Chair of Celtic, Glasgow
Encyclopedia
The Chair of Celtic is a professorship at the University of Glasgow
, established in 1956 by an endowment from merchant James Crawford, the Ross Trust and the University's Ossianic Society.
In 1963, Derick Thomson
was appointed to the Chair. Thomson, also known under his Gaelic name
, Ruaraidh MacThòmais, had been Lecturer in Welsh at the University from 1949 until 1956, when he became Head of the Department of Celtic at the University of Aberdeen
. He was editor of Scottish Gaelic Studies, a journal produced by the Aberdonian department, founded Gairm, a quarterly Gaelic magazine which ran for over fifty years under his editorship, and continues to write extensive poetry. He was awarded an honorary degree of Doctor of Letters
by the University in 2007. When Thomson retired in 1991, he was succeeded by a fellow Aberdeen academic, Donald MacAulay, who had succeeded Thomson as editor of Scottish Gaelic Studies in 1978. MacAulay took over the Chair in 1991, remaining at the University until 1995.
In 1995, Cathair O'Dochartaigh was appointed to the Chair, succeeded in 2005 by American academic Thomas Owen Clancy
. Clancy studied at New York University
, and received a Ph.D.
from the University of Edinburgh
, and now specialises in Dark Age Celtic literature. In 2001, he put forward a theory that St. Ninian, an eighth century missionary
among the Pictish peoples
of what is now Scotland
, was in fact a Northumbrian spin-off of St Finnian
, the British missionary to whom St. Columba was a disciple. He argued that the confusion is due to an eighth century scribal spelling error, for which the similarities of "u" and "n" in the Insular script of the period were responsible.
The Chair of Celtic is based within the Department of Celtic and Gaelic, part of the School of Humanities in the College of Arts.
University of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's four ancient universities. Located in Glasgow, the university was founded in 1451 and is presently one of seventeen British higher education institutions ranked amongst the top 100 of the...
, established in 1956 by an endowment from merchant James Crawford, the Ross Trust and the University's Ossianic Society.
History
In 1942, dyestuff and chemical merchant James Crawford died, leaving a portion of his estate to the University to found a Chair in Celtic language and literature. The Chair was established in 1956 using these funds as well as contributions from the University's Ossianic Society and the Ross Trust. The first professor, Angus Matheson, was appointed that year. Matheson, formerly Senior Lecturer in Celtic at the University, remained in post until his death in 1962.In 1963, Derick Thomson
Derick Thomson
Professor Derick S. Thomson MA, BA, Dlitt, FRSE, FBA , known as Ruaraidh MacThòmais in his native Scottish Gaelic, is a Scottish poet, publisher, lexicographer, academic and writer. He is originally from Lewis, but has spent much of his life in Glasgow, where he was Professor of Celtic at the...
was appointed to the Chair. Thomson, also known under his Gaelic name
Scottish Gaelic personal naming system
-Forenames:Scottish Gaelic has a number of personal names, such as Ailean, Aonghas, Dòmhnall, Donnchadh, Coinneach, and Murchadh, for which there are traditional forms in English...
, Ruaraidh MacThòmais, had been Lecturer in Welsh at the University from 1949 until 1956, when he became Head of the Department of Celtic at the University of Aberdeen
University of Aberdeen
The University of Aberdeen, an ancient university founded in 1495, in Aberdeen, Scotland, is a British university. It is the third oldest university in Scotland, and the fifth oldest in the United Kingdom and wider English-speaking world...
. He was editor of Scottish Gaelic Studies, a journal produced by the Aberdonian department, founded Gairm, a quarterly Gaelic magazine which ran for over fifty years under his editorship, and continues to write extensive poetry. He was awarded an honorary degree of Doctor of Letters
Doctor of Letters
Doctor of Letters is a university academic degree, often a higher doctorate which is frequently awarded as an honorary degree in recognition of outstanding scholarship or other merits.-Commonwealth:...
by the University in 2007. When Thomson retired in 1991, he was succeeded by a fellow Aberdeen academic, Donald MacAulay, who had succeeded Thomson as editor of Scottish Gaelic Studies in 1978. MacAulay took over the Chair in 1991, remaining at the University until 1995.
In 1995, Cathair O'Dochartaigh was appointed to the Chair, succeeded in 2005 by American academic Thomas Owen Clancy
Thomas Owen Clancy
Professor Thomas Owen Clancy is an American academic and historian who specializes in the literature of the Celtic Dark Ages, especially that of Scotland. He did his undergraduate work at New York University, and his Ph.D at the University of Edinburgh. He is currently at the University of Glasgow,...
. Clancy studied at New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
, and received a Ph.D.
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
from the University of Edinburgh
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
, and now specialises in Dark Age Celtic literature. In 2001, he put forward a theory that St. Ninian, an eighth century missionary
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
among the Pictish peoples
Picts
The Picts were a group of Late Iron Age and Early Mediaeval people living in what is now eastern and northern Scotland. There is an association with the distribution of brochs, place names beginning 'Pit-', for instance Pitlochry, and Pictish stones. They are recorded from before the Roman conquest...
of what is now Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, was in fact a Northumbrian spin-off of St Finnian
Finnian of Moville
Finnian of Movilla Abbey, Irish Christian missionary, 495–589.-Origins and life:Finnian was a Christian missionary who became a legendary figure in medieval Ireland. He should not to be confused with his namesake Finnian of Clonard...
, the British missionary to whom St. Columba was a disciple. He argued that the confusion is due to an eighth century scribal spelling error, for which the similarities of "u" and "n" in the Insular script of the period were responsible.
The Chair of Celtic is based within the Department of Celtic and Gaelic, part of the School of Humanities in the College of Arts.
Professors of Celtic
- 2005 - Thomas ClancyThomas Owen ClancyProfessor Thomas Owen Clancy is an American academic and historian who specializes in the literature of the Celtic Dark Ages, especially that of Scotland. He did his undergraduate work at New York University, and his Ph.D at the University of Edinburgh. He is currently at the University of Glasgow,...
- 1995 - Cathair O'Dochartaigh
- 1991 - Donald Macaulay
- 1963 - Derick ThomsonDerick ThomsonProfessor Derick S. Thomson MA, BA, Dlitt, FRSE, FBA , known as Ruaraidh MacThòmais in his native Scottish Gaelic, is a Scottish poet, publisher, lexicographer, academic and writer. He is originally from Lewis, but has spent much of his life in Glasgow, where he was Professor of Celtic at the...
- 1956 - Angus Matheson