Celtic society

This article is about Scotland-related organisations. For the 19th-century Irish learned society, see Irish Archaeological Society. For the societal structure of the ancient Celts, see Celts § Society.

A Celtic society (sometimes Highland society or Gaelic society more specifically) is a type of society at the four ancient universities of Scotland, and sometimes more broadly, at a city level, which were founded between the late 18th and mid-19th centuries in the wake of the Celtic Revival and Romanticism, with the primary aim of supporting the practical and academic study of the Scottish Gaelic language and culture. The student societies are the oldest at their respective universities, and were instrumental in campaigning for the establishment of academic departments dedicated to Gaelic studies.

St Andrews University Celtic Society, founded 1796, was among the first of these organisations. In the 20th century, as the other ancient universities began offering Gaelic as an academic subject, students with an interest in Gaelic chose to attend these instead. Consequently, the society at St Andrews shifted its focus towards Scottish country dance, and is no longer related to the other student societies.

List

The following societies are extant and continue to promote Gaelic language and culture:

• Aberdeen University Celtic Society, founded 1854 (1854)
• Caledonian Club of London, founded 1891 (1891)
• Edinburgh University Highland Society, founded 1851 (1851) (preceded by the Ossianic Society, 1837–1848)
• Gaelic Society of Perth, founded 1880 (1880)
• Glasgow Highland Society, founded 1727 (1727)
• Glasgow University Ossianic Society, founded 1831 (1831)
• Highland Society of London, founded 1778 (1778) (coexisted in London for a while with Ancient Caledonian Society, 1786–1837)
• Lonach Highland and Friendly Society, founded 1823 (1823)
• Royal Celtic Society (originally Celtic Society of Edinburgh), founded 1820 (1820)
• Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland (formerly Highland Society of Edinburgh or Highland Society of Scotland), founded 1784 (1784)
• St Andrews University Celtic Society, founded 1796 (1796)

References

• Crouse, L.A. "The establishment of Celtic Societies". History Scotland (Sept/Oct 2013): 24–31.
• MacCoinnich, Aonghas (3 March 2016). "19th & 20th C: Ossianic Society". The Gaelic Story at the University of Glasgow. University of Glasgow. Retrieved 19 April 2018.