of Ogham, an ancient script associated with the Celtic peoples. This blog post delves into the significance of Ogham and other Celtic symbols in fanfiction about King Alfred, highlighting how these creative adaptations transform...