The Scots and Irish: One People?

Event

1997-03-14

01:35:47

This is a lecture by Michael Kennedy titled “The Scots and Irish: One People?”, where he discusses early census, lots on the island, Gaelic, religion, vikings, education, and Scottish-Irish relations. He also discusses colonization, propaganda, identity, legislation and other topics relating to the history of the Scottish and Irish.

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Held by Benevolent Irish Society

Dr Michael Kennedy is introduced.
The speaker introduces his lecture by examining his four grandparents’ names to raise the question if he is of Scottish or Irish ancestry. Then he questions whether the Scots and the Irish share a common ancestry.
The speaker reviews the 1798 British Census of PEI which recorded the Scottish Highlanders or more accurately the Scottish Gaels as a larger group than all other ethnic groups combined. In the 1881 census, the Scots, who were mostly Gaels, were almost half of PEI’s population.
The speaker using a Scottish highlands map shows that 95% of the area was monolingual Gaelic speakers. By the 19th century the Irish population of PEI had increased by 25% and so by Confederation almost 70% of PEI claimed Gaelic ancestry. The speaker notes that early in the 1900’s US newspapers referred to Islanders as Rories, from the clan name Ruaidhri, due to their Gaelic background.
However, the speaker explains that the PEI Government and the Canadian Ethnic Studies Association characterized PEI as predominately of English ancestry. The speaker suggests that examining the censuses of 1961, 1971, and 1991 explain the change, but a more in depth analysis is needed.
The speaker notes the first reference of Gaelic ancestors was in 297 AD when the Scoti or Scots attacked Roman controlled areas in the British Isles. The speaker explains why the Scots and the Gaels were one and the same people. By the 5th century the Gaels had formed the distinct kingdom of Argyle or Airer Goidel meaning the “boundary of the Gaels”.
The Gaels expanded across northern Britain known today as Scotland. Atthal was the geographical center of Scotland which the speaker shows on a map. The name Atthal, once a place name on PEI in Lot 34, comes from the Gaelic Ath-fhotla, or New Ireland. The name Fotla has also been used for an area around Iona, PEI.
The start of the “dark ages” in Europe, coincided with the Gaels developing one of the most important centers of spirituality and learning in the Christian world. Coupled with their sophisticated political and military organization the Gaels were well respected.
The speaker introduces St Columba and why he moved to Iona. Here St Columba devoted himself to the church resulting in Iona becoming an important center of christianity. The speaker quotes from a poem written in about the year 600, possibly the first Gaelic piece of writing as well as the first piece of European literature not written in Latin or Greek. The poem describes the importance of St Columba.
The speaker explains that under Columba, Iona was seen as a shining light in the darkness of Europe. The speaker highlights the Book of Kells, the school of stone carving and 687 Adomnan’s Law of the Innocents all originating in Iona under St Columba.
Quoting the Anglo Saxon scholar Venerable Bede, the speaker illustrates how the Gael’s centers of learning and christianity were highly respected and sought out by the Scots, English and Europeans. The centers were located in Ireland, Scotland and throughout Europe.
The speaker uses a map to show Gaelic monatic sites of learning founded roughly between the years 700 and 1000 with locations throughout Europe and even into Ukraine.
Reciting from the poem “The Viking Terror”, the speaker introduces the Vikings. Because of the Vikings Iona was evacuated, the Outer Hebrides were overtaken, a number of Irish cities became trading centers and the Fenian Cycle was created. The speaker describes the Fenian or Ossianic Tales noting they are still recited in Canada 1000 years later. The speaker refers to Patrick MacEachern from Cape Breton.
The speaker tells that by the beginning of the 11th century King Brian Boru destroyed Viking power in Ireland and King Sommerled mac Gillebride did likewise in Scotland in the 12th century. The speaker reviews mac Gillebride’s lineage and accomplishments. Although Ireland and Scotland became politically distinct nations they still shared a Gaelic identity. The speaker quotes historian Dauvit Broun.
The speaker raises the question as to why the upper echelons of 13th century Scottish society ceased to speak Scotland’s native language Gaelic.
Despite a promising future there began a ruthless and barbaric decline of Gaelic society, history and culture. This change was initiated when the Normans began attacking the Anglo Saxons. By 1066 the Normans controlled England.
The speaker quotes Gerald of Wales who described the Irish as savage and uncivilized. The speaker follows with a quote from Archbishop of Cashel’s sarcastic reply to Gerald’s description. With the support of Pope Adrian IV of England Henry II invaded Ireland with an intent to christianize Ireland.
The speaker outlines the lead up to the 1320 Declaration of Arbroath acknowledging the success of the Scottish Wars of Independence under Robert Bruce against the English. This document highlighted Scotland’s right to be independent based on its Gaelic heritage, but failed to mention Ireland as the Scot’s ancestral home since Ireland was under England’s power.
The speaker explains that the ties between Ireland and Scotland remained strong with the connections Robert Bruce, King of Scotland had with Ireland, his leadership and his campaigning with his brother Edward in English controlled Ireland. The speaker highlights Bruce’s wedding gift of 130 men and Bruce’s physician MacBeatha and the PEI place names Beaton Point and Beaton Road.
Following the Scottish Wars of Independence the speaker notes that Ireland was oppressed with laws such as The Statute of Kilkenny. At the same time Scotland was experiencing their “Age of Prosperity”. The speaker notes the connection between this time and the ancestors of Lucy Maud Montgemery, the MacPhees of the West River area and the PEI’s Rankin family. The speaker gives a quote about Conn Douly Rankin from the Island of Mull.
The speaker tells how 16th century Scotland was dividing culturally into Gaelic highlands and anglicized lowlands. The Gaelic west was plunged into a period of intense disorder, “linn nan Creach” “Age of Forays and Plundering”, lasting until Highlanders began leaving for PEI. The speaker quotes from the poem with the line “there is no joy without Clan Donald” which mentions the destruction of the Lord of the Isles.
By the 16th century the Scots wanted to be free, undivided and Gaelic as did the Gaels in Ireland. This was expressed in the poem written just before the 1513 Battle of Flodden. It was penned by the chief poet for the Clan Campbell and includes the lines “let us make mighty war against them” and “guard our fatherland”.
The speaker explains the Tudors intensified the threat to Scotland. By 1537 England’s control in Ireland was reduced to a small area centered in Dublin, but King Henry VIII was determined to regain English control. He developed long term anti Gaelic policies. Irish catholicism was viewed differently by the English as the English changed from catholic to protestant. Tape break.
Side A ends. Side B begins.
By the time Europe was involved in colonizing the Americans and African slave trading, Elizabeth I began colonizing Ireland with loyal English speaking protestant settlers. At this time half of the English war budget was devoted to the destruction of the Gaels or as the English termed it the civilization of Ireland.
English chroniclers criticized almost every aspect of Gaelic life in both Ireland and Scotland. Gaelic scholars argued against these allegations to no avail. The speaker quotes from the English literary figure Edmund Spenser noting his ideas were typical for the English at this time.
The English fight for the control of Ireland continued with the Gaelic Irish rallying under Ulster chiefs. The 1601 Battle of Kinsale was the final blow. The speaker quotes a scholar describing the aftermath when the Irish kept their lands only with the English King’s permission and the Ulster plantation began. The speaker highlights the 1607 “Flight of the Earls” and quotes from the poem “Where have the Gaels gone?”
The speaker explains that beginning in 1609 Irish Catholics were separated from the plantation protestants by being moved to the west. The Irish Gaels were reduced to a half due to death and being sent as slaves to the Caribbean and Americas. Well before the end of the 18th century Irish Catholics owned only 5% of the land resulting in increasing poverty and feelings of disaffection and anger.
The speaker explains how his ancestors, two Irish Kennedy brothers, joined forces with the Keppoch McDonalds in Lochaber and were welcomed with a party. However, the Gaels left behind in Ireland had little reason to celebrate. About 40000 Gaels left Ireland to join the armies of various kings. By 1601 the downfall of Gaels in Ireland began and the rest of the 17th century continued the process.
The speaker notes the remnants of the Scottish Gaelic world remained essentially intact until they started to leave for Canada and so many Gaelic traditions in Canada are Scottish. The growing strength of English made control of Scotland possible. In 1603 James VI became James I of England, Scotland and Wales. The speaker quotes referencing James I’s negative attitude toward the Scottish Gaels.
The speaker uses a quote to show King James’ initial efforts to annihilate the Scottish Gaels with the 1609 Statutes of Iona. The speaker uses quotes to note additional legislative restrictions enacted by King James and subsequent English kings. The Jacobite Uprising in 1745 revealed the Gaelic forces weaknesses. The aftermath of this uprising for the Scots was similar to what the Irish had experienced.
After 1745 the Scottish clan system was made redundant and many Scottish customs were forbidden. The English became part of Scottish institutions such as schools bringing with them their hatred of Gaels and catholicism. The Gaelic elite had to choose between the new highland land system or exile.
The speaker quotes from the poem about the Rankins not being allowed to play their pipes. When the Irish and Scottish Gaels were deported to PEI and other places in the new world they were culturally depressed and divided by religion, political allegiance and language. However, PEI and elsewhere were a fresh start for Gaelic culture which meant that the Gaels’ last stand had not yet taken place.
Final lecture comments, applause, audience questions and discussion.