What is the difference between celtic and irish? Why are celtic knots commonly related to the irish culture? I’m irish and was thinking of getting a celtic knot tattoo, then realized that might not even be considered "irish".
Irish is a nationality , which in my opinion you can claim if you grew up here. Celtic is one of the names used to refer to Irish heritage, while the Celts were here and Ireland is known as one of ‘The Six Celtic Nations’ most of us are descende from the pre-celtic tribes :Partholóns, Nemedians, Fir Bolgs, Danaans, and then there’s the Celts also called Milesians. Now, while the above tribes aren’t historically Celts/Milesians I call them all celts because of the similiarities in art, religion, lifestyle etc. It was one of the much earlier tribes who built Newgrange for example and most Irish’Celtic’ mythology actually comes from the Danaans, the name has stuck on five tribes, I see no reason to change it now. As for your tattoo, people will associate most likely with Ireland or Scotland, if you want something which they will definitely think of as Irish get a harp, an instrument which did not originate here but it is our national symbol (there’s also the shamrock but that’s more to do with Irish Catholicism)
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December 7th, 2009 at 8:55 am
There are six celtic nations. Scotland, Ireland, Isle of Mann, Wales, Cornwall and Brittany. So someone can be celtic and be from another country other than Ireland. Also, its a question of ethnicity. You can be Irish but be black, you wouldn’t be celtic. im not sure about the knots though.. im not familiar with it
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December 7th, 2009 at 9:17 am
Being Irish means you’re from the country of Ireland. The Celts extend far beyond Ireland in place and time.
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December 7th, 2009 at 10:02 am
"Celts" is just a word used to describe the people who lived in western Europe during the Iron Age. There was no one tribe or group called "Celts", and they did not call themselves that. In the 18th century, the relationship between the languages of Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Cornwall, Brittany etc was recognised and the group was named as "the Celtic languages". It was only then that people of these regions started to be described as Celtic, and the romantic image of Celts began as a form of nationalism, so that people from Ireland, Scotland etc could pick out something that they thought distinguished them from say English people.
Knots like the one you’re talking about were used a lot in early Christian art in Ireland. They were used in other parts of the world too, so they’re not just Irish, but they do seem to be more associated with Ireland than anywhere else. So if you got the tattoo, I think people would realise that it was something to do with Ireland.
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December 7th, 2009 at 10:38 am
it is
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December 7th, 2009 at 11:15 am
Celtic is a football team and Irish is what they call people from Ireland.
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December 7th, 2009 at 11:51 am
Irish is a nationality , which in my opinion you can claim if you grew up here. Celtic is one of the names used to refer to Irish heritage, while the Celts were here and Ireland is known as one of ‘The Six Celtic Nations’ most of us are descende from the pre-celtic tribes :Partholóns, Nemedians, Fir Bolgs, Danaans, and then there’s the Celts also called Milesians. Now, while the above tribes aren’t historically Celts/Milesians I call them all celts because of the similiarities in art, religion, lifestyle etc. It was one of the much earlier tribes who built Newgrange for example and most Irish’Celtic’ mythology actually comes from the Danaans, the name has stuck on five tribes, I see no reason to change it now. As for your tattoo, people will associate most likely with Ireland or Scotland, if you want something which they will definitely think of as Irish get a harp, an instrument which did not originate here but it is our national symbol (there’s also the shamrock but that’s more to do with Irish Catholicism)
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December 7th, 2009 at 12:28 pm
if you want an Irish tattoo, then have a look what this guy had done, it’s the guaranteed irish logo ( used on products to emphasize that they are 100% Irish)
and it does away with all that celtic knot debacle
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dermod/537876882/
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